BYRD RICHARD E.: (1888-1957) American naval officer, polar explorer and pioneer aviator who claimed to have led the first expeditions to reach both the North Pole and the South Pole by air. T.L.S., Byrd, one page, 4to, Chicago, 16th November 1926, to James B. Pond of The Pond Lecture Bureau, on the attractive printed stationery of the New Hotel Sherman. Byrd explains that he is forwarding a letter (no longer present) received from The Harvard Engineering Society (?which speaks for itself?) and also adds that he has received a telegram from a member of the Expedition in New Haven which states ?New Haven Chapter National Aeronautic Association invites you dinner preceeding your lecture here December 6, hope you can accept, please wire me 335 Orange Street, Joe De Ganahl?, concluding by asking ?Please let me know what you decide about these two matters?. A pencil annotation in another hand alongside the text of the telegram states ?He could go??. VG