Polish-born French physicist (1867–1934), she and her husband Pierre discovered two new elements, polonium and radium, in 1898. In 1911 she won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. She died of leukemia brought about by her work with radioactive material. ALS in French, signed “M. Curie,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 8.25, Faculté des Sciences de Paris, Institut du Radium, Laboratoire Curie letterhead, November 26, 1920. Handwritten letter to Mme. Molinier, regarding the certification of laboratory instruments. In part (translated): "Mme. Bardinet tells me that you have promised for Monday evening the instruments for Radiochemistry. But I truly do not know whether, in a total of 4 days, the accuracy will be sufficient. If it is not, certificates must not be issued if one is not certain of them. I saw this morning an employee of R. Ch. to whom I said that he could have the certificates in the middle of next week, but probably not on Monday. It is an inconvenience for them, it seems, but it would be a very great one for us if our certificates were challenged. You will be kind enough to tell me on Monday how things stand." In fine condition, with small splits to the central horizontal fold.
Written in late 1920 on the letterhead of the Institut du Radium, this autograph letter reflects Marie Curie’s central role in establishing rigorous scientific standards during a formative period for modern radiochemistry. Curie was deeply engaged in the daily administrative and technical responsibilities of the Paris laboratories she directed, insisting upon meticulous precision and ethical responsibility in her scientific practices.
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