April 22, 1959

Dr. Leonard A. Herzenberg
National Institute of Health
Bethesda 14, Maryland

Dear Len:

{ have just come from an Executive Committee meeting
with some Interesting consequences for the Genetics Department
and for your program [n particular. As an accomodation to
another prospective appointee, but really much more for our
own benefit, | have given up the commitment we now have for
space in the Pharmacology-Anatomy Building. Instead, we have
an assignment for what should be at least equally useful
space [n the basement of the Edwards Building. The main
advantage of this Is, of course, that we will now be in the
same building although separated by three floors. There is
a convenient elevator. The area fn question will be next
to space assigned to Dr. Kretchmer for the Pediatrics Department.
He has Indicated the likellhood of developing a program with
some rather elaborate ramifications into blochemistry,
genetics and tissue culture so from this aspect too, wou
will not be lonely.

The main problem this raises is one of timing. {ft
is possible (by no means ceraaln!) that we may not easily
be able to get the new quarters ready for you before January |.
! am writing now just to explore how this would effect your
own plans. {tf [ft would work no great hardship on you to
postpone your arrival until that time, | think we could do
the Job somewhat more easily and possibly better. However,
If this does raise serious difficulties for you we wil! find
some way of arranging matters to your conbenience. Don't
worry about any possible bearing this has on your research
grant; In fact It would be some advantage to have some lead
time on it so that funds can be committed for your equipment
In time for them to arrive at thé same time you do.

Iwill walt to hear your reaction on this timing questicn.
On the whole, | think this is a splendid improvement In our
own prospects and should certainly make it much easter for
us to communicate intimately.

As ever,

“

Joshua Lederberg