June 22, 1948
Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Dept. of Genetics
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Dear Josh,
Mr. Norton Zinder, whom I have already orally recommended to you, is a first-rate man. I would be very happy to have him work as a graduate student with me were it not for the fact that he hopes to study medicine as soon as he can.
It is hard for me to understand why Zinder is not at Medical School now. He was only 18 when
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he first applied and was considered too young. At that time he was also a bit too sure of himself. Since then he has developed a good deal more self-discipline. I, and the other pre-medical advisers, find him very personable and we are strongly for him. He has the ability, enthusiasm and training to enable him to develop into a top-notch investigator. He has taken a lot of work in Zoology, including a graduate course in Genetics, and has always stood academically at the head of his group.
As a Columbia alumnus yourself, I assure you that you will be proud of Zinders [sic] performance at Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
Francis
Francis J Ryan
Associate Professor