THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Madison 6

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS

ys

on

February 7, 1957

Dear Luca:

Again I mst apologize for being such a poor correspondent, but I
think you may be able to sympathize with my excuses. I had had all kinds
of good intentions about working on our book over Christmas, and since
then, and had good reason to believe it should be possible, since the main
burdans of paper-writing had finally ended. [I am, however, preoccupied more
than I had expected with the review on 'Xecombination' which has evolved
into a monograph, and looks now as if it will be a small book all to itself.

This is proceeding fairly satisfactorily, though at the expense of other
ohligations ].

However, since early December, I have been deeply preoccppied with these
very serious issues. Tatum had resigned from Stanford University, partly for
personal reasons—- as he has just remarried— and to take a post at the
Rockefeller Institute in N.Y. The Department of Biolofy there then enquired
whether I would be interested in the vacant position, and Esther and I felt
we had to investigate this. This was therefore the eccasion for our very ex-
hilirating 'vacation' trip to Califarnia— I hope you will have received dome
pal the postcard evidence. While we were therefm however, the University of
California also picked up the scent, and we soon received an extremely attrac-
tive offer from Berkeley, in the Genetics Department. We have by no means
made up our minds, and there have been some residual problems that are approaching
solution (e.g. the conditions for Esther's working, which was in possible
conflict with some legislation, and problems of laboratory facilities). These
negotiations, and the worry of decision, have exhausted alhost all of my
energies. I am very anxious that we should make a conclusive decision before
the end of this month, as I do not want this concern $o follow us on our
travels. That is not quite all: there are some very exciting prospects here
now for a new Department of Medical Genetics, which would be conceived in
a fashion we both dream of, namely as a fundamental medical science embracing
Experimental work with micpopoganisms and laboratory animals no less than
physiclogical and populationzal studies on man. To repeat, we have not made
up our minds on these alternatives, but we must, for example, face tke very
real possibility that we may be moving to California. (However, this would not
be before July '58). You can imagine the turmoil into which these affairs
have thrown our plans amidst our preparations for travel. It is no simple mat-
ter for us to make even preliminary plans for moving~- we have to consider
apace, facilities and support for up to 12 people, and to try to preserve
continuity of working conditions at least for them, if not for myself.

I could not help but feel certain pangs at reading your letter of Dec.
29 when we had returned from Berkeley on New Fears. Quite selfishly, I am
glad to observe your renewed interest in a position in the U.5., though I
very mich regret the conditions that impel it. However, it is obvious that
in order tp press such an appointment at long distance, you will have to rely
on the good offices of many local agents. The present confusion of my own
affairs simply poigjts to a mltiplicity of possible opportunities, and

in this state of imocutempy high entropy (the usual laws of thermodynamics
being reversed in these affairs, as the crystalline states are the least
likely to be altered) I have no doubt there will be opportunities that would
be quite attractive to youyself. The more so, as you have innumerable friends
in the U.S. to help prepare the way.

Such developments do not, however, proceed of their own accord and especially
because of your distance you will have to take a more active part in them,
both persohally and by proxy. The most faworable opportunity would arise if
you could arrange to revisit the U.3., say for a year, so as to be 'on the
spot'. Whether here, or at Berkeley or Palo Alto, I would be delighted if
you could be our guest again. I do not think that funds for your temporary
support would be a problem -—- it is mch less than you should have as a
regular salary, say, but with a few months notice I am confident we cogld
get something like $5500-6000 set aside for yop for a one~year's associateship.
And I do not doubt that similar temporary expedients would be possible at any
of a number of other institutions that you might use as a base.

On the other hand, it might be possihle to evoke some more immediate
reactions, ¢.g., among the 2/3 vacancies that I will know to be open in a
short time (I have not mentioned, further, such things as a resuscitation
of the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, which will become a first-class
Cell Biology Research Institute, e.g., with Billingham and I hear possibly
George Klein: the director, who has become a good friend, also wanted (me)

a bacterial geneticist). To exploit these, and other possibilities, it would
of course be mich better if you were nearby, but meanwhile it would help if

I could have a dossier (curraculum vitae; bibliography & perhaps a few sets

of outstanding reprints; photographs; list of references) that could reinforce
any suggestions I or others could mke. I am anxious to discuss this in greater
detailx with you (v.i.) but it would be very helpful if you could send such
material posthaste for immediate use. If, for example, we went to Berkeley,
it would be a delight to us if you were at Stanford (which is about 30 mi.
away). However, it would be wrong for m to encourage your hopes unduly, as
there are very substantial problems against such tele-local approaches.

tHisHe

I have just gotten to real your Chapter II, and it was a heart—(and mindo)
warming experience. I really have to congratulate you for your ability to
strike the right balance of simplicity and information in this kind of pre-
sentation. There is very little I would want to change in it, and what there
is can better be gone over in person. There are a few minor syntactieal errors,
but by and large it is excellent scientific prose, not to mention a well organized
ensemble of ideas. If this is the pattern of the book, there will be no doubt
of its value. I will put some immediate comments on a separate page.

Now we do have a great deal to talk over: I just wish we could manage to
visit you in Italy this trip, but that seems out of the question. Here is
our itinerary: -- no better, I have put it on a separate sheet so it can be
replicated. 4% = =Now, during the meetings a% Glasgow and the Ciba, we
are not going to have a great deal of free time. Would it be possible for us
to meet in London, around the 15th-17th? If you would, you could help show us
the city, and we would have the best occasion for les tetes—a-teses we needs
We could also fly up to Glasgow together. You know, the CIBA foundation would
probably house you for those days, as well as for the symposium, if you let them
know in advance you want to make more extensive scientific visits. Please do it.

Yo s¥ as ever,

“7 VELA