9 January 1961

Dear Peter,

We were glad to have your Christmas card. I am sorry that your box is still here. I'll try to get it off soon.

Perhaps you know that Crellie's little son E.C.P. Jr. was born 31 December. All is well with them. Lucy nurses with success so far, I judge. Crellin is quite a pater familias, n'est ce pas?

Peter, there are great plans afoot to make a big thing of the Daddy's 60th birthday this February. He knows nothing of this as yet but I don't see how we can keep a huge banquet, etc. secret. Now what would be the most marvelous would be for all of you to be present too. (We could keep that a surprise!) I have written Linus and these plans are just starting and may come to nothing.

At the big ACLU garden party for us in September, 1500 people, many asked if our kids were about.

We had a beautiful box from Linda and Barclay. They are having a good time I think. It seems too bad that half of you are in Europe on this 60th birthday. Still I think it might be worth it to make the effort. What do you think? I have a fine TL for you [...]

I shall write to Linda too. We are extremely busy and are always having more to do! We had a fine time at Deer Flat over Christmas and New Years. The Daddy even purchased a little cake and then put "Happy Birthday Mama" on it with a hypodermic syringe. He sang too. We had a little tree and everything went along well.

I don't know what childrens books you have. Do you have "Horton Hatches the Egg"? Do you want Peter and Peggy? I'll look over your books. I used to keep up with childrens books but I've been slipping of recent years. I'll have to get in the groove again, I guess.

Give my love to Julia and to Thomas and Sarah. Love to you.

Mama

xxxx oooo Be careful to write only to me about the surprise!

9 Jan. 1961

To: Dr. Catchpool

From: Linus Pauling

Subject: Electroencephalography

I have been thinking about electroencephalography, and I think that it would be worth while to carry on some work in this field. Perhaps the heat capacity apparatus could be operated by an assistant, under your direction, and you could try out an idea or two in the field of electroencephalography.

In particular, I would like you to consider the possibility of converting the EEC's into auditory signals, somewhat along the line described in the accompanying manuscript. I feel that an investigation along these lines might give valuable results. I won't communicate details now.

9 January 1961

Dear Peter,

Mama and I have been thinking about you. We were happy to get the nice letter from you, and especially to have your account of the development of Thomas and Sarah. We are looking forward to seeing you and them soon - that is, in six or eight months.

We spent the holidays at the ranch. We took along with us a nice little evergreen, about three feet high, which was growing in a redwood pot. Mama trimmed it with little ornaments, about one centimeter in diameter. We were alone on both Christmas and New Year's, but midway between the two holidays we drove to Monterey and saw Kees Van Niel and Mimi. We didn't stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve, but went to bed at our regular hour, about nine o'clock (our regular hour at the ranch). We had chilled a bottle of champagne, but postponed drinking it (or, rather drinking half of it) until the afternoon of New Year's Day itself. Then we drank a toast to Linie, to you, and so on through the second generation, and some toasts to the third generation also, although we lumped them together - Thomas and Sarah in one group - in order to keep from exceeding our capacity.

You probably know that Edward Crellin Pauling, Jr. was born at 5:30 A.M. 31 December 1960, weight 8 lbs.

I think that I am going to be alone for a few days this week. Mama has said that she is going to go to Philadelphia for the Board meeting of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. I have tried to keep her from going, but I think that I have failed.

She and I have some schemes about how to improve the chances for peace, and we shall probably be kept busy with them during the next few months.

I am reminded to bring up a matter that had eluded my memory until recently. When Mama and I decided that we could not stay for the ACA meeting in Cambridge, I told you, I believe, that we would pay the rent of the house that you were arranging for us to stay in. Could you tell me how much is due (to you, I suppose, because you no doubt had to pay for this)? Also, be sure to send on the bill for the Penguins. I enjoy reading the Penguins, although of course I don't read all of them - some of them I am saving to read after I retire.

Yesterday it was announced that Beadle is leaving the Institute in about three months, to become the Chancellor of the University of Chicago.

Mama and I have received a letter from Nyholm, with best wishes to us for the New Year. He expresses great enthusiasm about you. It is fine that your work is going along so well.

Much love from

[Linus Pauling]