Feynman, Richard P.

A RARE LETTER FROM RICHARD FEYNMAN TO HIS FATHER MELVILLE, REASSURING HIM THAT MARRYING ARLINE WILL NOT AFFECT HIS CAREER

Richard Feynman's childhood sweetheart, Arline Greenbaum, was diagnosed with lymphatic tuberculosis in 1941, an often fatal illness at that time. Despite her diagnosis, Feynman was by all accounts a devoted partner and, in this letter, he shows himself to be a man dedicated to both loves of his life: Arline and physics.

In this rare missive to his father Melville, Feynman tells him that he took his suggestion to speak to Professor Smyth, the chair of the Princeton physics department, about how marriage to Arline might affect his career. Feynman attempts to reassure his father, telling him that Professor Smyth did not take private matters into account when hiring faculty, and that he expected others did the same. Feynman also relays that he spoke with the university doctor, and that he believed there was little chance that Richard would catch tuberculosis if Arline were in a sanatorium.

Posted less than a month before his marriage to Arline on June 29, 1942, this letter and a similar one to his mother (see lot 18), were Feynman's attempts — perhaps futile — to assure his parents that marriage to Arline was not foolish or indeed, dangerous. Shortly thereafter, in March 1943, Richard and Arline would leave on a train for Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Feynman would take up his post at Los Alamos, and Arline would live out her remaining two years at Presbyterian Sanatorium.

Richard Feynman's autograph letter reads, in part:

"Dear Pop,

As you suggested I asked Prof. Smyth about how he thought my marriage might affect my career. He said the only thing he could think of is that possibly some might not hire me because they figured I carried too much of a burden. He said, however, that he tries as much as possible to keep out of people's private affairs + that it didn't make any different to him at all, + he supposed it probably wouldn't make much difference to others.

I then pointed out that I would be in contact with an active case of T.B. + so he might not think it a good idea for me to teach, because it might affect the students. He said he had not thought of that at all, but, since he didn't know too much about T.B., he would call the University Doctor ⁠— Doctor York.

[...]

The doctor said he heard I had a little problem, + that he'd like to know if I know a few things. First he told me that one of the most important things for a T.B. patient was freedom from worry, etc. ⁠— what he called emotional security. I told him I realized this + that it was one of the important reasons for my getting married ⁠— because she would worry far less if we were married, than the way things now are.

Then he asked if I knew that it would be very bad for an active case of T.B. to become pregnant. I said yes, again ⁠— + told him there would be no chance of it."

RELATED LOTS:

Lot 18