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BOARD OF EDUCATION
OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

BUREAU OF AUDIO-VISUAL INSTRUCTION ho
131 LIVINGSTON STREET, BROOKLYN 1, N. Y. 4
EDWARD G, BERNARD, Director

June 9,1959.

Dr. Joshua lederberg,
Professor of Medical Genetics,
Stanford University Medical School,
Palo Alto, Califomia,.
Hello Josh,
I had looked forward to seeing you in the flesh(no pun

intended) at the Stuyvesant Alumi Dinner a couple of weeks back.

 

Your many friends were as disappointed as I that you could not be
with us. Dr. Tatum accepted the Achievement Award Plaque in your
name. He made a few brief, but pointed, remarks anent the need -,
for untrammeled science research, He showed the qualities of the
great man that he is by remarking that for the first time in his

life he was sorry that he had not lived in New York City as a boy,

s0 that he couaéd have attended Stuyvesant. We'll just have to make
him an honorary alumnus. "

The problem of delivering the plaque to you ( and it is a
handsome one,if I do say so) was put in my lap. I would have welcomed
the chance to go to California,but sadly, the Alumni funds are being
used for scholarships ayd not for carfare to the coast. I solved the
dilemma by talking to Norm Kretschmer. He revealed that he is leaving
New York Hospital on July first to go to Stanford and join you at
the Med School. I cannot think of a more qualified messenger to turn

the plaque over to you. last week, while a few of us had lunch at

Rockefeller with Carl Berkley, I tried to coach Norm in a proper

presentation speech,but I suspect that my words are not taken as

seriously as they used to be when you fellows sat in my classes,
BOARD OF EDUCATION
OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

BUREAU OF AUDIO-VISUAL INSTRUCTION
131 LIVINGSTON STREET, BROOKLYN 1, N. ¥.
EDWARD G. BERNARD, Director

I am advising you about Norm's responsibilities ,because the rascal
said he would probably change the nameplate and substitute his own for
it, because it was such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. 50,the
sooner you stick a gun in his ribs and make him hand over the award,
after he reaches Palo Alto, the more certain you will be of getting
it. Too bad it's not a little smaller,because then I'm sure Esther
would have liked to wear it as a charm on her bracelet.

Speaking of awards ,have you thought of contributing a small part of
your ill-gotten Nobel prize money towards the Stuyvesant Scholarship
Fund? I am certain that this is an original idea that no more than
threen or four thousand other people have approached you with,but
after all,Stuyvesant has a prior place in your career to most eleemoosynary
(that's probably misspelled, and I don't even know what it means,but it
seems to fit in right there) institutions. Ww” have issued more than
$28,000 worth of scholarships in the few years since the Alumni were
reorganized. We know that the money has been well spent,because the
recipients have carried forward the Stuyvesant Traditions in their
colleges and careers. The awards are made to boys who otherwise would
not te able to go to college. Think on it.

For the first time in 20 years my family is remaining home for the
summer. I'l] be teaching a class in lab techniques at City College and
also acting as Demonstrator for an NSF Sumer Institute at Bronx Park,
If you and your wife should reach New York during the summer we'd be

efford you
happy to #it,)some relief from the heat in our cool home at Long Beach,N.Y.

The address is 45 Barnes St. With my warm regards and good wishes,

Sincerely,

Jerry A. S