observatory and the botanic gardens, while the medical school and the dental school are 3 miles away in Boston, and the farm school with the school of veterinary medicine is 3 or 4 miles farther off at Jamaica Plain. The fact that the college "works with so many hands and covers so much ground explains why it is that she ever has empty coffers that need to be filled by her loyal and generous sons." The pressure upon her resources is very great. Each department, each scientific school, the gymnasium, the library, get but part of what they really need. "The college life is so vigorous that it could spend a million dollars a year." The business carried on in the several departments in 1886 was as follows: The treasurer gets more than 5 per cent. upon her large investment. Her productive property was quoted in 1886 at $5,190,772.35. About a million dollars was added in 1887 by bringing in two large bequests. Under the wills of Professor Gurney and his widow, the college received $170,000 to be applied to the support of "higher instruction in history, political science, and literature." This wise and generous gift goes part way toward enabling the college to pay its professors more adequate. salaries than it had heretofore been able to afford. Harvard's sons "dying or preparing to die are apt to remember their alma mater." Doubtless the administration of President Eliot, when it is concluded, will stand as a monument to commemorate this American genius for college building. Stated in brief, the financial record of the college and university has been as follows: Up to September 1, 1810, the grants from the colonies or State amounted to..... Other gifts, bequests, transfers from associations, etc. Property then on hand, as valued in the college books. Sept. 1, 1828, amount received from State.... Sept, 1, 1828, other gifts, etc...... Sept. 1, 1828, property on hand valued at. Sept. 1, 1876, amount received from the State. $116,000.00 179,000.00 361, 433. 16 216,000.00 360,000.00 381, 682.57 316, 000. 00 3,200,000.00 Sept. 1, 1876, property on hand valued at. Sept. 1, 1889, invested funds (c.).... Sept. 1, 1889, grounds, buildings, collections, etc. (c.). $3, 406, 653. 43 7,000,000.00 4, 000, 000, 00 In 1888 the treasurer's statement showed that the total amount of receipts figured up $985,953.87; total amount of receipts, exclusive of income, reached the figures of $527,890.40; total amount of expenses, $725,716.40. A large portion of the property of the college, including the college yard, nearly all of the college buildings in Cambridge, and the scientific and art collections, does not appear upon the college books. At the alumni dinner in June, 1889, President Eliot gave this favorable report of the condition of the university: The past year 1888-89 is full of prosperous events, for which we must be grateful to many benefactors. First, our thanks are due to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which has removed all restrictions upon our investments in real estate. This act has shown unusual confidence in our institution, while it has greatly improved Harvard's financial outlook. Next, as to the gifts of the year. This community is extraordinarily benevolent toward all educational institutions, and especially the highest. In spite of a bad year Harvard has received upward of $300,000. Two of the most important gifts came from the West. The son of a father who had received aid from the beneficiary fund has recently repaid it in full, and the funds from a scholarship were also returned by another man who had prospered since his college career. We have also received many gifts toward new buildings. Another gift of interest was from a lady in New York, a stranger, who gave $50,000 toward the construction of a 24-inch photographic telescope. Beside the gift of money are other important ones, such as the portrait of Charles Francis Adams and the memorial window of the class of '61. These recall the great deeds of those of our alumni who served the country well in a time of the greatest peril. An alumnus has recently offered a gift of peculiar acceptability of $200,000 toward the retiring allowance fund, than which no other purpose could be happier. We have entered into pleasant relations during the year with the University of Japan. About a year ago I was requested to name a Harvard Law School graduate to teach there, and now I am asked to appoint three more professors for another Japanese college; but not to detain you longer, I merely add that the faculties of the university have been only too cognizant of the recent changes in our custom and rules. THE LIBRARY. The libraries of the university, constituting so important a part of its treasures, are not all gathered into one building. The Museum of Comparative Zoology has its own library, so have the Divinity School, the Law School, the Medical College, the Lawrence Scientific School, the Observatory, the Botanic Garden, the Bussey Institution, and so, also, have the various students' societies and clubs, but the general library of the college is contained in Gore Hall within the college yard. As already stated, the first collection of books was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1764, when the number of volumes in the library was estimated at 5,000. A new collection was begun and housed in the new Harvard Hall. By 1790 the loss had not only been repaired, but collec tions to the number of 12,000 volumes had been made. In 1840 there were in all college departments, including the libraries of the societies, upwards of 50,000 volumes.! In 1841 the library was removed to the building which it now occupies, and which was erected with the money left by Christopher Gore. "The alcoves of books retreating beyond the eye, surmounted by names of donors to the library; the busts of eminent men connected with the college; the great cabinet, containing the card catalogue; the cases of rare books and manuscripts and literary curiosities; the silent tread of librarians and assistants, and the groined vaulted ceiling covering the whole and resting upon white pillars," form a picture peculiarly impressive. In 1877 an extension of the east transept was completed at a cost of $90,000. This new compartment, designed expressly as a repository for books, differs materially in construction from the original hall, and, with the exception of the shelves, is entirely of stone, brick, and iron. The roof consists of concrete tiles, 2 feet square and 3 inches thick, placed upon iron rafters, and covered with slate. The new building is considered fireproof, and heavy brick walls with iron-covered doors separate the new and old halls. The interior is divided into six floors, which, together with the staircases, are made of perforated cast-iron. Each floor is subdivided into fourteen sections with adjustable shelves, the topmost of which can be reached from the floor. On the south side of the second floor is the librarian's office, and adjoining are several rooms used by the assistants. Two book elevators are at diagonally opposite corners. In a part of the delivery room is a gallery in which periodicals are kept; over this is a hall devoted to books relating to art, and which also contains a collection of rare and curious manuscripts and autographs in glass cases. The old hall is to be remodelled, and when all the changes are effected the building will have a capacity of over 500,000 volumes. The privilege of consulting the books of the library is granted to every one, whether connected with the college or not. This feature has made the library the resort of students from various parts of the country, and the receptacle of many valuable collections of books and antiquities. But books can only be taken away by students of the university who have given bonds and by graduates of Harvard who have paid an annual fee of $5. Though called the College Library, it is in effect the library of the university. The president, in a recent report, points out what an important position the library is expected in the future to take in that group of organizations which now constitute the university. Persons entitled to use the college library can have access to the departmental libraries for consultation by applying to the superintendent of circulation at Gore Hall; but such libraries are primarily for the There were besides many rare and costly printed books and a number of valuable ancient MSS. Included in the library was the German Professor Ebeling's valuable collection of works treating of American history. |