HARVARD UNIVERSITY

THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES

16 DIVINITY AVENUE
CAMBRIDGE 38, MASSACHUSETTS

March O, 1957

Professor Jugshua Lederberg
c/o Ciba Foundation

Wi Portlar.d Piace

London Ww. 1

Dear Josnua:

I am of course one of those wno are delishted
with the realization tuat darvard is about to maks you
an offer and hope very much that you may take it. You
know that it had beer my nope that something of this
kind happen years ago, at the time Italked with you about
it. I probably should have said something to you about
whet went on at that time, and I should lixe now to tell
you.a little about it, with the thought that it mtesht cla-
rify a situation wiich must still seem obscure to you.

what had happened is that Fresident Conant had in-
vited nominations from our Department for one or more
speciel professorships that would nave been supported out-
side the popular departmental budget. The call was for
one or more persons of highest distinction, and a depart-
mental committee was aprointed to look into this. Kenneth
anc I were very anxious that you be considered in this con-
nection, end it was then that we talked with you to find

out whether you would be interested. 1 can only tell you
chat this whole business never got anywhere. Cur aepart-

ls to Mr. Conant that
The whole business
erg with sir. Conant

>

tne possibility of

4

mental committee made certain proposa
never went to a successful conclusion
oes

nko

me

Gied not with a bang but witr a wh
finally saying that ne would look
such appointments on nis own. NO voueh appointment was in
fact ever made, i had sone on a Sigma Xi tour to the Seut
west in this period and took the opportunity to interview

a number of persons, specifically asking atout you, in order
to provide the matertal that mirht have been used in con-

sidering you for an appointment. Mien Ll -ot Lack to Hdar-
vard, this was all in the unsatisrectory state I have des-
cribed. There was really notaing I could write you, because
the business had neither not anywhere nor nad it been termi-
nated. It wes just left hanging. snat Tf c

iu Pact did was
-=
wt

to write all my thoughts and all the information 1 hed ob-
tained about you in a letter to the Frovost, and with
this the wnole tusiness ended.

The next development took a quite different form,
It was the necessity for the Department to make an appoint-
ment in genetics at a junior level out cf its resular teach-
ing budget. It was this that led to the appointment of
Faul Levine.

I have explained all this to vou vecause I realize
now that, since you were told nothing more, you may have
supposed all sorts of things other than wnat actually oc-
curred. I am very happy that now, in a quite extraordi-
nary way, this whole business has been reactivated, and
that under the auspices of a new administration. The
letter that I mention above also was brought out of storage,
and everything seems finally to be in the clear -- at least
at our end. All of us here will be delighted if you decide
to come to Harvard, and I hope that is what you will do.

With all regards and good wishes.

Sincerely,
LO N
é ‘