May–December 1954

15 June, 1954Dear G. Roger: Enclosed the book list, which I guess I did not send after all.

Dick Stillwell off tomorrow, expecting to arrive Nikosia a week from Saturday, with elder (male) offspring - June 26. Will telegraph you E.T.A., probably from Athens; told him it would not be too much trouble to be met, if you do not go yourself you will probably send Christofis. Asked him to observe and help Christofi with Gordon architecture in mind, and leave decision up to you and him, as I wrote before. You are quite right, let us cash in on his training if it seems desirable. Also offer to send him to Athens in fall holds good if you decide so. Should think you could arrange this at the Athens end.

There is a new project which concerns us only indirectly. Anthes has been to Egypt (but before all the late excitement) looking over the situation. Upshot: permission to dig, at Memphis. It is planned that he and Henry Fischer and Marsh. Project exploratory, subject to renewal on big scale or withdrawal depending on Egyptian cooperation etc. In view of fiasco made by our more famous colleague Dr. Goon in Afghanistan (he sold off all the equipment) Rainey not anxious to invest in a lot of new equipment for Egypt while in experimental stage. Would therefore like to borrow the land rover for Egypt; if expedition a success and get new car. Reluctantly consented to this. Therefore action concerning L.R. as follows: complete negotiations and get triptique, but do not take it to Polatli; leave it in Cyprus, to be picked up by Henry Fischer (if he finds that it will be possible to drive it from B eirut to Egypt without going through Israel) or to be shipped at appropriate time (if Peter Megaw would be kind enough to do this) to Alexandria. Henry will go out in Feb.; if it is to be shipped, should be shipped in Jan. All timing to be decided later. After egyptian finish, Henry will either bring it to Gordion, or leave it for future use in Egypt, in which case Egy Exp will compensate Med. Sec. I had just last week talked with Rainey about the big camera and we came to the conclusion that you might as well take it from Cyprus and leave it a Gordion; but now it is possible that it will be useful in Egypt. Henry agrees to come home by way of Cyprus, to be picked up by Henry and Ru Anthes than in our more famous colleague Dr. Goon.

The following is preliminary and confidential. Is therefore expected to yield some benefits in return; actually it does, and the administrative officers are satisfied. But it could yield more (apparent) benefits by a sort of reorganization, which would at the same time preserve the independence of the museum from the university bureaucracy. The suggestion is that there be two department which should be entirely museum responsibilities: anthropology (which would be moved bodily into the museum) and archaeology, which would mean amalgamation of you, me, Anthes, Fischer, Kramer, Dyson and (incongruously) Cammann into one department. Rainey wants me to run it; but I don't know yet, without some thought, whether I would approve of it at all, and if I did I would not want to get involved in a great deal og more administrative work. Anyway I promised to think it over, and would like your thoughts on the matter.

The decision on this may of course affect your plans for the fall term. I talked over your proposal with Rainey on his return, and we were in agreement that although not absolutely essential it would be much better if you did come back for the fall term. Various reasons. With Benson, Still well, and Cox all working on Curium material, it would be better, and add impetus, if you were as available. As for Apollo, it would be fresh in your mind, and worked on more effectively than after a lapse and interruption by the study of other material. I think that Homer is quite anxious for the publication of the hell pottery; but when I talked with him about it in the winter, he raised no violent objections to a deferment until the fall term of 1955. As to Corinth, Broneer's book on the South Stoa is already in press - he has apparently given up waiting. But knowing Oscar I don't think this is of any consequence, because I know damn well that if any of your conclusions had different from his, he would have just disregarded them anyway. I should think your publication schedule might be Apollo, Ag-Cor, Gordon Hell, C.V.A. Will check with Kidder as to whether Mrs. Doha's bequest is out at interest! Might accrue quite a lot in that length of time! No more room.

BM