CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON

1530 P STREET, NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20005-1910

 

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

December 19, 1988

TO: Genetics Society of America members

Dear Colleague:

The Carnegie Institution of Washington is creating an
endowed fellowship fund in honor of one of its most distin-
guished scientists, Barbara McClintock We ask that you join
with your fellow scientists in expressing appreciation of
Dr. McClintock's historic contributions to modern genetics by
contributing to this fund.

You undoubtedly know well the story of Barbara McClintock's
contributions to science ~- working with maize, largely alone
and without the benefit of molecular techniques -- she made what
has been called one of the most significant discoveries of
modern biology, transposable genetic elements. Subsequent work
has shown that transposable elements occur in all living things,
with the same profound effects on inheritance and evolution that
Dr. McClintock first recognized in corn plants. In acknowledg-
ment of her pioneering work, in 1983, she was awarded the Nobel
Prize.

You may be less familiar with Barbara McClintock's
association with the Carnegie Institution. In 1942, Vannevar
Bush, then president of the Carnegie Institution, appointed her
to be a staff scientist at Carnegie's laboratory at Cold Spring
Harbor. Dr. McClintock now holds special status within our ,
Institution as a Distinguished Service Member.

Barbara McClintock symbolizes a fundamental purpose of our
institution -- to support daring, unconventional work by ex-
ceptional individuals over a long period of time. For a youn
scientist to have the opportunity to work within one of the five
Carnegie research departments is an experience of great worth.
The Barbara McClintock Fellowships will be awarded to a new
generation of scientific talent, but will recall the past
accomplishments of an outstanding American geneticist.
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We seek broad participation by Dr. McClintock's
colleagues. The size of the gift is less important than the
symbol of your giving. I am enclosing a card that you may use
in your reply. We ask that you try to return this card by
December 31st, so that we may show institutional donors, both
corporations and philanthropic foundations, the extent of

Support from the scientific community.

We are deeply grateful for your consideration of the
request and look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

 

With best regards,

Sincerely,

My —hiagrr

Maxine F. Singer

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