The Golden Anniversary Cornell University's Semi-Centennial LIBRARY OF THE NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF HOME ECONOMICS CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NEW YORK Qjp— Co I The Golden Anniversary Cornell University's Semi-Centennial This little hook has been prepared by Committees aidhorized to obtain additional endowment for Cornell University in connection with its Semi-Centennial. Endowment communications should be addressed to Cornell Semi-Centennial Endowment, Ithaca, N. Y . An historic conversation In his Autobiography, Dr. Andrew D. White thus relates the beginning of his conversation with Mr. Ezra Cornell that led up to the founding of Cornell University: ''On this occasion, after some little general talk, he quietly said, 'I have about half a million dollars more than my family will need: what is the best thing I can do with it for the state?' "I answered : 'Mr. Cornell, the two things most worthy of aid in any country are charity and education; but, in our country, the charities appeal to everybody. Any one can understand the importance of them, and the worthy poor or unfortunate are sure to be taken care of. As to education, the lower grades will always be cared for in the public schools by the State; but the institutions of the highest grade, without which the lower can never be thoroughly good, can be appreciated by only a few. The policy of our state is to leave this part of the system to individuals; it seems to me, then, that if you have half a million to give, the best thing you can do with it is to establish or strengthen some institution for higher instruction.' " [2] What part does a university play in a nations development? The discerning man appreciates what a great part education has played in our American prosperity. He knows^ if he has stopped to consider^ that our Colleges and Universities, dotted across the country, have furnished invaluable pace-makers for American progress. Perhaps some nations have surpassed us in their study of ancient lore — of Greek and of Latin. But probably no nation in the world has set so broad an example in its educational scope. The world now urgently needs food. Under the spur of our State Agricultural Colleges, American agriculture has rapidly ad- vanced to meet the need. Our veterinary colleges are doing their part by reducing disease and mortality among our livestock. Graduates of our Engineering Colleges are harnessing our great waterways to the electric power which is destined to play so vital a part in our industrial development. Our immense steel industry has sprung forward with the tech- nical help of American University graduates. Thanks to our University equipments, America no longer need look abroad for her skilled industrial chemists. University- trained geologists, touching the earth with their divining rods, have brought to light America's vast mineral wealth. Schools of Forestry, attached to American Universities, are training men to preserve and develop our national timber lands. Economists from American Universities have acted as advisers to more than one foreign country facing a financial crisis. [3] Our State advisers, skilled in international law, grew up under our University influence to assist the peace councils abroad. Behind the battlefields of Europe, our surgeons have lately given great lessons in modern surgery. Their education was fostered and inspired by our American University atmosphere. Our dentists, lately called across the water, stand as the most skilled in the world. Our Dental Colleges, if not a direct part of some University, are at least markedly under our American Uni- versity influence. Engineers, developed by American University education, set the world agog with their accomplishments in France. Many an officer, who distinguished himself in the late war, received his military training at some American College. American architects, stimulated by our Architectural Colleges, designed the triumphal arches for our returning victors. The observing man knows that the soap-box schools of radical- ism need an offset in the way of sound-thinking — a standard of common-sense economics which our Universities can best supply. He understands that, without our Universities and Colleges as pace-makers, our common schools might readily lapse back to standards which would not properly promote America's outstanding destiny. The common school teacher is the high-school graduate. The high-school teacher is the College graduate. The College teacher is a graduate from the Post-graduate Course of the University. We will always have men of native shrewdness and energy who educate themselves. These very men quickly see how organized education can help their own sons to take part in the affairs of the country. They are among the first to see how organized higher education helps the country to play its part in the world's doings. But our Universities and Colleges are not self-supporting. They need financial help. Why? [4 ] Why our colleges and universities need outside financial support In the Christian era, higher education first grew up in the monastic atmosphere. It developed rehgious workers. In a later phase. Colleges and Universities offered a general rounding out culture to the moneyed aristocracy. That phase is rapidly passing. The typical American College or University of today aims to develop young men and women from all walks of life into better citizens and more skilled workers. It offers living and schooling expenses to those who demonstrate exceptional capabilities. To a larger number, it offers free tuition. Many of these men and women earn their own living expenses by working during college terms and in vacations. So that the advantages of a higher education will not be con- fined to young men and women already well placed financially, tui- tion charges to all are kept low. As a rule these tuition fees are far below the actual cost of in- struction. To meet the loss, the College or University relies on the help of men of means. At all times in our history, American men of means have come forward with their help. These men have played a great and a recognized part in bring- ing our country up to its present point of national development. While perpetuating their own names they have provided a bulwark against the standards