Correspondences to and from Dr. Atiya dated 1950-1960 concerning lectures on the Mount Sinai manuscript project

Page 32

V * T H E 9Wi A.A I if-' ': ' V E L A N D M U S E U M OF A R T 1 1 1 5 0 EAST B O U L E V A R D AT U N I V E R S I T Y C I R C LE CLEVELAND 6, OHIO CABLE ADDRESS.MUSART CLEVELAND SHERMAN E. LEE, DIRECTOR TELEPHONE, GARFIELD 1-7340 Dr. Aziz Suryal Atiya 1335 Perry Avenue Salt Lake City .3, Utah June 5, 1963 My dear Dr. Atiya: I have been meaning to writ® to you for some time to tell you the pood news that I am. finally and quite unexpectedly planning to go to Mount Sinai this summer. When I was in Ann Arbor last year, I talked.: to George Forsyth. He, as you <now, is working with Dr. Weitzman on the survey at Mount Sinai. He suggested that I should come and look at the textiles. It so happened that I am going abroad this summer and therefore plan to fly out to Egypt and go on to Mount Sinai for two weeks in the hopes of finding some exiting textiles, as you once prophesied I might. I will certainly let you know the results of my expedition. I have a second purpose in writing to you at this moment. Recently, a local friend of the Museum brought in a manuscript scroll of which I enclose a couple of photographs. As far as I can tell this is Coptic and I would presume that it might be Ethiopic. I would be very grateful if you x«uld look at the photographs and tell me what you can about the nature of the manuscript and its dating. I presume, of course, that it is religioxis, and either lithurgical prayers or biblical excerpts. A translation is not necessary; all I would like to know is the general nature of the contents, and if you can cast any light on the provenance and date. The roll was acquired, from a local bookdealer who has no knowledge whatsoever of its previous history. I hope that you will be coming East again this summer and that you will havs time to stop In Cleveland. I do not expect to leave for Europe before the middle of August, and perhaps not before the first of September. It would be a great pleasure to see you. here, and should you not be staying with the Harrises, my husband and I would enjoy the opportunity to have you as our guests. My kindest regards to you. and Mrs. Atiya, Very sincerely yours, Encl. Photos Dorothy G. Sheph/rd Curator of Textiles and Near Eastern Art