Last two emails from Leo Hickey (1940--2013)

一位生物学史专家曾跟我说，现在的人们习惯手机电话、短信或email等联系，传统的纸质通信很少见了。未来的历史学家如何研究历史呢？如何面对深埋在虚拟世界的史料呢？

今天我开始清理电子信箱之工作，发现耶鲁大学已故古植物学家Leo J. Hickey教授2012年5月写给我的两封电子邮件。我们主要谈论了两件事：一是关于《叶结构手册》中文版；二是关于建立“中国国家自然历史博物馆”之科学梦想。Hickey教授认为：“All great countries have such afacility and I hope it is just a matter of time until China decides to do this.I cannot imagine that it would not be extremely popular and also a major forcefor advancing research.”

2012年夏我返回美国。虽然我离New Haven不远，但一直没有再访耶鲁。

2013年2月9日Hickey教授在康州Branford去世。我计划写一篇题为“我所结识的第一位美国古植物学家”之文章，但还没有完成。

孙启高

2013年6月27日写于美东

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-----原始邮件-----I
发件人: "Hickey, Leo"
发送时间: 2012年5月30日 星期三
收件人: "孙启高"
抄送:
主题: RE: about Chinese & English version of Manual of Leaf Architecture

Dear Dr. Sun,

Thank you for sending me the pages from the Chinese-English version of theManual of Leaf Architecture. The sample pages look very nice and I think thatthe decision to include the original definitions in English is very wise. Ishall be very happy to write a shot preface to this edition and will try tohave it to you in two week's time.

Sincerely,

Leo J. Hickey

 ===============
> -----原始邮件-----II
> 发件人: "Hickey, Leo"
> 发送时间: 2012年5月18日 星期五
> 收件人: "孙启高"
> 抄送:
> 主题: RE: uncertainty of the future of Chinese palaeobotany
>
> Dear Dr. Sun,
>
> Thank you for your e-mail note with the news of the translation of theleaf architecture book. I look forward to seeing it and hope that itcontributes to the advancement of paleobotanical studies in China. I also wishyou well in your efforts to establish a national museum of natural history inChina. All great countries have such a facility and I hope it is just a matterof time until China decides to do this. I cannot imagine that it would not beextremely popular and also a major force for advancing research.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Leo J. Hickey
>

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相关阅读：

 古植物学名家--耶鲁大学Leo J. Hickey教授(1940--2013)逝世

 http://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-225931-661477.html

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