October 26, 1973

Ms. Mary E. Cunnane

Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation
1 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, New York 10020

Dear Ms. Cunnane,

IT am responding promptly, as you requested, to your letter of
October 23rd concerning Dr. J.F. Crow's application for a Faculty
Scholar Award. I have known Jim as a fellow professor since he joined
the Genetics Department at Wisconsin in, I believe, 1948. He has had
a stellar career as one of the most respected of population geneticists
in the United States. His modesty and humility are very inadequate witness
to the real depth of his contributions to modern quantitative genetics.
He has had a remarkable array of students with careers that match his ow.
He has continued to remain actively involved in his research programs despite
the harassments and interruptions of important administrative responsibilities
at Wisconsin. He has, of course, played a central role in the formulation
of radiation hazards policy, from a genetic standpoint, and has contributed
a great deal to the rigor and temper such as can be found in this contentious
field.

His book with Kimura also stands as one of the landmarks in the field.
I think you will have no difficulty in {dentifying him as among the top
people in the U.S. if not the world in his field of research. His past
productivity should reassure you about the certainty of a fruitful outcome
from his collaboration with Kimura and Maryyama and his frankness in indicating
his opportunism in selection of the most fruitful research directions
should commend him to you rather than the reverse.

His application has my full support, and I am sure will be a credit
to the foundation if it ia awarded.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/rr