May 7, 1945

Professor Donald H. Andrews

Department of Chemistry

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Dear Donald:

I am writing to ask some questions in connection with the system of using prepositions in the oral doctorate examination. We instituted this system in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering just ten years ago, and we are still making use of the system, with which we are well satisfied.

It is my understanding that after Dr. Harker came to Hopkins, the same system, or one closely related, was put into operation by you. Harker was the first man to use propositions in his examination at the California Institute.

Would you tell me whether or not the system is still in use at Hopkins, and give me some additional information about it as used by you - just when it was started, what the regulations are (if they are given in the catalogue, will you please have a copy sent to me?), whether you are well satisfied with the scheme, and so on. Also, if you know about any other American university which uses the system, please let me know. I suppose that you yourself are interested in it as a result of your period of work in Holland.

I am thinking about writing a little statement on this subject for publication in Science. It seems to me that doctorate examinations tend to be rather dull for everybody, unless some means is found to enliven then.

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling

LP:fh