Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/191

 FIRST STEPS IN EXPANSION 163 to raise a large additional subscription, particularly for buildings. In fulfilment of this promise and in consideration of Mr. Rocke- feller's waiving the conditional feature of his proposed gift, Dr. Harper wrote, in the letter quoted above: 1. Secure a meeting of the Board of Trustees at the earliest possible moment, and the moment it is settled telegraph me. 2. Get a draft of the buildings in the general plan which we have indicated. This must be ready for the meeting of the Board. I will join with you in taking the responsibility. 3. Begin planning for the million dollars with which to put up the build- ings. 4. Get the matter talked over with individual members of the Board so that they will go to the meeting prepared to vote intelligently upon the subject. Without any difficulty therefore and without any loss of tune this great subscription for the expansion of the institution was secured from the Founder who had taken years for consideration before giving little more than half as much for its creation. Mr. Rockefeller's subscription finally took the following form. It will be noted that the letter of gift is dated only ten days after Dr. Harper's visit. CLEVELAND, OHIO September 16, 1890 To the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago: GENTLEMEN: I will contribute one million dollars to the University of Chicago as follows: Eight hundred thousand dollars, the income only of which shall be used for non-professional graduate instruction and fellowships, and not for land, buildings, or repairs. One hundred thousand dollars, the income only of which shall be used for theological instruction in the Divinity School of said University, and not for land, buildings, or repairs. One hundred thousand dollars for the construction of buildings for said Divinity School. I will pay the same to the said University in seven years, beginning October i, 1890, and pay one twenty-eighth each three months thereafter, in cash or approved securities at a fair market value, until the whole is paid, it being understood that a certain pledge made July 15, 1890 for fifty-six thousand, five hundred dollars, to the Baptist Union Theological Seminary of Chicago shall be included in the above million dollars; and also that the said Seminary is to become an organic part of the said University; and also that the transfer of said Seminary to the grounds of the University shall be made within two