May–December 1954

Dear G. Roger:

25 August 195425 August [handwritten: 1954] On my return I find your two letters, Dick's, and two films from Rochester (I guess from there). Anyway, one of the films is your # 6 and all the pictures on it are O.K. The other is an outdoor film with mosaics and statues-onOtheOgrassand it also is O.K.; but it is not one of those of which you send the list. Your # 7 and 8 have not yet come here from Rochester. Will let you know if they do come in time. In the matter of Christofis I think it a very good solution. I talked about it with Hiram some time ago, and she said that she would be willing to make any final publishable drawings, renderings, restorations etc. from her snuggery in New Haven provided she was given the necessary measurements (which she thinks Chr. could do) and such supervision as was needed for one who had not seen herself. I think that I mentioned the possibility of Chr. coming to Gordion when I wrote to Raci three weeks ago; perhaps you might mention it again in Ankara, and see if anything can be moved from there to get the Tk consulate in Nikosia instructed to issue the visa at the proper time. As to his going to Athens this fall, I think I suggested it in my letter no. 17, of 17 March, page 3 paragraph 4. But with the stipulation that he was not allowed to go anywhere near Mr. Hill while in Athens. As to finance, arrange it as seems most convenient: in my former letter I said Gordion would pay it. If it is most convenient for Curium to pay it with expected repayment from Gordion, O.K. What we should pay Chr. while in Turkey I do not know; arrange it with him. I should think somewhat more that what he gets in Cyprus - enough more to be tempting, but not exhorbitant, as after all in Gordion he will have no expenses other than personal ones. Arrange it as you think best. Please thank Dick for his letter in this matter, if he is still with you; I do not write him because I am lazy and might not catch him there. During my vacation (1) trip I went to the meeting of the arch. club in Boston, of which Dick is a member; the attendance was slim but a pleasant time was had by all. George Hanfmann was not in town so I did not see him to ask about the activities of the Deke. I did talk with Glanville Downey (who has been all summer in Cambridge, and will give courses in Harvard in the fall term, prior to returning to Dumbarton) and he said that the Deke had sobered down quite a lot - or rather, recovered a lot from his cirrhosis - and was working all summer in Cambridge, though he did not know exactly on what. Sterling did not volunteer any information. So I really made little progress in finding out the activities of the Deke. Will find out from George H., unless Dick wants to do so direct. Dick will be amused (if he is there) to hear that in the absence of D.M.R. and J.P.H. we elected Walter Graham and Bill MacDonald, who had been black balled year after year by the two aforementioned. N.B., you were nominated and your name placed on the list for consideration next year. Not much doing here and most everybody away. I have to get together a loan for ca. 1 September, which is dull. Also another for later on. Temperature 93; first hot day since I went away. For my absence I found a competent but expensive dog sitter; onmy return yesterday found all the animals blooming, but very big and hungry. Now 4 big ones and 16 little ones cluttering up the yard, one having gone to Princeton. Charles will pick up two on his return to Cincinnati from the cape in about two weeks. One more due to go to Princeton shortly; am thinking of keeping two, and that leaves eleven disposable. Will advertise in M.L.Times around labor day when dog-hungry people get back from vacation. But you may find yard still swimming with dogs on your return. N.B. for your info. if interested: classes for fall term begin week of Sept. 27. I guess if you leave on the 12th as your latest says what with Ankara and Athens you will turn up here around the last mo. On matters financial: we have written to Fro in London to sign and send back a check for $ 1250 on the Chase Bank account, for Hiram. She will be here last half of September and part of October finishing up museum coin and Gordion plans business and she hopes to have an extra bathroom etc. installed in her house in New Haven while she is away and to use the first half of the Curium money for it. I didn't see Fro before I went away and forgot to leave a note for him. He has a grant from some foundation for the inspection of museums, European Dept. (American Dept. was in the spring, and he was away inspecting much of the time) and left last week, not to be back until the end of November. As I didnt see him I dont know what if any progress on possibilities of Ecbatana. But anyway count of Chase acct. being minus 1250 at about Sept 15. In case this is the last moment before you leave for Turkey (but a letter next week should still get you in Cyprus) the business I had in mind in Gordion was Cemal, Abdullah-Bayram, roof of house, sherd collection, Gordion plans which Hiram lacks and which you probably talked with MJM about (who is to bring them home) visa for Christofis. N.B. - I am unexplainably short about 3 Afghanistan films and suspect I may have left them at Gordion inside the cassettes when I stopped there on way home in Nov., would you look in the cassettes in the darkroom (the permanent Leica ones) and bring home whatever you find in them if anything for developing here In Athens - arrange Christofis business with Travlos and expenses as seems best. Might drop a faint hint that if J.T. will not be too busy (but probably he will be in Athens he might like to visit Gordion ???? I mean next spring. When may we see Mr. J. Benson here? David Overgrown has mended and stored all the pottery in the cellar. No more roo... [handwritten: signature]

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