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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE UNI-
VERSITY OF CHICAGO

The first University of Chicago closed
its work in 1886. Within a few months
thereafter Mr. John D. Rockefeller took
into consideration the founding of a new
institution of learning in that city. In
the fall of 1888 he conferred with Profes-
sor William R. Harper in regard to it,
and finally entered into communication on
the subject with Rev. F. T. Gates, Secre-
tary of the American Baptist Education
Society. In December, 1888, Mr. Gates
brought the matter before the Board of
the Society, which approved the effort to
establish a well-equipped institution in
Chicago, and instructed the Secretary to
use every means in his power to originate
and encourage such a movement. Being
also encouraged by Mr. Rockefeller, Mr.
Gates henceforth gave himself, with un-
tiring devotion, to the work of founding
the University of Chicago.

At the annual meeting of the Educa-
tion Society, held in Boston in May, 1889,
the Society formally resolved “to take
immediate steps toward the founding of
a well-equipped college in the City of
Chicago.” To make it possible to carry
out this purpose, Mr. Rockefeller at once
made a subscription of $600,000 toward
an endowment fund, conditioned on the
pledging of $400,000 before June 1, 1890.

The annual meeting of the Education
Society in June, 1890, was held in Chica-
go, and the Board of the Society adopted
articles of incorporation and a charter
for the new Institution. On September
10 of the same year the University was
incorporated.

The incorporators named in the charter
were John D. Rockefeller, E. Nelson
Blake, Marshall Field, Fred T. Gates,
Francis E. Hinckley, and Thomas W.
Goodspeed. The name of the corporation
in law is “THE UNIVERSITY OF CHI-
CAGO.” In recognition of the peculiar
relation of Mr. Rockefeller to the institu-
tion, the Board of Trustees has enacted
that on the official publications of the
University the title shall read: “The
University of Chicago, founded by John
D. Rockefeller.”

At the first meeting of the Board after
its incorporation in September, 1890, Pro-
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