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Show » 3 April 1951 Prof. 'Aziz Suryal 'Atiyah Faruq I University Alexandria Dear Prof. 'Atiyah, Ify brother-in-law, Dr Ishaq Ramzi, in Cairo suggested that I get in touch with you about the matter I have in mind. While I was during some work at the University of Leiden this past winter I became acquainted with Prof. J. H. Kramers, who holds the chair of Oriental studies there. Prof.^Kramers expressed great interest in the possibility of securing an exchange professorship at one of the Egyptian universities for the academic year 1951-52, and as I was coming on to Cairo from Leiden I offered to explore the possibilities there on his behalf. Unfortunately the illness of one of our children during my brief stay in Cairo prevented my doing very much Alii I was there, and that is why I am now writing to you. I am sure that you are familiar with Prof. Kramers1 work in the past and the work he is now doing as one of the chief editors of the new edition of the Encyclopaedia of Islam. He has spent some time in Turkey, but has never had a chance to become well acquainted with Egypt. He speaks English fluently, and his knowledge of classical Arabic is" such that I am sure that he could lecture in that language, though he freely confesses that he is unsteady in the spoten dialects. He has such a sympathetic nature and charming manner that I am sure that he would get along very well indeed with Egyptian students. His health has not been so very good of late, so that he could not undertake a strenuous schedule, but the incomparable sun of Egypt should be a tonic for him in the winter time. I wonder whether you would be so kind as to write to Prof. Kramers and let him know what the chances are for securing an exchange professorship. I should like to suggest that you write to him directly in order to save time. ~If the outlook is not bright at Faruq, perhaps there might be something available in Cairo. Wham I was in Leiden I thought that possibly something might be arranged at the new Muhammad 'All University |