THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Madison 6
DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS January 9, 1950

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Genetics Department

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

At the time you received the recent offer to join the Institute of
Radiobiology and Biophysics at the University of Chicago the College
Administration had under consideration certain space reallocations
which, if agreed upon by those immediately concerned and given Univer-
sity approval, promise to improve significantly working conditions in
the Department of Genetics. Since the laboratory quarters now avail-
able to you, more than anything else, limit your present opportunity
here, the inadequacy of these was emphasized particularly in conveying

_ to Dean Froker the unanimous recommendation of your Departmental col-

leagues that the University of Wisconsin make every effort to retain
you on ite staff.

I can assure you of Dean Froker's earnest desire to cooperate with
the Department in working out its particular space problems and thus
to meet your more pressing needs. ‘The additional room which it is hoped
will be assigned to Genetics, however, is involved in a pattern of shifte
affecting other departments also. The Administration, therefore, cannot
proceed to a decision based upon our needs alone. Furthermore, final
decision on the matter rests outside the College of Agriculture. It is
with the thought, however, that you would like to know the specific pro-
posals which we have made to Dean Froker and the action he preposes to
take upon them that I am writing you this letter.

It is Dean Froker's hope that upon completion of the new Dairy In-
dustry Building, Veterinary Science will be enabled to vacate the Genetics
Building and that their quarters will then de assigned to us. This would
add about one-third to our floor space and should provide substantial re-
lief from the present overcrowding in your laboratory and elsewhere in
the Department. The plans for reallocation now under consideration by
the College Administration give effect to our request for this space.

Dean Froker has expressed hie willingness to seek University approval
for mechanical installations which will improve summer working conditions
on the top floor of the Genetics Building. Cost estimates are now being
prepared by the Service Department on (1) a power ventilating system to
serve the whole floor, (2) means of abating the dust nuisance in the
building and (3) mechanical cooling of the microbial genetics laboratory.
The proposal is that the ventilating equipment be installed when Veterinary
Science moves out but that action be sought at once on the artificial cool-
ing unit. We have stressed with Dean Froker the fact that the kind of work

in which you are engaged cannot be done efficiently in your laboratory in
the summer without this kind of equipment.
page 2-~January 9, 1950 J. Lederberg

May I add a brief statement concerning your prospects for advance-
ment in salary and rank. It is a source of gratification that two
years ago and again last year the Administration approved the Depart~
ment's recommendation that you be given substential salary increases.

I can merely express my confidence that your colleagues in the Depart-
ment will again give me their fullest support in seeking the further
advancement which your services to the University of Wisconsin merit.

Dean Froker tells me that on informing President Fred of your op-
portunity to go to Chicago, he was assured of the President's interest
and cooperation in improving your opportunity here. The space problem
in the Genetics Department and the specific needs with reference to the
top floor were discussed, I am confident that when the plans are con-
pleted and cost estimates are available there will be sympathetic con-
sideration of our needs by the President.

Our efforts to enlarge your opportunity at Wisconsin have been
met on every side by a cooperative attitude and a desire to help in
meeting the existing needs for better physical facilities as quickly
and completely as is feasible. Needless to say this response bespeaks
an earnest desire all around that you remain at Wisconsin.

Dean Froker asked me to inform you that he would be glad to con-
fer with you personally should you desire to consider any of these
matters further with him,

Sincerely yours,

Q CV

R. A. Brink
Professor of Genetics

/s

cc R&R. EK. Froker