February 2, 1968

Dr. Orville G. Brim, Jr.
Russell Sage Foundation
230 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Dear Bert:

Dr. Luigi L. Cavalli-Sforza is one of Italy's outstanding
geneticists and biometricians. He is, to illustrate his world
reputation, the current President of the International
Biometrics Society. I have known him professionally and
personally for many years and have only grudgingly given up
the idea of enticing him to leave Italy and join this depart- .
ment. The attached documentation will give you a more ao
explicit summary of his reputation and accomplishments.

WiNG

In recent years he has more and more frequently expressed the
intention of moving the center of his research interests into
behavioral genetics. At least from the stand point of the
behavioral sciences, this would have to be applauded vigorously,
After consulting with Dave Hamburg and myself he decided to
apply for a fellowship for 1968-69 at the Center for Behavioral
Studies as the best way to formulate his ideas for this kind

of reformation of his research program. This happens to be a
particularly good time because of the likelihood that he will
be moving his laboratory to Rome with the construction of a
new facility for the International Laboratory of Genetics

and Biophysics.

The Center has awarded him a fellowship but unfortunately his
application was processed too late for him to be able to
appear on the current year's roster and Preston Cutler tells
me that barring some extremely unlikely cancellations, they
would have to put him off until 1969-70. Partly, this stems
from some mutual miscommunications about the most desirable
time for his fellowship visit. As matters now stand, 69-70
O. Brim - 2 - 2-2~68

would be quite awkward for him precisely because of the prospect
of move of the laboratory. Dave and I then thought that a good
second best program for Cavalli would be to spend the year in
our departments as a Visiting Professor. Fven though this will
not give him such free access to the relevant community at the
Center, this will not be entirely closed to him and, besides,

we believe we have something to offer ourselves as well as to
get from his presence during that year.

The problem that I am writing to you about is to find some
assurance of support on rather short notice that will make it
possible for us to back him up in adhering to his original plans
for coming to Stanford next year. He does have a rather large
family and travel costs will be considerable. I therefore have
in mind the need to raise $30,000, or a substantial part thereof,
~ $25,000 for salary and $5,000 for travel and incidental expenses.
Is this something that would be within the interests of the
Russell Sage Foundation and is it possible for you to react on
the kind of time scale that I believe you will perceive essential
for these purposes?

1 propose to ask this of you as an underwriting in the sense
that we would seek help from some other sources, possibly
including some Federal funds, to mitigate the expenses to the
Foundation if this is possible. Furthermore it is not out of
the question that an opening will appear in the Center's roster
in which case he could proceed with his original plan.

In any case, I am confident that this program will have sufficient
appeal on its own merits but I realize that T way be asking for
an unreasonable accommodation with respect to the informality

and the urgency of my request.

I would appreciate it if you would call me in the event that
there are any points that could be cleared up by personal
conversation,

Dave liamburg asks me to stress his equally enthusiastic interest
in Cavalli's coming and in bringing this proposal to your
attention.

Sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg,
Professor of Genetics

see. ee

JL/gem

Enclosures
ec: Dr. David Hamburg