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February 28, 1957
Dear Syd:

We have the numerous schedules, syllabi, etc., and will be working
to give our interaction with them.

This is proving to be an incredibly hectic year. We could easily
have managed and enjoyed our projected trips, if a 'normal!' state of
affairs prevailed. However this has happened: (more or less independehkly)

1. The Medical School, under the leadership of an energetic new
dean (John Z. Bowers) has become énterested in genetics, and I am being
memaiat nominated for the chair of e new department of Medical Genetics.
There is a certaih amount of organizational work to be done, in con-
nection with plahhing a ndw research wing (scheduled for 1959 compl.)
in which Medical Genetics will be housed. We will also be seeking another
major appointasnt.

2. Almost simil’aneously, I have had very attractive offers from
Stanford and from Berkeley. I am atill very mech interested in the latter,
1) notwithstanding.

3. Last night, I received a phone call from Professor Thimann at
Harvard. Yes, you guessed it.

4. As we know, we are going to a Ciba symposium, and will be
away March 6-31. [You can write m c/o Ciba Foundation, 41 Portland Pl.,
London W.1 until then].

5. I have promised the ms. for a book on Bacterial Recombination by
this summer. If not for (1-4), this would have been easy.

We are still quite anxious to make our Australian visit, and as of
this moment are quite prepared to continue per present plahs. However,
I would like to ask you very tentatively how it would strike you if

we advanced our sehedule by two months. That is, we would arrive in
early August, and make the visits and meetings already planned, and
teach through September and October. Don't take this up with anyone
else till you've told me how this would work in with your academic
schedule. This rearrangement could have some other advantages, @.g.;
in regard to climate ami to Burnst's schedule (since he'll be away
for some part of June-July. )

I think I'd better drop my proposal for extra lectures, until ny
mind's settled on these other matters. I had thought of half-a-—dozen or
so on general issues of physiological genetics, but anything needed
might be worked out after arrival.

We are not certain that this change in date would be advantageous
to us, but it might turn out so, and for that reason I wanted your
opinion first.

With all the best,

soled tanarson

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