which have often caused such distress in countries of lower average education. [5] What kind of a university is Cornell ? Following his talk with Andrew D. White, Ezra Cornell is reported as saying, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." Himself, a plain, rugged character, springing from the humblest of beginnings, he set before the University of his creation, the broadest of democratic aims. A new class of college men flocked to the early Cornell University. These men found instruction in their chosen fields and prompted instruction in practical subjects which were then new to American Universities. From those early days on, Cornell University has interpreted culture in its broadest sense. To quote Judge Cuthbert W. Pound, ''Cornell was founded to aid the country to prepare for war as well as peace: to teach Military Science, Mechanic Arts and Agricul- ture. It was not founded to duplicate the work of the ancient schools of learning. The avowed purpose was 'to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life.' The Land Grant Bill was passed during one of the most critical periods of the Civil War and the far-sighted men, who endowed these colleges, knew that the time would come when skill and experience in such practical things would count for national efficiency." Cornell University was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on April 27, 1865, and was opened on October 7, 1868. The existence of the University is due to the combined wisdom and bounty of the United States government, of the government of [ 6 1 the State of New York, and of Ezra Cornell. The University is at Ithaca, New York, a city of fifteen thousand inhabitants. The University Campus overlooks a beautiful valley with Cayuga Lake in the distance. The attendance of students by decades has been: 1868-69 - 412 1898-99 - - 2,543 1878-79 ■ 505 1908-09 - - 4,859 1888-89 - - 1,229 1915-16 - - 7.143 During the war the attendance dropped. Thousands of Cornell men entered the service. They are coming back and the registration is again approaching normal. The officers of instruction of Cornell University number about eight hundred. The grounds of the University cover 1,378 acres. The Cornell University Medical College in the City of New York is located on First Avenue, between 27th and 28th Streets. In addition to its residential halls, Cornell has some thirty buildings devoted to instruction. The University is composed of the Graduate School and the following colleges: The College of Arts and Sciences The College of Law The Medical College The New York State Veterinary College The New York State College of Agriculture The College of Architecture The College of Civil Engineering, including Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering. The College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts, including Electrical, Industrial, and Mining Engineering. [7] What Cornell needs Cornell University's President, Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman, in his last annual report, said in part: "The supreme condition, however, at the present time of any marked improvement in American Colleges and Universities is the raising of the salaries of the members of the instructing staff . The teacher must be paid, if not in proportion to the value of the high service he performs for society, at least on a basis of the compensation received by men of equal intelligence, education, and energy in other professions." Salaries have shrunk in actual value, and the situation of the learned and devoted men in the Universities of the country, who find compensation diminished by reason of stationary income and inflated prices, is painful and depressing. To list the needs of a great educational institution would be broadly to cover the advancement of human knowledge. Those who are disposed to direct their philanthropy along educational lines may find their opportunity in practically any amount and for prac- tically any purpose that they may select. It will be helpful, however, to list some of Cornell University's needs by way of suggestion. Necessarily the figures for buildings are approximate. They are inserted to convey a general idea of the probable cost. $125,000 will endow and name a professorship. $ 60,000 similarly will endow and name an assistant professorship. $ 30,000 similarly will endow and name an instructor ship. (The endowment of such chairs may serve as a perpetual memorial, bearing the name of the donor, or of one in whose memory it is estab- lished. The Sage Professorships of Philosophy and the Goldwin Smith Professorships of Latin, History, Political Science and Litera- ture at Cornell are cases in point.) [8] Astronomical apparatus for the new Observatory, $25,000. Residential halls for students, of average cost, according to size, of $100,000 to $250,000. $100,000 will erect a fireproof addition to the building occupied by the College of Law for housing the invaluable law library. An administration building for the University, $250,000. New hydraulic laboratory for engineering, $300,000. A central dining hall for the residential halls, $500,000. A new gymnasium, $500,000. Endowment of any one of the colleges at Cornell, except the two State Colleges (the College of Agriculture and the Veterinary Col- lege), may be made and, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, the donor's name may be given to the college so endowed. With such approval new schools or colleges may be established at the University, For instance: The College of Architecture should be enlarged in its scope into a College of Fine Arts and properly housed. Cornell offers an unusual field for a development along this line. The Chemical Department should be reorganized into a separate school or college. A School or College of Commerce and Public Affairs should be established. Commercial men are learning to associate agreeable surroundings with tolerant thought. To those who are familiar with Cornell's physical setting, it is unnecessary to suggest the opportunity for im- provement of the wonderful natural beauties of the campus. Roads, bridges, walks, paths, planting, all offer opportunity for charming gifts. The Cornell University Semi-Centennial Endowment Com- mittee, which may be addressed at Ithaca, New York, will be glad to supply any additional or more detailed information on this subject. 