Video
Letters from Agate #2: H. Cook to J.D. Figgins: Sept 1924
Transcript
Agate, Nebraska, September 17, 1924. Dear Figgins, The enclosed letter is just received from Gregory. I have not answered it, as of course my answer depends in part on what I hear from you in reply to what I wrote to you a few days ago, as to my going on there for a period this fall or winter, to study your material, and otherwise help with it as desired. Of course - could go ahead and study the skull here, and if new, describe the species as based on that skull! But I do not want to do that, for several reasons. First, the skull is not entirely typical, or average. In the next place, the type specimen should be the very best and most complete specimen available, for reasons that are obvious. In the next place, it wants to be one of your specimens, not the one you gave me. From preliminary examinations, I am of the opinion that it is new and I have no desire to relinquish the study rights to any New York understudy, as long as you feel as you do about that matter. They have ample undescribed materials stored and at home, without coming out here and describing our stuff for us, at least so it appears to me. And I would particularly like to study and describe that material, if possible. And as I said before, were it not for the fact that I cannot afford to do so at this time, I would gladly do it on my own time and at my own expense. However, owing to present stringent financial conditions in the ranch business, I simply cannot afford to do that.
Kindly returned the enclosed letter as soon as convenient, for, as above stated, I have not yet answered it.
I like Gregory personally, and in all dealings that I've had I've had with him, our relations have been most pleasant; but I don't want to answer this until I hear from you, and get your ideas on the matter.
Wish you were here to help me shoot and eat ducks. Have killed two dozen yesterday and to-day, and most of them are gone already!
The splendid mineral specimens that you sent to Chadron arrived safely, and were greatly appreciated, by everyone. Professor Barbour was up, and helped to catalog and arrange them, along with other new material.
With kindest personal regards. Sincerely yours, Harold J. Cook.
Description
Harold J. Cook's letter to J.D. Figgins on September 17, 1924. The Gregory mentioned in this letter refers to William K. Gregory. He worked at the American Museum of Natural History. He also taught at Columbia University, which may have been where Harold first met him as a student. Note: It is read by Ranger Tera Lynn. It is translated into ASL; has closed-captions, audio description, and a transcript.
Duration
3 minutes, 28 seconds
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