January 22, 1931
My dear Dr. Sabin:
As an incentive and perhaps an inspiration to the women of the country, Good Housekeeping has undertaken to find the twelve most distinguished American women now living.  Five prominent men - Dr. Henry van Dyke, Newton D. Baker, Booth Tarkington, Otto Kahn and Bruce Barton - acting as a board of judges, agreed last September to attempt an evaluation of the names of women submitted by our readers as meriting this tribute.
Over a period of four months readers enumerated, on a specially printed ballot, the women who in their opinions may be termed "America's Great Women."  In many thousands of letters from our readers more than 2250 different women were proposed.  At the end of nearly five months tabulated votes were placed before the judges and, as our wire stated, you are one of the twelve women selected in the final ballot.  On the opening page of our March issue the complete list will be printed.
We need not say that we concur heartily with the judgment of our readers and of the board in agreeing upon your name as the one most representative of the distinction of American women in the field of science.
With the utmost regard for conservatism and dignity we are publishing during 1931 a series of full-page portraits, one each month, of the women selected, together with a biography.  Leon Gordon, a New York portrait painter, with an established reputation, has been commissioned to paint the canvases for us.  The first of them - Jane Addams' portrait - appears in our January number.
We shall be deeply indebted to you, Dr. Sabin, if you will let us know at what time during March or April it will be convenient to your plans to sit for Mr. Gordon.  Ordinarily four or five consecutive sittings are sufficient.
We have real faith that your cooperation will be invaluable in fixing the thoughts of American women upon the ideal of service - such splendid service as you have given to your work.
With our most cordial esteem, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Arthur McKeogh