Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/458

 404 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO occasion which, while not large, should escape the charge of narrowness by representing the main groups of scholarly activity. The list, viewed in this light, is extremely limited. This communication marked the end of active opposition to the conferring of honorary degrees in the Board of Trustees. The recommendation of the Senate that ten men receive the degree of Doctor of Laws, and two that of Doctor of Divinity was adopted. They were a body of eminent men, and the conferring of the degrees on them at the Decennial Convocation was greeted with great acclaim. The President and Senate were thereafter sparing in their recommendations for honorary degrees, allowing themselves, only once prior to the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary, any considerable license. In 1904 arrangements were made for a visit to the University of a number of distinguished German schol- ars, and the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on seven men. Far and away the most important event connected with the celebration of the tenth anniversary was the issuing from the University Press of the Decennial Publications. President Harper felt that there could be no more appropriate way for the cele- bration of the anniversaries of a University than the production and publication of books by its scholars. He early secured an appropriation of two thousand dollars for such publication. In the President's quarterly Convocation statement made six months before the celebration he said: In addition to the usual events which are associated with such a cele- bration, as representing the different interests of the University, it has been thought wise to undertake the publication of three volumes. One of these will present a report of the administration of the University during these ten years including an external history of the institution during this period; a second volume will contain a history of the work of individual officers and of depart- ments. This history will include the titles of articles, pamphlets, and books which are believed to be real contributions to philosophy, literature, and science. .... A third volume will contain contributions from representatives of the various departments, prepared in honor of this occasion, and published for the first tune in this volume It is earnestly hoped that all will join with hearty co-operation in this effort, and that the results may at least in part fulfil the expectations of all concerned. The result of this appeal to the scholars of the University must have astonished the President as much as it gratified him. They