Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/512

 446 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO The University of Chicago. It soon transpired that Mr. Rocke- feller had no desire to have his name given to the institution. But the Trustees would not abandon their purpose of having his name connected with it. When, therefore, at a meeting held October 25, 1892, the solution of the question was suggested which retained the old name and happily connected with it the name of Mr. Rockefeller as " Founder," it was welcomed by all the Trustees in attendance. The meeting was a small one, only seven of the twenty-one Trustees being present. Those present, therefore, contented themselves with the following action : After a general expression of the views of the Trustees it was voted as the sense of the members of the Board present, to be submitted to the next meeting, that, in recognition of the fact that the University owes its existence and its endowments to Mr. Rockefeller, the words "Founded by John D. Rockefeller" be printed on all official publications and letterheads under the name of the University and be put upon the seal. At the next meeting there were thirteen present, and the action of the previous meeting was taken up and re-enacted by a unanimous vote. This action was taken by the Trustees with very great satis- faction as solving in the happiest manner the question of retaining the name to which all were attached and at the same time putting into one word the relation to the University of its greatest bene- factor. The action was hailed by the University and its friends with a gratification which increased from year to year as the Founder's benefactions continued and multiplied. It was not long after the taking of the above action that the Trustees formed the purpose of setting aside one day in the year as Founder's Day. The designating of such a day was only delayed by their desire to fix on the most appropriate one. Should it be July 8, Mr. Rockefeller's birthday ? This would have brought it a few days after Convocation, in the midst of the complications of the first days of the Summer Quarter. Should it be on the anni- versary of Mr. Rockefeller's first great subscription of six hundred thousand dollars May 15 ? This would bring it into the middle of the Spring Quarter. It was finally decided that, as the Univer- sity year, both scholastic and financial, began on July i, and as on that day the great Convocation of the year was held, and it was