January–June 1947

Printed: THE HOMESTEAD / HOT SPRINGS, VIRGINIA

Printed: BOOKING OFFICES NEW YORK WALDORF-ASTORIA WASHINGTON THE MAYFLOWER

Printed: FAY INGALLS PRESIDENT / HAROLD P. BOCK GENERAL MANAGER

June 30, 1947The Director University Museum 33rd. & Spruce Streets Philadelphia, Penna.

Dear Mrs. Godfrey:

Dr. Daniel has sent me a copy of his letter of June 4th to the Director of Antiquities in Cyprus regarding the recent division of finds. I was terribly sorry to hear that he was not satisfied with the division. I had hoped, as you know, that it might have been possible for him to undertake the division himself, but as this was impossible, Dr. Hill and I undertook this for him on behalf of the University Museum. Dr. Hill considered the division to be quite fair and informed the Director of Antiquities of his satisfaction. We did the best we could acting on Dr. Daniel's memorandum. The Director of Antiquities confirmed the division which had been undertaken by the curator of the Cyprus Museum for him. Both Dr. Hill and I advised Dr. Daniel as to the results. In his letter Dr. Hill wrote that he believed the curator had been more generous than we should have been in his place. I first learned of Dr. Daniel's dissatisfaction through the Director of Antiquities as he cabled and wrote him of his disapproval without first clearing through us. I am sorry Dr. Daniel found it expedient to write his letter of June 4th to the Director of Antiquities even though it may have had its desired effect, and obtained for him the tripod which we would all like to have for the University Museum. In his memorandum which Dr. Daniel gave me to serve as a guide in the division of finds from his site he states that the Museum's minimum requirements would be either tomb 25 or 26, and all of tomb 39. These are the three best tombs. Sympathetic as Dr. Hill and I were toward Dr. Daniel's hope of obtaining two out of three of the best tombs, which was our hope too, I think we should have all been reasonably prepared for disappointment. As it is we obtained two of the three minus one handsome terracotta tripod. It is some, though small, consolation to us all that if ever a tripod of similar size and shape were to turn up in Cyprus, ours will be returned to the group to which it belongs. The Cyprus Museum is not in favor of splitting up tombs and has done so in the past, as in the case of Lapithos, contrary to Dr. Daniel's belief as stated in his memorandum, only upon the insistence of the University Museum. They have made another exception now in order to let us have tomb 39 which we want, although its attraction is diminished by the absence of this fine piece. Again this has not been done on their own initiative. Dr. Daniel regrets that there are not more fine pieces for us to exhibit in the main gallery. The reason for this is that apart from tomb 26, which Dr. Daniel agrees should remain in Cyprus, there were not many fine pieces up for division. Dr. Daniel writes in his letter to the Director of Antiquities that if the objects alloted to us in the division "were to come to the Museum as the sole tangible result of twelve years of work and expense in Cyprus, I feel certain they would destroy all interest in the future of the expedition, I feel certain they would destroy all interest in the future of the expedition,