2408 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D. C.

May 31, 1926

Mr. Andrew Keogh
Yale University Library
New Haven, Connecticut

My dear Mr. Keogh;

I have your letter of May 6th and am glad to send you a
letter giving in brief my recollections of Mr. Sterling.

I first heard of Mr. Sterling shortly after I became secretary of Yale University from my friend, Samuel Thorne, Jr. of the class of '96, who had known him well, he being his father's legal counsel in many matters. He told me of Mr. Sterling's interesting personality, large means, and devotion to Yale, and suggested the possibility of my interesting him financially in the University. I later heard from several other persons to the same effect, although it was stated that he was difficult to approach and that he never contributed to Yale objects. As the University was at that time--I think that this was probably the year 1905--in great needs of funds, and I was engaged in the so-called "Yale Endowment and Extension Movement", described in my "memoirandum on the Yale Situation", of which there is a copy in the Library, I decided to approach Mr. Sterling. I shall never forget the impression which he made upon me. It was repeated in each of the visits, perhaps ten in all, that I had at his office.

He was rather a short man, very straight, with bright eyes and
rather vivid coloring. He gave one the impression of great alertness. I can re-
member the way in which he would open the door and sit down and immediately take
up the business in hand. I realized that he was a very hard worker and that
his interest in Yale was intense.

At one of my early interviews with him, after he had declined
to make a subscription to the Yale Endowment and Extension Movement, he asked me
whether I could keep a secret. I told him that I could. He then said approximate-
ly the following:

"Mr. Stokes, I am working here night and day with one great object in mind, to make as much money as I honorably can to leave to Yale University. When I die you will find that I have left you a fabulous sum. I also am deeply interested in the Osborn Memorial Home at Harrison, New York.

Now Mr. Stokes, please remember that this is told you
in the strictest confidence, which I shall ask you to share
with no one during my lifetime."

He went on to request that I do everything in my power to
prevent his being bothered by Yale appeals as he had no intention of responding
to any of them while he was living, and did not wish to be troubled by them.

was all his own idea developed long before I knew him. I merely did all in my
power to keep him interested in the University and to get him to see that the
University had great need for endowment funds and for professorships. We talked
Yale together by the hour. He was entirely sympathetic with the idea that it was
right and proper and, that Yale College should develop into a great University. I
talked with him often about our plans for the University development--architectural,
financial, educational--and he was always deeply interested.

It was because of my interest in increasing Yale's endowment that I
originally saw him, but from that moment on I had all of Yale's dealings with him,
although some of the matters being of a financial kind in connection with the settle-
ment of estates, should properly have come through the Treasurer's Office. He told
me, however, that he always liked in a given set of interests to deal entirely
through one person. As a result Mr. Hadley, Mr. McClure, Mr. Day, were always most
tactful and cooperative in letting me represent them in seeing Mr. Sterling.

I think that the above are perhaps my recollections of Mr. Sterling which
would be of most interest for your purpose.

APS/M