To the President and the members of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University.

Dear Sirs:

Ever since I have been at Indiana University, which is almost a year now, I have wanted to tell somebody how happy it has made me to be able to continue my studies and to enjoy the opportunities the University offers. I have told this often to all my friends at the University, and now that you have again waived my payment of fees, I realize that it is to you, Mr. President, and to you, the members of the Board of Trustees, that I should speak my appreciation and thanks.

Although you did all this for me without even knowing me, I thought it would be good ‘if I tell you a little about myself, so that you get some idea for whom you are doing these things, and what it really means to me to study in an American University.

I am twenty years old, the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Heinrich Lederer of Vienna. As a child I was given the benefit of schooling in Vienna and in Switzerland, and also travel throughout Europe. My parents intended that I should have a complete education suited to my gifts and needs, and comparable to that of my brother, who is a graduate of the School of Medicine of the University in Vienna. And then you know what happened. Overnight Vienna was transformed into a sea of swastika flags and Vienna streets were overrun with armoured cars and Nazi uniformed police. My father had been a supporter of Schuschnigg, and he suffered the penalties. All pur plans and hopes, and all the security of our present and future were gone. When we were compelled to give up our house, and my father his practice of medicine, and I realized that all opportunities were closed to me, I pe suaded my parents to allow me to leave home. I hoped to reach America, “das Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten”, and after many months, by way of Geneva, Paris, and London, I did so.

By that time I had almost given up hope of continuing my studies. I thought, however, that I would leave nothing untried, and I applied for a scholarship at the International Student Service in New Yorx. It is hard for me to describe how happy I was when I got the news there after a few weeks that I was accepted at Indiana University. I had no idea what American college life wold be like then, but I can say now that my first year of it has been the most instructive and one of the happiest years of my life. I hope very much to be able to attend for another year after this one and receive my Bachelor’s degree.

I want to thank you with all my heart for the opportunity you have given me, and I want to assure you that I shall do my best to deserve your favors. I have applied for my first American citizenship papers, and nothing could please me more than to live always in Indiana, where I have found so much friendliness and kindness and generosity.

Yours Sincerely,

Lotte Lederer