Evening star., 1920-01-11
GEORGE EASTMAN
MYSTERIOUS DONOR
TO COLLEGE FUND
$1,000, 900 Given or PIedg-
ed to Massachusetts Tech
Was Credited to 'Mr. Smith,
By the Associated Press.


BOSTON, January 10.-George East
man of Rochester, N Y, is the "mys-
terious Mr.. Smith" who has given or
pledged $11.000,000 to Massachusetts,
Institute of Technology.
The secret of more than seven
years standing was revealed tonight
by President Richard c. Maclaurin
of TIE institute in a statement Eiade
prior to a jubilee dinner of the
alumni.
the Eastman Kodak Company, was
not present at the dinner. President
Maclaurin, who was detained at lis
home by a slight illness, sent an ad-
dress to be read to the alumni. The
dinner celebrated the raising of
s4,0O0,000 for the endowment fund of
the institute to match a pledge of
$4.000.000 from Mr.. Eastman.
President Maclaurin in a review of
'.Mr Smiths benefactions to the
+. Massachusetts, Institute of Technology,
said that in 1912. after the institute
had secured options to it's present
fifty-acre site, he visited "Mr. Smiths"
principal plant and later spent an
evening with "Mr. Smith in New
York, where he explained the insti-
tute's plans and problems.
Made Anonymous Gift.
Before left him." said DIR. Mac
1aurin, "he stated that to enable US
contribute s2,500.000 to the building
project. He asked that his gift be
anonymous. his one object being to
see good thing done and not to
hear people talk about it,"
During the progress of the building
construction Mr.. Smith" gave another
million dollars. In 1916. after the dedi-
cation of the new buildings, he fur
nished the equipment of several lab
oratorfes, and in the>Same year he Of
o. a.,
three that others would give for en-
dowment, up to limit of two and
one-haf millions on his part. Condi-
tfons necessary to obtain this maxi
mum were met by the end of 1916. In
addition he gave in that year 100000
for the work of the institutes school
of chemical engineering practice.
In 1918 'rMr. Smith" gave 100000 to
the institutes endowment fund. His
latest benefaction, which resulted in
the disclosing of his identity tonight
was his offer in June, 1919. to give S4,-
100000 for endowment If an equal
amount were secured within reason
able time, and if $4,000. 600 were pladged
night celebrated the completion of the
drive for this large addition to the
endowment fund.
Great Guessing Contest.
President Maclaurin commented
upon the great guessing competition"
as to 'Mr. Smiths identity, started by
the announcement of his first gift
in 1912.
"The public favorites,'' he said,
seemed to be Carnegie, Prick. du
Pont, Vail and Edison. Later the the
ory grew up in some peoples minds
the Smith was syndicate.
The publicity gwen to the cam
paign to meet the conditions of his
gift in 1916 led to a revival Of in
terest In his identity. Suspicion CEN
tered on two New York millionaires,
each OF whom strongly suspected the
other. It is said that they dined to-
gether to have it out. but separated
without having discovered any secrets
and each with an enlarged respect
Tor the blumng powers of the other.
AS a, matter of fact neither was Mr.
Smith In another center a man, not
Mr.: Smith,, claimed to be he. and in
still another woman made it known
to her friends that she was certain
Mr.. Smith was her husband, although
here she was in error"
He said that 'Mr. Smith" had indi-
Gated the following as his principal
reasons for his generosity to the in
stitute:
His appreciation of the needs of
technical education of the highest
type; hi. belief in the value of scien-
tific .s training for executives; his
whose business is national to support
national institutions and not only To-
cal ones. and his recognition of the
national character of the institute,
which has now more than 5000 stu
dents, picked from every state in the
Union.
ROCHESTER,. N. T., January 10
Public benefactions of George East
man. which had been announced be-
fore the gift to the Massachusetts, In
stitute of Technology today, total
$16.739,000. They were made mainly
to institutions in Rochester, his home
city.