Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/18

x a free hand, encouraging me to do the work without suggestion of any sort from them.

I am greatly indebted to President Judson for a measure of encouragement that has made the work a pleasure. He has patiently read every chapter as it was produced, and given me valuable suggestions. He has not, however, interfered in any way with my liberty of utterance.

I am under peculiar obligations to Dr. F. T. Gates of Montclair, New Jersey. From the first he manifested the liveliest interest in the work I had undertaken. Having obtained permission, he prepared and placed at my disposal from the letter files of Mr. John D. Rockefeller copies of every reference, of whatever nature, to the University of Chicago from 1886 to 1893 inclusive. He also furnished me similar copies from his own files and from those of the American Baptist Education Society. Many of the chapters he has read, and, to my great advantage, criticized with fullness and freedom. The value of his critical suggestions I cannot overstate. I am also indebted to Dr. Gates for the illuminating introduction.

In 1896, Professor Francis W. Shepardson, then secretary to the President, prepared a brief historical sketch of the University which was printed in connection with the Quinquennial Celebration. In 1902 he brought the record down to that date, and the enlarged sketch was printed in connection with the Decennial Publications. This material has been freely used, and I am glad to acknowledge my indebtedness to the author. It was my interest in and efforts for the founding of a new University after the demise of the old one that led Dr. Harper and Mr. Gates to write me that invaluable series of letters, quoted so largely in the chapter on "The Inception of the Plan," which give in detail the story of the beginning and progress of the negotiations which resulted in Mr. Rockefeller's initial subscription. Without these letters, which I carefully preserved, that story could never have been told. I, in turn, wrote to my sons in college of every development as it occurred for two or three years. These letters, preserved through filial piety, have been found most helpful. Everything of historical value in the archives of the University has