Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/71

 CHAPTER II THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN The initial steps which led to the founding of the great educa- tional institutions of the world are known in very few instances. In most cases no record was ever made of them, their interest and importance not being recognized when the events occurred. If an authentic narrative of the details of the founding of Oxford Uni- versity could now be discovered, how much it would contribute to the history of that institution and with what interest it would be read! In the histories of most institutions, however, these details are not only lacking, but no method can now be devised for their discovery. The historians of these institutions have sought for them in vain. The details of the founding of the University of Chicago are known. The very earliest steps can be traced. Some of them appear in the correspondence which constitutes a large part of this chapter. Through these letters the minute details of the very inception of the plan of the University are recorded. In the letters here reproduced or quoted a few references to personal or other matters foreign to the main theme have been omitted, but nothing has been left out that is essential to the completeness of the story. About the middle of October, 1888, the writer received a letter from Dr. William R. Harper, then a professor in Yale, of which the substance follows: NEW HAVEN, CONN. October 13, 1888 Dr. T. W. Goodspeed, Morgan Park, Illinois MY DEAR FRIEND: I spent last Sunday at Vassar College. (I am to be there every other Sunday during the year.) Much to my surprise Mr. Rocke- feller was there. He had reached Poughkeepsie Saturday night. What his purpose in going to Vassar was is not quite certain. He seemed to have nothing to do there except to talk with me. Whether he knew that I was going there before or not is not known to me. I met him at the breakfast table, and he at 45