Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

He may have been hoping to secure funds for Dr. Riefler's work
from some other source. The record shows several such attempts, none of
which was successful. Thus he had asked Dr. E. E. Day, Director of the
Social Sciences for the Rockefeller Foundation, for a substantial amml
grant for economics immediately after Riefler's appointment. That dis-
appeared without record. Then he had besought another philanthropist,
who was interested in the better teaching of economics in secondary
schools, to endov the Institute's studies so that better economics might
be taught, but without changing his friend's mind. Still pending as late
as March 1963, however, was a continuing petition to the Rockefeller
Foundation for a large gift to endowment, which for some reason Plexner
was always hopeful of securing. 70
But Professor Riefler was evidently told to ascertain profes-
sional attitudes tovard his proposals and what degree of cooperation
with hi; working plans he could find. It sems clear that he was not
informed either of Mr. Bamberger's new posture, nor of the apparent hope-
lessness of his situation as far as Institute financing was concerned.
The sum with which the Pounders had met their "present carnnitments*
amounted to just under a million dollars, and sufficed only to meet the
cost .of the land and to capitalize a part of the humanists' salaries.
By early March the economist had satisfied himelf that highly
placed authorities in official and academic economics were solidly in
favor of his proposed researches; that they regarded him as entirely
capable of organizing and directing them, and the Institute for Advanced
they
Study was peculiarly able to sponsor them; andhad promised valuable co-
operation which in some particulars would amount to large financial