Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/203

 FIRST STEPS IN EXPANSION 173 the extraordinary growth and development expected. It is clear enough, long after the event, that, though the Trustees hesitated, they decided the question with great wisdom. It was not so clear at the moment. The whole transaction illustrates the fact that the interests of the new institution were in the hands of careful, conservative, and at the same time far-sighted men. These movements toward enlargement came so fast that before one was completed another was under way. Sometimes three important steps in expansion were trying to get themselves taken at the same time. Thus while the taking over of the Divinity School was going forward, the enlargement of the site was being considered. And in January, 1891, before either of these important movements was concluded another great advance had been ini- tiated. This was the movement, which, in a very few months, resulted in the Ogden Graduate School of Science. Dr. Harper was still in New Haven, and had not yet accepted the presidency. Indeed he was hesitating as to whether he could accept or must decline. At this very critical moment he received a letter from Rev. Leighton Williams of New York which contained the following veiled reference to what turned out to be the next step in the University's expansion. It was dated January 5, 1891. I have read with much gratification your plans for the scope and work of the new University. They seem to me admirable I write now chiefly to ask if you can appoint a time to meet here at my brother's [Mornay Williams] office, a gentleman of large influence in Chicago who takes a strong interest in the new University, to confer in reference to the possibility of an endowment, on certain terms, for scientific studies. Will you kindly name as early a date as possible ? Dr. Harper named so early a date that in less than a week the conference was held. The man who wished the interview was Andrew H. Green, one of the executors and trustees under the will of William B. Ogden. It will be recalled that Mr. Ogden had been for many years the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the first University of Chicago. He had been one of Chicago's leading citizens in the early history of the city and was its first mayor. He succeeded Stephen A. Douglas as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Old University and held that position until his death after