Prof. J. A. Jenkins
Department of Genstics
University of California
Berkeley 4, California

Dear Jim:

Thanks for your note. A sample did just arrive from Mexico, unlabelled, but
unaistakably indigo. Thank you very moh for your good offices.

Wofortunately, the material seems to be the refined dye, indigo, and not its
iaeediate precursor, iniican (indoxyl—beta-glucoside). I looked to see whether
the indigo was appreciably contaminated with indican; unfortunately it de not.
Having gone so far, would it oacasion great trouble for you to find out how the
dye is prepared, and if so whether it would be possible to obtain a saaple of
the plant extrect before it ia hydrolysed and oxidised? If not that, then even
the dry leaves would be useful! But don't trouble yourself if it means a great
bother, embarrussment, or socio-psychological revolution. It would be a shame
to let this beautiful stuff go to waste. ould Kay have scm use for it? (There
is an ounce or wo).

I hope my occasional impatience dossn't show through too strongly in these
letters. It has been somthing of a burden to be thinking of trogplages at once—
indeed there is plenty of distraction here what with the organisational work in
Medical Genstics, and our forthcoming travel, beyomi the usual routine of lab.,
courses and writing papers. We will beth be relieved when this phase is over.
However, I haven't been able to think of a better plan or schedule than the one
now under discussion, so we will just have to wait it out and hope it comes
through. I'm sure we would all be unhappy if the timing were atreéohed out any
further, and against thet contingency, we oughtg to keap in aind juet how far
we could go in Glannini before it is fully vacated. I suppose we have to wait for
the allocation of funds in any case.

It is hard to imagine that these details are whdlly unrelated to the organiza~
tional problem of Agriculture at Berkeley. The scene is too far away for ms to
sense the prestige-values iat Wisconsin, Agriculture rates very high indeed, being
the center af our solentific reputation, so what you say about the source of these
values is certainly true-- this depends in large measure, however, on tha inter-
dependence of the colleges, viz. whether Genetics is a department in a college or
in the University, presumably the latter]. If there is a major restuffling going
on, I know you will be very auch alive to any developments that would give Genetics
a volce, perhaps even a formal place, in any growth of medical activites at Berkelgy.
From all you've said, I've gathered that in the long run, medicine ie likely to
wax as Agriculture wanes —ani this 1s perhaps symbolic of what (I feal anyhow) is
happening to Genstics as a science. Berkeley has a tremendous potential for medical
genetics --as among its faculty in Genetics, Zoology, Cancer Research, Virus Lab.
and Bacteriology, and if medical research is going to be emphasised over the years,
I hope the Genetics Department oan furnish the leadership to ensure that genetics
is aptly represented both as a science and as a department. This may or may
not be quite ethereal just now & I have not forgotten your admonition not
to press too many ideas at once. The administrative forms would vary depending
on local circumstances: we have worked out what should be quite a happy one
here, but which might be quite malapropos elsewhere.

and this one
m This last paragraph/coverm matters we can as well discuss in August; however,
I am quite anxious to heas of the progression of policy regarding Agricul ture
at California, aa well as the teac problem. What are the basic science depart—
manta that would be left? Will the VP/Agr. remain at Berkeley, or move to Davis,
and would this complicate our administration?

Enclosed is an itinerary. It will be most kind of you to met us at the airport:
would you check that again with Seymour?

Please let me know in good tims if I should be thinking in advance of plans. I

don't want to bring along any unnecessary baggage, even papers, & I might well
mail sketches in advances if there is some likeiihood of discussing them in August.

With best regards,
Yours simeerely,
shen Lederberg

i
P.S. On checking the enclosed itinerary, I note that we will be arriving at

0530, that is A.M. and I would not think of gettdng you out at that unfodly hour.
However, I imagine it is something of a chore to get to Berkeley from the airport.
As most of our time will be on University business, dc you think you could manage
to get a state car, and have it left at the airport. If that doean't work out,

we might just rent our own. However, there 1a another flight (UA 515) that gets
in at 0640 at Oakland airport: is this measurably more convenient to get to than
the SF airport? If there is limousine or reasonable taxi service from Berkeley to
Oakland airport, we might well arrange this. Can you advise?

P.?.5. On more than one occusion, Tiendell Stanlsy hos expressed hie particular
interes’ in ay coming to Berkeley, and his wish to help the negotiations in any

way he could. I leave to you the pros ani cons of ssummte fostering that interest
should the occasion aries,