1953: McFadden's death (1 of 2)

May 19, 1953Dear Rodney:

Glad to get your letter of the 9th. Quite understood that your head was full of Cyprus, so didn't expect to hear while that was going on.

I trust you have gotten by this time my write-up of our conference about Curium here. I should have added that Mr. Madeira was supposed to be present too, but wasn't able to at the last minute. He said he would go along with what we recommended, however. Fro feels that is sufficient go ahead for making plans. Our recommendations will have to be approved by the Board of Trustees, of course, but he thinks that will be automatic.

I have, accordingly, started a few negotiations. I have written Joe Last asking for a survey of supplies on hand and suggestions for supplies which will have to be brought from America. I have also written to Peter Megaw, with Fro's approval, telling him unofficially what we decided and asking for advice about getting supplies through customs. Benson called me this morning to ask about developments in view of the fact that he has been offered a job at the University of Michigan. I told him the plans and that we would like him to come, and he agreed to do so, even in view of the fact that the Board has yet to give sanction. Said his agreement had been for passage only and would still do it for that; though guess he wouldn't object to a little extra since he has just paid out $1200. to print his dissertation, which is just about out.

Think there is no reason why you should not go ahead and ask the Oberlins. The others, of course, present problems. Mr. Madeira enters the picture as regards Fales. He is not in favor of accepting, but at the same time he feels troubled because of his acquaintance with Fales' father. He would thus be glad to passoff the responsibility for saying no, if he could, I gather. That is why the matter was referred to Mr. Hill. I guess. Rather cruel, and we can't go on passing this matter back and forth across the ocean.

If you would like to write Mr. Wace about Bamboula, bearing in mind his present plans, I should be glad. You know him better than I. I should think a letter addressed to him care of Peter in Nicosia might catch him, or failing that one care of the BSA in Athens. Virginia, I suppose, we can approach only in a tentative way at this point. Have heard she was asking for a Fulbright in Egypt.

Saul, of course, is in it too. He had written me about George, so in answering him last Tuesday when your letter had just come I took the opportunity of asking him to straighten me out about what he was going to be responsible for in the Bamboula publication, since I did not know the details. He writes back: "There is really no agreement of any formal kind between Rodney and me on Bamboula. The two months that I was there I first made a survey of what had to be done and then sailed into the architecture and got it finished up. My estimate was that it would take someone already fairly familiar with Cypriote prehistory about 15 months to prepare the stratigraphic considerations until this other job is done, and more probably longer, at least to prepare the tombs and objects for publication. In my own section, I imagine that if Benson goes out he will need at least that long, and more probably longer. I suggested to Rodney that I would need about $6000. to do the job. As for my doing it, I suggested to do the job and that the family out for a year, but that while I was not anxious to do the job, I'd be happy to act as editor or general overseer, or what-have-you, if he wished to get the Bamboula volume out. I have a stake in it."