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^Cattimai Oxnijntfthtr ^nrirtu 
WASHINGTON 6, D. C. 
JOHN OLIVER LA GORCE 
PRESIDENT 
October 27. 1954 
Dear Dr. Schmitt: 
Thank you for your letter of October 26th and the 
invitation to take part in the proposed Belgian Congo 
expedition under the sponsorship of the Smithsonian 
Institution, the personnel to include Mr. and Mrs. Bruce 
Bredin, Dr. Wharton, yourself and a photographer. 
Unfortunately three of our staff field photographers 
are away under medical care for an indefinite period. 
Such being the case, with commitments already made and 
the fact that we are short-handed I regret to say that 
after careful consideration we cannot avail ourselves of 
the opportunity which you so kindly offer. This decision 
is reached after a careful survey of our photographic 
situation. 
I have asked the heads of our Photographic Laboratory 
and our Illustrations Division to see if they can locate 
a competent photographer whose name we can send you 
promptly who might be helpful to you in findino a aood 
man. 
With renewed thanks for your advising us of this 
opportunity plus renewed regrets that we cannot furnish 
the photographer. 
Dr. Waldo L. Schmitt, 
Curator, Department of Zoology 
Smithsonian Institution, 
Washington, D.C. 
