The Springfield herald., 1907-02-15
CR EATEST GIFT

RocKEFELLER DONATES THIRTY.
TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR
EDUCATION.
FOR USE OF GENERAL BOARD
Money viii Go to Colleges Throughout
the ceuntry-stats Institutions Are
Not Eligible for Aid from the Fund.
New York.-Thirty.two million dol
lars worth Of income-bearing securi-
ties was the gift which John D.
Rockefeller, through his son. John u.
Rockefeller Jr. announced to the gen.
eral education board when 1t assem-
bled for 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 81 900 900 for the same work.
his contributions now amounting to
100000.
The general education board appar-
emily was not prepared tor the gift,
which was announced simply In let
ter from John D. Rockefeller, j., to
the board. in which he says:
my father authorizes me to say
that on or before April /. 1907. he will
give to the general board income-bear-
ing securities. the present market
value of which is about $32. 100000.
one-third to be added to the
permanent endowment OF the board;
two-thirds to be applied to such spe-
cific objects within the corporate pur-
poses OF the board as either he or l
may from time to time direct, any re-
mainder not 80 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 his
father, brought the letter.
Asked II he had anything to add to
his letter, he replied he did not be.
lieve he could add anything of import
ance to 1t, as the letter explained It's
self.
Members, when asked what the "spe-
cific purposes" referred to in Mr..
Rockefeller's letter meant, said that 1t
was in the line OF educational work,
and was intended. in their opinion, to
give Mr.. Rockefeller the right to d.
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 a 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 1t should be made to strengthen
and elevate, and in behalf Of mankind
everywhere in whose interests 1t has
been given and for the use to which 1t
Ia dedicated.
1.-The administration Of this fund en-
tails upon the general education board
the most far-reaching responsibilities
ever placed upon any educational or
genization In the world. We will use
our best wisdom to transmute your
gift into Intellectual and moral power,
counting It 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; Morningside College. Sioux
City, Iowa: Lafayette College, Easton
Pennsylvania. s5O.OOO. Wabash Col
lege, Crawfordsville. Indiana. and the
University Of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio.
each 3126.O0O.
In 1903 the General Education
Board was chartered by Congress. 1t
employs 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
education In the various states by
means Of gifts and otherwise.
| The organization was adapted to as
sist Mr.. Rockefeller In the distribu-
ton of his gifts to education; but 1t
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
purposes OF the organization.
In March, 1902" said Mr.. Gates.
John D. Rockefeller pledged $1,000
900 to the work of the board, confining
its use particularly to the study and
promotion OF education In the southern
states"
June 80, 1905. through Mr.. Gates
Mr.. Rockefeller gave the board $10,-
100000 In securities, the principal to
be held In perpetuity as foundation
for education, the income above ex-
penses OF administration 20 be distrib-
uted to or used for the benefit of such
Institutions of learning as the board
might deem best adapted to promote
comprehensive system of higher edu-
cation in the United States.
From the income OF the original
fund of $11,00O,000 conditional sub.
scriptions have already been made to
eighteen colleges In Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Wis
consin, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylva-
mia, amounting to total Of 81 .077, 500.
AS condition of receiving these
gifts the colleges are raising the fur
ther total sum of $3,262. 500.
The members of the board who will
administer Mr.. Rockefeller's gift in.
clude some Of the best known educa-