November 9, 1965
Dear Elsie:
Ever since your letter arrived, I have been adamant that I would agree to NO MORE WRITTEN PAPERS.  I am fuming now about a couple that are due and not written.  I also feel strongly that the literature is being cluttered up by the same information re-written for this and that journal.  I think that every paper should contain some definitely new material.  Obstetricians have access to two good recent articles on Drugs in Pregnancy - one by Peckham and King and another by Mellin.  Why another? - which will, for the most part, quote them.
After this tirade, let's explore the other tack.  The Table of Contents of your proposed volume looks good, with several new authors to write for the obstetricians.  If I don't agree to write the article on The Drug Problem, someone else will, for it should be included in a volume of teratogenesis.  Thank you for including me in the list of proposed authors, for indeed I would like The National Foundation to be represented in this volume.  Finally, I am about to consult with you about part of our future program, so I'd better play ball!
So O.K.  I'll do it but it will probably be less than ten printed pages, thus allowing someone else to extend himself.
With best wishes.
Sincerely yours,
Virginia Apgar, H.D., M.P.H.
Director, Division of Congenital Malformations