I am working on a new chapter about school choice for an upcoming book by David Berliner. I have a primary source letter from Milton Friedman to Hank Levin. However, I can’t read Milton’s difficult handwriting. Is there a generous volunteer out there somewhere willing to help? If you could leave the translation in comments that would be wonderful!

Published by Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig

Julian Vasquez Heilig is an award-winning researcher and teacher.

8 thoughts on “HELP! Anyone out there have a talent for reading Milton Friedman’s difficult handwriting?”

  3. Here are my attempts:1. “voucher system with equal (an insert I cannot decipher) vouchers that ”
    2. the “poor” (not pen) will emulate 3. standards of society 4. It does not correspond to my basic views. 5. in the sense of acquiring?? 6. items of consumption 7. Picasso, Renoir, etc., not the people who buy their paintings who (it looks like he crossed out “make”) basically innovate in the areas of taste. Hope this was helpful. Kathleen

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  4. SOmeone has called my attention to your article in the Urban Review (Current, Oct 1968, pg 25 to 32). Though I believe you reach the wrong empirical conclusion (the voucher system with equal vouchers would, I believe produce greater equality of students than we now have by far, and reduce racial and social stratification), I am delighted to have you stimulate public discussion by so thoughtful a piece.

    HOwever, I write neither to blame nor praise but to inquire.

    You quote me as saying that the poor will emulate the rich that(?) “The rich are always the taste-makers, and that is the method by which the standards of society are raised.”

    I am curious where the quote comes from. It does not ring a bell. It does not sound like something I would have said in any considered piece because it does not correspond to my basic views. I have always regarded the rich as taste-testers, in the sense of financing the new luxuries that later become items of mass consumption, but I have never thought — so far as I can remember — that the rich raise the standards of society in this crude sense. It is Leonardo(?), not his patrons; PIcasso, Renoir, etc, not the people who buy their paintings who (?????) basically(?) innovate in the areas of taste.

    Yet I am sure you must have gotten this quote from some reliable sources and I am curious what it can(?) be.

    I shall appreciate very much you letting me know.

    Please write to me at Ely Vermont, 05044, where I am spending this quarter on leave from the U of C trying to get some writing? Done.

    THanks in advance,

    Milton Friedman.

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  6. Here is my attempt. The ellipses represent words I was unable to decipher. The brackets represent what I think the word is. Perhaps other can determine the missing pieces. Reading student handwriting all these years actually does come in handy!

    Ely, Vermont 05044
    Oct 14, 1968

    Dear Mr. Levin:

    Someone has called my attention to your article in the Urban Review (Current, Oct. 1968, pg. 25-32). Though I believe you [reached] the wrong empirical conclusion (the ….system with equal…) …..would, I believe, produce greater equality of [students] than we now have by far, and reduce racial & social stratification, I am delighted to have you stimulate public discussion by so thoughtful a piece.

    However, I write neither to blame nor praise but to inquire.

    You quote me as saying that the pen will emulate the …. ….. “the rich are always the taste-makers, and that is the method by which the standards of …. are raised.”

    I am curious where the quote came from. It does not ring a bell. It does not sound like something I would have said in my considered piece because it does not ….. to my …. …..I have always regarded the rich as taste-testers, in the sense of …..the new luxuries that later became (become?) tens of …consumption, but I have never thought—so far as I can remember—that the rich raise the standards of society in this crude sense. It is Lemardi, and his patrons; ….., Renai, etc, ….the people who by their ….who ….basically innovate in the areas of ……

    Yes, I am sure you must have gotten the quote from some reliable source & I am curious what is can be.

    I shall appreciate very much your letting me know.

    Please write to me at Ely, Vermont, 05044, where I am spending this quarter on leave from the U. of C. …..to get some work done.

    Thanks in advance.

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