UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS
BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA

July 23, 1957.

Dr. Joshua Lederberg,
Dept. of Genetics,
University of Wisconsin,
Madison 6, Wisconsin

Dear Joshua,

I haven't been able to move very fast on the indican quest
because so many of the people here are out of town or are in their
usual summer hiding phase. Finally, however, I did talk to Professor
Woodrow Borah, Department of Speech. In keeping with the traditions
of that department he is not a speech specialist, but a historian who
is interested in the colonial history of Mexico. He has spent a great
deal of time in Mexico and knows how to operate there. He suggested
that you write directly to:

Dr. Alfonso Caso, Director
Instituto Nacional Indigenista
Paseo de la Reforma 336-3
México, D.F.

This is the man at the top, and will be able to get the leaves if any

one can —- I expect that you will need leaves; wouldn't the crude extract
rapidly change to indigo after being extracted? In writing to Caso I
would explain precisely what you need, how much, etc. ~~ make a good story.
Borah, who is personally acquainted with Caso, said that you should use
his name as the person who suggested that you write to him (Caso). It
wouldn't hurt to stress your connection with the Department of Medical
Genetics. Unfortunately, I could not find Rappoport to learn how many
leaves to import and just what procedure to follow. Perhaps you can do

it there. It would be well to have somebody to negotiate in your absence.

I have just come from a talk with McNeill, the Vice—President's
assistant. He has given me a great deal of hope that your appointments
can be made and the laboratory will be readon on July 1, 1958, I have also
talked to the architect, Cochrane Browne, and he suggests that we discuss
plans when you are here. He himself will be away on a holiday but one
of the other men from the Architects and Engineer's Office will be avail-
able together with the executive architect of the firm Ratcliff and
Ratcliff. I have made a tentative date for the afternoon of August 2.
Dr. Lederberg.....page two

Yesterday, Seymour agreed to meet you at the San Francisco
Airport between 7:00 and 7:30, Friday, August 2. I will be in the
office (Hilgard) from 8:00 on and will be happy to see you both
whenever you arrive.
Sincerely,

St ;
C kK A. Jenkins

Professor of Genetics
Chairman of the Dept.

JATsw