December 24, 1951

Dr. Robert Paul Levine
Departaent of Blology
Amherst College,
Amherst, Mass.

Dear Paul:

Esther and I both were very sorry you had changed your plans, and
could not mest us on your trip East late last summer. The Minneaphais
meetings were mildly interesting, somewhat dampened by heavy downpours.
We spent most of our time outside the sessions, including a trip around
the very pretty lake districts.

How are you settled in your Amherst position? As things have turned
out here, the space additions did not materialize when expected last
summer, and we would have been miserably crowded had you chosen to accept
your fellowship here. It would have been well worth it to us, but possibly
not entirely fair to yourself. The delay is not indefinite, and by 1952-
53, we should be very well settled. In addition, most of my present crew
id graduating (1 Ph.B., a couple of M.A.'s) and we'll have more room on
that account alone. If you know of any promising seniors who want to do
graduate work in genetics (including microbial) there should be a number
of vacancies for teaching or research assistantships,in thia department.

What about your own plans for next year-- have you anything definitely
lined up for part or all of it? Fe'&® love to have you visit us, if you
could take anough time to make it worth while. Next sumner, however, I am
hoping very seriously to take off a couple of ménths (probably June and
July) and work somewhere else for a while. Have you preserved any warm
feelings for microorganisms?

Esther and I would like to wish Flizabeth and yourself the very best
for 1952.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg