The Chance Papers include two pocket diaries—and various undated notebooks—recorded during his study at Cambridge (1936 and 1942) and 14 pocket calendars spanning January 1950 to June 1951 (with the exception of August 1950 and January, April, and May 1951). These calendars include miscellaneous research notes, formulas, appointments, lectures, travel, and meetings. In fact, at least one entry (4/20/1950) notes a meeting with "Roughton," presumably Francis Roughton, for which APS also holds papers. The October 1950 calendar also includes what appear to be Chance's first impressions of numerous job or fellowship candidates. Those include a "Maison," whom he describes as a "real 'tough guy,'" and a "Brokerk," whom he praises "good appearance, clean-cut, good talker, good manner' but adds "has done sound but not outstanding research. Surely no Nobel prize winner."
 
Two personal notebooks, dated "April 1983" and "January 1980," include Chance's lengthiest and most unusual records. The 1980 notebook features haphazard notes with names, phone numbers, appointment times that continue as late as December 2000. Researchers will also discover a trove of ephemera interspersed in the pages, including appointment cards (e.g. "Male Fertilization Section"), post-it notes, stress test consent forms, a heart diagram, and even a letter from Penn concerning a biopsy. The 1983 notebook, which spans April 12 and June 16, appears to be a record of Chance's ballroom dancing. (Yes, you read that correctly.) While much of this notebook is empty, early pages include a schedule for ballroom dancing classes and notes regarding the Foxtrot, Rhumba, Cha-Cha, Tango, and other dances.
 
Researchers investigating Chance's career may also consult his lab binders, some of which feature dated entries (Series III). As a yachtsman, he also records weather conditions in some loose, dated pages (Series X, boxes 516 and 517).

The Britton Chance Papers include two pocket diaries dated 1936 and 1942, 14 pocket calendars maintained between 1950 and 1951, and two personal notebooks dated January 1980 and April 1983. In aggregate, these materials traverse his doctoral study at Cambridge and his career at the University of Pennsylvania. His diaries may interest researchers examining Chance's research and the fields of biochemistry and biophysics more generally.
 
The Chance Papers include two pocket diaries—and various undated notebooks—recorded during his study at Cambridge (1936 and 1942) and 14 pocket calendars spanning January 1950 to June 1951 (with the exception of August 1950 and January, April, and May 1951). These calendars include miscellaneous research notes, formulas, appointments, lectures, travel, and meetings. In fact, at least one entry (4/20/1950) notes a meeting with "Roughton," presumably Francis Roughton, for which APS also holds papers. The October 1950 calendar also includes what appear to be Chance's first impressions of numerous job or fellowship candidates. Those include a "Maison," whom he describes as a "real 'tough guy,'" and a "Brokerk," whom he praises "good appearance, clean-cut, good talker, good manner' but adds "has done sound but not outstanding research. Surely no Nobel prize winner."
 
Two personal notebooks, dated "April 1983" and "January 1980," include Chance's lengthiest and most unusual records. The 1980 notebook features haphazard notes with names, phone numbers, appointment times that continue as late as December 2000. Researchers will also discover a trove of ephemera interspersed in the pages, including appointment cards (e.g. "Male Fertilization Section"), post-it notes, stress test consent forms, a heart diagram, and even a letter from Penn concerning a biopsy. The 1983 notebook, which spans April 12 and June 16, appears to be a record of Chance's ballroom dancing. (Yes, you read that correctly.) While much of this notebook is empty, early pages include a schedule for ballroom dancing classes and notes regarding the Foxtrot, Rhumba, Cha-Cha, Tango, and other dances.
 
Researchers investigating Chance's career may also consult his lab binders, some of which feature dated entries (Series III). As a yachtsman, he also records weather conditions in some loose, dated pages (Series X, boxes 516 and 517).