9 ] A prophecy From Boston Transcript, May 29, 1911. ''How does Cornell do it? Two boat races, two baseball games and an intercollegiate track-meet for one day's athletic spoils. Now are the shrines of victory on the Ithacan strand heaped with the bays of her heroes, and the name of their Alma Mater a word of praise on the tongues of men. On Cayuga's waters the Cornell boat left the Harvard boat two and one-half lengths behind; the Cornell fresh- men had passed the buoys at the finish when the Harvard freshmen had nineteen more strokes to row; the Cornell baseball team in a wrenching fourteen-inning game won from the Yale men with a score of six to five, though those stubborn sons of Eli had tied the game with three runs at the end of the ninth inning. At Hanover the Dartmouth freshmen were being worsted at baseball by the Cornell freshmen, four to one; thus early does the habit of victory set in with Ithacans, and these lads went home bearing another sheaf of glory for the general blaze. Close at hand in Harvard Stadium we saw Cornell's track team, by the more laborious and less spectacular kind of victories, surpass the athletes of every other college of prominence in the East. And three new records were made by Cor- nell men, two of them by Mr. John Paul Jones, who if there were anything in names, should have captained his University boat; but he served his college well on land. "So Cornell, as they say in the Greek histories, was victorious both by land and by sea. We feebly struggle; they in glory shine. And though beaten, and beaten badly, we can still admire without envy and cheer withour regret. As was said in these columns on Satur- day, next to the honor of beating Cornell is the honor of being beaten by men who play the game so like gentlemen, men who can generously win and as handsomely take a defeat. Singularly, there is [ 10 ] no sting in being beaten by Cornell; it is as if they had all along deserved to win. "Whether they come bearing the lyre to sing in joint concerts of the musical clubs or in running togs to march fleetly down the cinder pathSj they come as friends, and as such they depart. Some spirit is in that New York State College which compels the respect and admiration of us all. Rarely do groups of young men 'show up' better than groups coming from Cornell. Why these things are so we may not pretend to know, and if anyone possesses the explana- tion it will be received with pleasure; but it is both curious and inspiring to note what a high standard ofyouthful manhood Cornell maintains and how her men respond to any test from athletics to the summons for personal bravery. "The late James McNeil Whistler, with his eccentric generosity, was at a dinner party at which his brother artist. Lord Leighton, was being eulogized for his versatility. The speaker had discoursed warmly of the orator, the scholar and the man, when Whistler broke in: Taints some, too.' And so Cornell is, after all, none of your athletes' college. It trains men, too. "In the words of your own hymn: 'Hail, all hail, Cornell!' " I 11 Fulfillment According to the latest obtainable data, the record of Cornell men in the great war was worthy of her traditions. The figures given below do not include the men in the Cornell Unit of the Stu- dents' Army Training Corps, numbering over 1,500, although they were in actual military service; nor do they include the hundreds of Cornellians in so-called civilian service, such as engineers engaged in shipbuilding and airplane construction, chemists and others engaged in special war research work, managers or heads of departments of loan campaigns and other like activities. There were almost 5,000 Cornell men in uniform. Cornell un- der-graduates who received commissions numbered 540. Cornell graduates who received commissions numbered 2,490, These com- missions were by rank distributed as follows: ARMY No. by Rank NAVY No. by Rank Major-General .... 1 Lieutenant-Commanders . 2 Brigadier-General ... 1 Lieutenants .... 12 Colonels 10 Lieutenants , junior grade 76 Lieutenant-Colonels . . 15 Paymasters .... 10 Majors I4.8 Ensigns 220 Captains 465 ~^m) Lieutenants .... 2^0^ MARINE CORPS 2,680 Lieutenants .... 30 Grand Total 3,030 The total number of Cornell casualties so far recorded is 259, of whom about 185 were killed or died in service. Fifty- four Cornellians have received military honors, such as the American Distinguished Service Cross or its French or British equivalent, or citations in orders for gallant conduct in action. The distribution covered practically every branch of the Service. [ 12 ] To Cornellians In addition to financial help from outside men of means, Uni- versities should receive substantial support from their own graduates. Every Cornell graduate leaves a debt behind. His instruction cost the University far more than he paid back. Appreciating this fact, Cornell's graduates are already contrib- uting more and more generously to Cornell's running expenses. But in addition, most Cornellians have a lurking desire to do something further for the University before they pass beyond. They vaguely wish to put their stamp on something which will definitely strengthen the position and influence of their cherished Alma Mater. The time has come. It would be out of the spirit of the times to ask Cornell men of means to contribute to the University's endowment solely as a matter of sentiment. The Endowment Committees have, therefore, thought it wise to remind Cornellians of the very valuable part that the University plays in our whole National well-being. In the era to come, Cornell is destined to fill a distinct role in our National progress, social, economic and commercial. Need we urge Cornellians to help Cornell to fill this role in a way worthy of Cornell's traditions? [13] The joint endowment committees, appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Associate Alumni and the Cornellian Council, have determined that the Trustees of the Univer- sity shall allocate the portion of the Semi-Centennial Endow- ment that is not given for specific purposes as they deem wise, and dedicate portions thereof for memorial purposes, giving consideration to the wishes of donors thereof, such purposes to include a memorial to Cornellians who have served in the great war. [14 ]