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Columbia University -
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NEW YORK 27.N. Y.

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

November 11, 1958

Prof. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Josh,

It was very kind of you to send such an explicatory letter to
Kirk. As I read my copy the curtain of the past unrolled to
reveal an exciting time. I had actually forgotten that I had
arranged a small stipend for you when the V-12 program folded.
whereever did I get the money? Thosewere not the days of big
grants for my research. But your nostalgia must be worse than
mine. 1 never did and do not now consider myself your Peacher.
I was just less able than others to keep you down.

Although I believe there are many more serious factors that
keep Columbia College students out of real Biology, I agree
with your comments and concur that there is an outmoded organ-
{zation of subject material at Columbia's two campuses. I
would have no objection to your sending your thoughts to Kirk
and to whatever Departmental Chairmen you wished. Conversely,
in the strongest terms I want to indicate that I will not lead
any group in a reorganization that I believe has an insignifi-
cant chance of being realized.

As comments on the two points in the last sentence I submit
that:

1. I sense an active hostility on the part of our
administration towards science which probably stems from .
unwarranted feelings of inferiorityon Ue hart the Guumonals + pectod
Atiandigla .
2. I sense a strong resentment on the part of my
colleagues towards microbiology inasmuch as it is not "Zoology."
(Yes, I believe my colleagues are either stupid or prejudiced
and some are both.)

3. Rose, whom I have never met, has given me reason to
believe that he did not change his department's name to Micro-
biology because he liked the sound of the word.
Prof. Joshua Lederberg Page 2

4. My longestanding efforts to introduce real Biochemistry
to the lower campus have met with failure, beginning with the
days when I tried to get Ed Tatum here.

5. You may recall I was. once instrumental in helping
defeat the establishment of a Genetics Department because I
was convinced it was a schism designed to satisfy the urge to
continue to administer on the part of one of my colleagues who
had completed a six-year term as Chairman of Zoology.

6 I have the reputation here of being a manipulator to
my own selfish ends.

Clearly you are saying to yourself that these are only obstacles
to be overcome. But now the final reason: I no longer have the
necessary ambition, poise, or confidence.

These comments are made with the same sense of privacy as
yours were sent to me.

I hear you will soon visit the Shaws. We just had a visit
from Hez = a happy one as usual.

All the best to you and Esther,

Sincerely, |

Francis J. Ryan
Professor of Zoology

FIR smsm