Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

Events now moved swiftly, perhaps hastened by the cable of
the 2nd of December from Dr. Weyl accepting the appointment nin princi-
ple." Evidence that Professor Veblen was putting pressure of an extreme ,
kind on the Director exists in a note dated the: 1st of December from
Flexner to Veblen setting forth the terms of his appointment by the
Board and asking the Professor to sign and return it, Flexner added
that he was 'kegotieting with the Teschers Insurance and Arutuity Assa-
ciation to the end that, in so fax as your retiring allow~nce snd your
wife's pension depend upon the Board, they will be covered by insurance
zt the expense of the Institute. "57 Professor Veblen, usually prampt in
hnswering correspondence, held his answer until certain things had hap-
pened. Then, on the 13th of December, ha returned the contract, signed,
5 8
with elaborate casualness,
Flexner's response to Dr. Eisenhart's statement of policy and
principle wss sent two days after his letter to Professer Veblen. ft
safd that he agreed coqletely that the two institutions should each
pursue the path which seemed te it best, mintalning complete autonw
end independence. He addedt
In the long sun, cooperation wiTI, I believe, be most ef-
fective if each institution pursues this policy, leaving the
members of the staff after their appointment t o work out such
cooperation as m y seem to them agreeable and helpful. We
must,.,avoid even the appearance of influencing each other's
pol icy and appointments.
Whfle I am clear thzt as a rattor of principle the above sitate-
ment of policy is correct, I em not unmindful of the fact that
ue shall have at the outset to demonstrate to the tua insti-
tutions and the mathmatical world the fact that Princeton has
been strengthened, not weakened, by the location of the Insti-
tute in inmediate proximity to Princeton University. -re
transfer of individuals from one...to the other would add lit-
tle to the combined resources of both. The calling of Profes-