Unnumbered pageScan 52 of 56
4222 Spruce St. Philadelphia, Pa., 19104
July 8, 1985Dear David:
I have your letter of June 30.
No, as yet no one has been given responsibility for the Kourion publications and records. A successor to me as Keeper of the Collections of the Mediterranean Section has been named (at least a part-time successor) but he has no responsibility for any of the excavation material of the section, only the objects in the collections. Mrs. Dixon is only the departmental secretary, taking care of the teaching aspects of the staff and their students. I am writing to Spyro today to suggest that he decide to whom to assign the responsibility for the supervision of the Kourion (and Lapithos) publications and records.
In summertime everyone is apt to be away, you know. Professor Iakovides in Greece, Keith in Turkey, and Donald in Egypt.
I dimly recall that there was a request for something from you which I fear got shuffled under. The Section has physically been in a state of great confusion since April getting ready for (weeks of moving things around) and then involved in new construction. I.e., the Seminar Room being made into two new offices and an overall airconditioning system being installed. Neither project is yet done and may still not be for some time. When they are done then the whole place will be painted and new lighting installed - both in hopes of adequate visibility. What state the section will be in by late August when you propose to come I do not venture to say. It would be well to consult with the prospective Mr. Kourion-Lapithos a bit before, I would think.
I am afraid your request in these conditions is either versunkt or verloren or spurlos, probably all three. If you will send it to me again I will take it up with whoever Spyros appoints for our Cypriote publications.
About dealing with the press I expect you had better take that up with the prospective Kourion-Lapithos person when appointed. It would be my thought that any UM mss. should be gone over and approved by the chairman first. As I told you I had the secretary put what you sent me with Spyro's mail to await his return in early October. I mention in passing, for your guidance, that three of our Medit. Section publications which have appeared recently have been extremely unsatisfactory as to the quality of the photographic illustrations. I have no advice. With mosaics this is quite a crucial aspect.
I will let you know what I hear from Spyro.
Best greetings -
Handwritten signature: Roger
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain