Box 64

Kean discusses the honorary degree given to Reed by Harvard University. Reed considered this one of the greatest honors in his lifetime. There is also a discussion of the proper quotation for the honorary tablet outside of the room where Reed died.

Hench wants to know if McCoy is still alive. He discusses the biography by Hagedorn which credits Wood with the suggestion that led Sternberg to form the Yellow Fever Commission.

Hench informs Truby that he has assembled all the necessary data from the National Archives. He would appreciate any comments Truby has to make about these materials. Hench makes comments and raises questions about the information in the documents.

Kean discusses the career of McCoy. He answers Hench's questions from a previous letter. According to Kean, Gorgas initially rejected Reed's mosquito theory.

Truby believes that Agramonte was an immune although there is no official documentation.

Hench mentions his interest in the story of Reed and yellow fever. He requests a meeting with McCoy to clarify a published statement.

Hench sends a detailed list to Lyons of the photographs, correspondence, and documents that are to be used at the unveiling of the bust of Reed in New York City.

Kean relates the incident in which Carroll broke quarantine and ruined the validity of the experiment. Reed told Kean that he was quite irritated with Carroll's actions.

Hench explains why he has not had time to write the yellow fever story. He hints about a possible breakthrough in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Kean states that his reference to Gorgas' Final Report should not diminish Gorgas' credibility and reputation.

Kean is concerned that he has wrongly portrayed Gorgas as slow in supporting Reed's findings.

Hench is anxious to see Truby's book. Hench then mentions that he read Finlay's book, which supports the Cuban perspective that the Americans only confirmed, not proved, the mosquito theory.

Kean comments on Wood's manuscript. He believes that Reed or Lazear would have volunteered to be inoculated before Carroll. Kean suggests that Lazear believed in the mosquito theory and was the first to try it on himself.

Kean finds that Wood's book is a well-written depiction of the yellow fever demonstration.

Truby writes of Lampson's novel on yellow fever. He believes that it distorts the truth and perpetuates false statements.

Hench congratulates Truby on the publication of his book.

Hench expresses delight with Truby's book, and considers Kean and himself as “godfathers” to this literary work.

Kean reports the death of a former participant in the yellow fever experiments. He is delighted with Truby's book and approves of Laura Wood's book on Reed. He offers his opinion on world politics and war shortages.

Lambert informs Truby of the death of Clyde West.

Kean complains that Lawrence Reed is not answering his letters. He comments on Laura Wood's new book on Reed. He is delighted with Truby's book and offers a suggestion to remedy a printing error.