Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2382

Letter to Judge Walter M. Bastian, United States Court House, Washington, D.C.

September 3, 1954

 

 

Dear Judge Bastian:

Please let me thank you for an enjoyable visit and for your very kind consideration of my desire to have the National University School of Law grant me an honorary degree in addition to the bachelor’s and master’s degrees that it con­ferred upon me many years ago.

 I do not ask this for personal reasons alone but espec­ially as an aid to The Science of Society Foundation which is now in process of becoming a legal entity under a modest endowment for research into the voluntary social structures and their underlying operation and influence in the advance­ment of mankind. In pursuit of this object it seems desirable that I should enjoy in full legitimacy the title of “Doctor” which I have very often to disclaim but by which I am, none the less, very commonly known.

 Upon my graduation in law and taking an office jointly with the former Commissioner of Patents, E. M. Marble at 918 F Street, my previous contacts led me to practice chiefly in the field of engineering and patent law for some four years and then back into engineering research and development, chiefly aeronautical, until 1930 when I merged all my interests with The Bendix Aviation Company, continuing with them as a research engi­neer. Two years later I found it possible to retire from those activities and to resume my long-standing interest in the Common Law develop­ment of free institutions with particular reference to real estate organization and administration on the community-wide basis. I am determined now to devote my remaining years to continuing research along these lines and the publicizing of results as described in the tentative prospectus that I left with you some days ago.

 Following your very kind favorable assurances and your instruction to visit Mr. Eugene C. Carusi and Mr. Godfrey L. Munter, I have done so and have been very pleasantly received by both of these gentlemen. They also seem favorably disposed towards my request and to agree with your opinion that the School’s having recently discontinued from active operation will not necessarily forbid its action in the manner desired. Mr. Munter has asked me to see him again in about a month from now.

 Again thanking you, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

 

Encl. Clipping from

Int’l World Who’s Who, 1947

 

SH/m