December 2, 1976

Dr. W.J. van Wagtendonk
P.O. Box 20677

Cedar Mountain, NC 28718
Dear Dr. van Wagtendonk,

With this letter is a circular asking for help in tracing biographical
materials for a memoir of Ed Tatum. I would be particularly grateful to you
for any recollections that you might be able to offer to help 1lluminate
the early history of biochemical genetics.

I have had particular trouble getting any factual information on two
possibly related questions: Ed's visit at Utrecht in 36-37 - how he came to do
that, what he did while there, what he got out of that experience; and how
he came to Beadle's attention to be recruited into the program that was just
then getting started on the aye color hormone. Anything whatever that you might
have to say on these questions, even firm negative information, would be most
helpful.

Needless to say, I hardly wish to confine your imagination to the
particular issues that happen to be bothering me at the present stage of the
collection of material for the memoir.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/rr
Ea. co aun2