Typed Letter Signed

This physicist served as the second director of the National Bureau of Standards (1923-32), and is highly regarded for his work in standardizing light and temperature scales. TLS, 1p, 8" X 10½", Washington, DC, 1927 November 2. Addressed to Samuel W. Stratton (1861-1931), creator and first director of the Bureau of Standards. Very good. Lightly age toned. On Department of Commerce letterhead, Burgess writes his predecessor in his capacity as president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a bizarre subject: "We appreciate very much the splendid spirit of cooperation which our representatives... received during their recent visit to your Institute in connection with the laundry deterioration problem... your Research Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, were particularly kind in lending every possible effort to aid us in this study...." Talk about airing your dirty laundry.... Unusual.