My research on Rostovtzeff has turned up an interesting detail, namely the text of his job offer from the University of Wisconsin, sent via cable January 3, 1920:
“University Wisconsin history department offers professorship for academic year beginning September subjects elementary ancient history Russian history and research salary five thousand dollars and five hundred for travel Paxson.”
Rostovtzeff replied on January 6:
“Thankfully accept offer. Writing. (Signed) Rostovtzeff.”
According to rumor, Rostovtzeff then took an atlas from the shelf to see where Wisconsin was.
(I found the cables in M. A. Wes, Michael Rostovtzeff, Historian in Exile, Stuttgart, 1990, 47-8. Rostovtzeff’s time in Madison is usefully discussed in G. W. Bowersock, “Rostovtzeff in Madison,” The American Scholar 55.3, 1986, 391-400.)