12 February 1954

Prof. David P. Shoemaker

Massacusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge 39, Massachusetts

Dear Dave:

I am pleased to hear from you. As to your first question, about enneamolybdomanganate ion, at the present time I do not have any plans, for the refinement of the structure. If you want to have one of your men work on the substance, please let me know. I can send you some crystals.

I have checked with Gunnar on the Brillouin section of the sigma phase paper, and have recommended that your discussion be shortened a bit. Also, I have told him that in my opinion the section shout the Curie temperature ought really to be left out. Moreover, I have recommended to him that he check through the whole manuscript again, to see if some additional shortening can be achieved without damage to the paper. With the situation as it is with Acta, I feel pretty sure that the present manuscript would be returned with a request that it be shortened, and I feel that it would be wise to do some of the shortening before submitting the manuscript. Both Gunnar and I think that Acta is the place for it to be published.

A reprint on ferromagnetism is being sent to you separately. Please let me know how you are feeling. I have heard that you got through your illness without any permanent damage, which makes me very happy.

My wife and I have just returned from Honolulu, where we had a three-weeks' stay, in large part vacation. I am putting in most of my time now on the problem of the structure of collagen.

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling:W