Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

Then came the French Consul to offer me on behalf,of the
Ministry of Education a professorship in the College de
France. Since I did not have sny moxe time to dispose of f
declined this with thanks. He carre the next day to say that
Z need not not c-it myself to care to Paris; he would just
like to have my word t bt I would accept me~bership in the
faculty. To refuse-this would appear to be unfriendly, and
my friends in Paris would have been justified in seeing it in
that light....
I h ve been cmitted to go to Oxford for several years past.
But this is a special project without famal requirements.
You will see that my real cmismnt in Princeton will be
respected, If znyone can feel injured, it is myself, who
have given up pa t of my rest and peace. But that is my
responsibility, 88
Understandably, this letter did not reassure the Director. Ein-
stein had suddenly b ecm a symbol of the resistance of all European Jews
and liberals against Nazi appressfm. He was not only the greatest phy-
sicfst in th world; he wss also s political figure of heroic proportions,
This was not in Flexner's opinfon a good thing. Moreover, the Professor
had cmitted himself to be abroad during part of the Institute's term,
He had left his papers in Germany, and evidently forgot that he was to
take up his duties from the beginning of October and to remain at the
Institute at least until the middle of April each year. Flexner was at
first assuasive, offering to initiate salary payments imnediately, and to
send money for transportation expenses for the Einsteins and Dr, Hayer.
But Dr. Einstein courteously refused these overtures; he had money outside
Germany, and was not ready t o cam to America. He must do all he cwld
to help others, relatives and friends, to leave Germany.
Hearruhile the press notices of new offers and acceptances mltf-
plied. The Founders took to clipping them and sending them to F1eme.r
without c-nt, Hardly a week passed in those troubled days without some