Dr. Chauncey Leake received his Ph.D. degree in physiology and pharmacology. Throughout his career as a researcher, teacher, and administrator, Dr. Leake maintained an interest in the history of medicine and medical ethics. Collection consists chiefly of general correspondence relating to individuals as well as to organizations, the latter consisting of associations, societies, foundations, conferences and congresses, and clubs.

Weiss achieved distinction in the fields of natural products chemistry, medicinal chemistry and synthetic methods. In 1955 he developed a method for synthetically transforming the analgesic Oxymorphone (marketed as Numorphan). While at NIH Weiss studied the analgesic properties of alkaloids (morphine, opium, heroin, codeine), and the synthesis of polyquinanes and polyquinenes.