1953: McFadden's death (2 of 2)

9 Plutarch Street, Athens

12 August 1953Dear Mr. Rainey,

I am at length sending inventories of goods at Curium House, prepared during Christophis' recent stay in Athens from data he had brought with him from Episkopi. The lists are five in number: I. Curium House Furnishings, with indication of ownership. II. Purchases by GHMcF not of record in Cyprus as donations to Curium Excavations. III. GHMcF's private property in care of Groom-gardener. IV. Curium Excavations property in care of Draftsman. V. Books not recorded in Curium Excavations Cypriote account.

It was not always possible to distinguish with certainty between private and Expedition property, but I think that the errors there may be in attribution of ownership will be found, on balance, to favor the Estate rather than the Expedition. George was accustomed, when he judged something desirable but not strictly necessary for the Expedition, to pay the cost himself and enter it in no account. Such purchases were in effect gifts outside his usual large contributions to the University Museum for Curium, but they have been listed as still his own property in Inventories I and III and - more precisely - in Inventory II as not of record as donations to the Expedition.

Practically all of the furnishings listed in Inventory I should remain at Curium House, though items 7 & 8 (garden table and chairs) and 29 to 32 (candlesticks, bath scale, radio) may be considered luxuries, and the curtains and carpets (22-24) are of extra ordinary good quality for excavation headquarters. The iron chest and fireplace back (33-34) were brought to Episkopi when George sold the "Samothrace" and belong without qualification to the Estate; the chest serves well as a strong box, if its massive key is kept in a safe place.

Nearly everything listed in Inventory II also should remain at Curium House. The one unqualified exception is (11) the cine camera, which is obviously not needed by the Expedition at the present stage of its work. The instantaneous camera (10) has been very convenient but is not indispensable. This is true also of the new Leica (9), which would, however, be much more used than the Polaroid, if it should remain. (Geo. gave an older Leica to the Excavations last year (Inv. IV, 35), and I presume Roger or/and his associates will bring a camera or two, so that this Leica II,9 will doubtless be dispensable). The calculating machine II, 5 and the typewriter II,4 should remain for use this coming year: the calculator will be very useful, as in the past, and two typewriter will be none too many. (The second is Inv. IV, 37, turned over to the Expedition two or three years ago). The Humber saloon car II, 1 and the bicycle II,3 (though old) were used by George only except by special permission down to July 1952 at least, as his own property. The station wagon II,2 was from the beginning used as a general-purpose excavation car, but I have not found it entered in the Excavations account nor seen evidence, apart from the use consistently made of it, (which, to be sure, is pretty good evidence) that George did not consider it his own. It is fair to add that Joe Last is of opinion that the Land Rover was a gift, of the sort George sometimes made "when he thought that a purchase for the Expedition might be considered extravagant". It would be desirable to have both cars through the coming year, if practicable. (It would be unnecessary to employ a chauffeur, since both the draftsman and the houseboy are licensed drivers - as are doubtless all the American members of the Staff). The hectograph II,6 was purchased for the Expedition through Geo.'s secretary and should be paid for, but the cost ($11.90 plus postage etc) was so little that it probably need not be taken separately into account. The levelling transit II,7 was also bought in America for the Expedition (when the Univ. Museum's good Theodolite was taken away). On what account it was charged at the time I do not know. In any case its present value is a good deal less than its cost. The final three items of this inventory II, 35-37 are handsome hand embroideries from Lefkara (famed for its lace industry for five centuries at least), too fine for excavators' use. Whether George considered them gifts to the house or as loans, I do not know.

Only the third paragraph of Inventory III concerns the Expedition, and that only as prospective tenant of Curium House. The garden tools etc listed, except possibly the motor lawnmower III, 21 and the sprinklers III, 24, which were brought from America, and the pump III, 28, are not of much value, but all may well remain available for use in the garden and orchard and lawn. The last four items of this inventory belong of course with house furnishings. The Hurricane lamps III, 35, are ordinary farmyard lantern.