January 27, 1931.
Dear Professor Noyes:
I received the accompanying letter from Slater a few days ago. I do not want to leave
Pasadena nor go to Cambridge; but I have felt for some time that Slater and I could
very profitably work together. I know of no theoretical physicist whose point of
view approaches mine more closely. But I doubt very much that M.I.T. would provide
facilities for research as good as those here (in particular research assistants);
although Slater’s letter is so vague on these points that anything might be possible.
So although I don’t plan to leave Pasadena, I am not sure that I should reject this
offer without learning more about the position. I would probably be interested in
a joint appointment in physics and chemistry. Houston suggested that as research
professor I might feel uncomfortable among a group with heavy teaching duties in a
large institute; he seems contented that he stayed here.
Linus Pauling
