The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-01
S10,000,Q00 FOR COLLEGES.
JOHN u. ROCkEFELLERS GIFT TO
GENERAL EDI(iTION BOARD.
chi, the Income TO IBe lsed-ItOpcs 10
Induce others to Ala Institutions Now
Existing. Instead OF Founding New
Ones None, to BE Available Oct. I.

John . Rockefeller announced yeSter-
s'ay a gift of slOOOOoOo for higher educa-
ton. The gift is made through the Cen
,ral Education Board, which will have the
distribution of the income Of this fund,
ynd which suddenly rise, from compare
lively small institution for the furtherance
Of negro schools to We power in American
educational matters.
Tho money will q used mainly for the
assistance of small and struggling colleges.
The great institutions. it is understood,
are TO receive no benefits from the fund.-
The trustees of the fund say that this means
more than the gift of ten millions to higher
education: it means the establishment of
pm institution which will make a business
If distributing gifts to education intelli-
gently and a movement to divert money
gifts from the founding of small and weak
college, to the support Of needy ones al
ready established
John u. Rockefeller gave 81 ,COo,Ooo in
1902 to found the board and to help its
work with the negro schools in the South.
Ii las heon known on the inside for some
tine that he intended o do more, and that
the announcement was to he made at
meeting yesterday
Still the members were asst onished when
Robert G.. Ogden, the chairman. rose and
nnounced that the gift was to he an even
sloCOoOoO The board formally accepted
tie gift and the following statement was
issued to the public by DR.. Wallace Buttrick.
tie secretary:
AT meeting of the General Education
Foard held to-day gift Of slo,0O0,0OO was
announced from Mr.. John ID. Rockefeller.
The fund is to he an endowment for higher
education in the United States.
The announcement of the gift was con-
tanned in a letter from MIR. +. c. Gates. who
Is Mr.. Rockefeer's representative. The
following is a copy of the letter of gift:
20 BROADWAY. NEW YORK June 30 1905.
ITO Mcssrs. Waiioce Buttrrk ard Starr j.
Murphv, Secretaries and Executive Omcefs.
General Education Bodrd. 81 William
street. Nen York.
DEAR SiRS: | am authorized 10y MIR. John
u. Rockefeller to say that he will contribute
TO the General Education Board the sum OF
ten million dollars $40, 0O0, OOO), to be paid
October first next. in cash. or. at his option.
in income producing securities, at their mar
ket value. the principal to be held in per-
petuity as foundation for education. the
income. above expenses and administration,
to be distributed to. or used for the benefit
Of. such institutions of learning. at such times.
in such amounts. for such purposes and under
knch conditions. or employed in such other
ways as the board may deem hest adapted
10 promote comprehensive system Of higher
education in the United States Yours very
truly i. r. GATES
Mr., John D. Rookie feiler. Jr.. with other
gentlemen of New York city was instru-
mental in forming the General Education
Board in February, 1902. A very broad
nd nd hle, oh rte
Congress and signed by President Roosevelt
on Jan. II, 1903.
"A gift OF one million dollars from Mr..
John D. Rockefeller was Immediately passed
over to the board, especially designated
for educational work in the South. Other
funds have been added by other philanthro-
pists since that time and the board has con-
fined its work hitherto mainly to educational
work in the Southern States.
The present gift differs from Mr. Rock
rfellers first gift to the board in the follow
ing particulars;
The principal sum of the gift of one mil
lion dollars made on the organization of
the board could he distributed. The pres
ent gift of ten million dollars is held as en-
dowment the income only being available
for distribution.
The first gift was designed to be used
exclusively in the Southern States. The
present gift is for Use not only In the
Southern States but throughout the United
States, without distinct on of section.
The first gift could be used for common
'chooli and secondary education. The
second gift is confined to higher education
and is Ge.igned especially for college as
distinguished from the great universities.
although there is no prohibition in the letter
a gift against making contributions to
lNiver-itie,'
Roth gifts are alike available for denom-
national schools "a well "a for those which
are non-sec'arian. While the funds may
! q employed for denominatonal schools,
the will he employed without sectarian
distinction. No special denomination will
q particularly favored. but the funds
VIII be open to approved schools of all
communications, although they cannot be
employed for giving specifically theological
instruction
IN distributing the funds the board
VIII aim especially to favor those insttu-
lions which are well located and which
nave local constituency sufficiently strong
ana able to insure permanence and power.
NO attempt will I've made to resuscitate
moribund schools or to assist institutions
which are so located that they cannot prom
lie 7" be permanently useful
Within these limits there are no re-
str'c'ions as to the Use of the income. 1t
may he used for endowment, for buildings.
Tor current expenses, for debts, for APP
Taratus or Tor any other purpose which |
may be found most serviceable.
1t is known that Mr. Rockefeller has |
had this gift in contemplation for a long |
time and Mr. Gates has been studying the |
subject in his behalf for many months.
If the fund proves to be as useful as il now
anticipated, Mr.. Rockefeller will I'M.
tioubtedly make large additions to it in
future years
The board has. in fact, already done
most Of the preliminary work of investipat-
ing the condition of the small colleges
throughout the United States. Starr J
Murphy. executive officer for the States os
the North and West, has had a corps of As
slstants at work for months. In the offices