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[[preprinted]]
SOUTHERN EDUCATION FOUNDATION
INCORPORATED 1937 FROM
(PEABODY-SLATER-JEANES-RANDOLPH FUNDS)
811 CYPRESS STREET,N.E., ATLANTA 5, GEORGIA 

J.CURTIS DIXON - VICE-PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FRED McCUISTION - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
[[/preprinted]]

March 16, 1953

Dr. F. D. Patterson
Tuskegee Institute
Tuskegee Institute, Alabama

Dear Dr. Patterson:

Involved as I was in a meeting at the Booker T. Washington High School in New Orleans the latter part of last week, and with little chance to see the daily papers, I failed to learn of your decision to leave Tuskegee until I got back to Atlanta yesterday.

Mrs. Keller, here in the office, has told me this morning that the newspaper report indicated that you would leave about June 1 to become Director of the Phelps-Stokes Fund. My reaction to this is one of mixed emotions. I am very happy to see you get into this work because I know you will enjoy it and will do a good job with the Fund, and because I am looking forward to the pleasure of working with you in areas of common interests. On the other hand, I regret very much to see you leave Tuskegee even though I know the job there is a killing one. Not only have I enjoyed our association in the work of the Foundation, but also I have appreciated your work as President of Tuskegee and your cooperation with the programs we have undertaken jointly. I have always felt and still feel that you, far more than most college and university presidents, had your feet on the ground, faced issues fairly and squarely, and were always interested in the practical aspects of any angle in education.

I hope that your new job will not affect your membership with the Southern Education Foundation because I have come to depend on your good judgement so much and because we need the sound and logical thinking which you do.