The Delta independent., 1907-02-15
ROCKEFELLER DONATES THIRTY.
TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR
EDUCATION.
FOR USE OF GENERAL BOARD
Money Will Go to Colleges Throughout
the Country.-state Institutions Arc
Not Eligible for Aid from the Fund.


New York.-Thirty-two million dol
lars worth of income-bearng securi'
ties was the gift which John u.
Rockefeller through his son, John u.
Rockefeller. Jr., announced to the gen
eral education board when 1t assem-
bled fer a special meeting here Thurs
day.
The gift. which is the largest single
sum ever handed out for such purposes.
will be used for general education pur-
poses throughout the country. Mr..
Rockefeller previously had given the
board $1l, 900, 900 for the same work.
his contributions now amounting TO
$43 ,0OO, 900.
The general education board appar-
emily was not prepared for the gltt,
which was announced simply In let
ter from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to
the board. in which he says:
MY father authorizes me to say
that on or before April l. 1907, he will
give TO the general board !ncome-bear-
ing securities. the present market
value of which is about s32.lOO,OoO,
one-third to be added to the
permanent endowment OF the board;
two-thlrds to be applied to such spe-
cifc objects within the corporate pur-
poses of the board as either he or
may from time to time direct, any re-
mainder not so designated at the
death of the survivor to be added also
to the permanent endowment Of the
board"
The board was amazed. saying that
they did not know of the donation un-
| til the letter was read.
A special meeting of the board was
called for Thursday to consider com
munication from Mr.. Rockefeller. the
purport of which was not known, John
| d. Rockefeller. Jr., acting for MS
father, brought the letter.
Asked If he had anything 10 add to
his letter. he replied he did not be.
| lieve he could add anything of import
ance to 1t, as the letter explained its
self.
| Members. when asked what the 'spe-
citic purposes" referred TO in Mr..
Rockefeller's letter meant, said that 1t
was IL the line of educational work.
and was intended. in their opinion, to
give Mr. Rockefeller the tight to di-
rect the disposition of the fund to
such institutions. within the province
of the board, as he may deem proper.
The board voted to accept the gift.
and in appreciation drafted letter to
the elder Mr.. Rockefeller.
This is the largest sum-" wrote the
board TO Mr.. Rockefeller. ever given
by a man in the history of the race for
any social or philanthropic purposes.
| The board Congratulates you upon the
| high and wise impulse which has
moved you to this deed. and desires TO
thank you in behalf of all educational
! interests. whose civilization for all
time il should be made to strengthen
and elevate. and in behalf of mankind
everywhere in whose interests ii has
been given and for the use to which ii
| is dedicated.
The administration of this fund en-
tails upon the general education board
the most farreachinS responsibilities
ever placed upon any educational or
ganization in the world. We will use
our best wisdom to transmute your
gift into intellectual and moral power.
counting ii a supreme privilege to ded-
iCate whatever strength We have TO its
use in the service Of men,
While the board was in session
Thursday gifts TO five colleges were or
dered amounting in all to 100000. as
follows: Beloit College. BelOit, Wis
consin; NorninCslde College, Sioux
City. Iowa: Lafayette College, EastOn,
Pennsylvania. $5O.000. Wabash Col
lcCe. Charlottesville. Indiana. and the
University of Wooster. Wooster. Ohio.
each Sl25.OO
In 1903 the General Education
Board was chartered by Congress. II
employs n force of experts in the con-
tinuOus and systematic study of edu-
Cational conditions in all parts OF the
United States. Its object is promoting
] ~. r,- hN-
means OF gifts and otherwise.
The organization was adapted to as
sist My Rockefeller in the distribu-
tlon of his gifts TO education: but it
was not intended to limit the work OF
the board to the administration OF
funds given by him. said Chairman
| Frederick Gates. who explained the
] purpose OF the organization.
In March. 1907" said Mr.. Gates,
John II. Rockefeller pledged $1,000
600 to the work OF the board. Confining
its use particularly 10 the study and
/ promotion OF education in the southern
states.
June 80. 1905. through Mr.. Gates
MIR. Rockefeller gave the board $40
uOU. .uOO in securities. the principal to
be held in perperuity rs foundation
for education. the income above eN-
ponses of administration % be disrrib'
uted to or used for the benefit of such
institutions of learning as the board
might deem best adapted to promote a
! comprehensive system Of higher edu'
cation in the United States.
From the income OF the original
fund of Sll.O0O.O00 conditional sub
scriptiOus have already been made To
eighteen colleges in Virginia. North
Carolina. South Carolina. Georgia. Mis-.
sCuri Kansas. Iowa. Louisi' ma. Wis
cOnsin, Indiana. Ohio and Pennsylva'
MIA. amounting to a total of Sl.0II 500.
As a condition OF receiving these
gifts the colleges are raising the fur
thor tbtrl sum of 81 90 500