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The University of Chicago biographical sketches Volume 1
(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
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A History of the University of Chicago, Founded by John D. Rockefeller: The First Quarter-Century (Phoenix Book; P542)
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The initial steps which led to the founding of the grea...)
The initial steps which led to the founding of the great educational institutions of the world are known in very few instances. Seldom was any record even made of them, their significance not being recognized when the events occurred. The author of this work, Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed, was intimately connected with the persons and events involved in the founding of the University of Chicago in 1891. His detailed account of that institution's first twenty-five years, originally published in 1916, reveals that the chief participants were aware from the beginning of the magnitude and importance of their enterprise.
As Goodspeed shows, once the main roles were cast—in the persons of John D. Rockefeller and William Rainey Harper—the University of Chicago was irrevocably headed for greatness. Without the support of both of these men it would never have become one of the nation's major universities in a mere quarter century. Although Harper died in 1906, his innovative mind and unflagging energy left an indelible mark on the university during the fifteen years of his presidency. The study provides detailed information on the founding of the university, the procurement of funds, the recruitment of faculty, the construction of buildings, student life, and the problems of continuing growth.
William Rainey Harper First President of the University of Chicago (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from William Rainey Harper First President of the...)
Excerpt from William Rainey Harper First President of the University of Chicago
After his return to Chicago in September, Dr. Goodspeed secured the able assistance of Mr. J. V. Nash, Chicago '15, who went through great masses of President Harper's correspondence, selecting and summarizing letters that promised to be of use for the sketch. Dr. Goodspeed continued, however, to write out his chapters in his own hand, as had been his habit in all his literary work.
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Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed was a clergyman and educational leader. In 1886, he undertook to establish a new Baptist college in Morgan Park.
Background
Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed was the grandson of Jason Goodspeed of Rhode Island who settled in Caldwell, New York, and there married Isabella, daughter of Stephen Millard of Rhode Island. Their son Stephen Goodspeed, born in Glens Falls, New York, married Jane Johnson, the daughter of a miller of Queensbury, New York. Thomas was the fifth of their seven children.
Education
The boy’s schooling in Goodspeedville, near Glens Falls, and in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois, where the family settled in 1855, was supplemented by study with his brother, Edgar, pastor of the Central Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie, New York.
In the winter of 1857-58, Thomas joined his brother’s church and began to think of entering the ministry. By March of the latter year he was in the preparatory department of Knox College, and in 1859, he entered the old University of Chicago.
After three years, he transferred to the University of Rochester, where, in 1863, he received the degree of B. In September, he entered Rochester Theological Seminary and during the following summer in Avon, Illinois, he had his first experience as a preacher.
At the beginning of 1865, he became a pastoral supply of the North Baptist Church, Chicago, and was ordained in March. Graduated from Rochester in 1866.
Career
Goodspeed assumed his first pastorate in Quincy, Illinois, June 1, 1866. In 1871, he became his brother Edgar’s associate in the Second Baptist Church of Chicago.
In succeeding his brother on the board of trustees of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, the course of his whole life was changed, leading him into what he regarded as his real work.
Accepting appointment on November 4, 1875, as special agent of the seminary, he resigned his position as associate pastor December 4, 1875, and although for a short time, he served as pastor of the Baptist Church in Morgan Park, he resigned definitely in 1879 and thereafter gave all of his time to the educational work of his denomination.
In something over thirteen years, he raised not less than half a million dollars in new funds. Deeply stirred by the closing of the old University of Chicago in 1886, Goodspeed undertook to establish a new Baptist college in Morgan Park.
In July 1888, however, he declined an invitation to lead the “Provisional University Committee” because he had learned of other developments.
His association with John D. Rockefeller in establishing the Baptist Union Theological Seminary led him to correspond with Rockefeller regarding education in Chicago, and according to Frederick Taylor Gates, corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Education Society, these letters led Rockefeller to decide to found an institution in Chicago. Gates had independently concluded that a college was needed there.
Meanwhile, William Rainey Harper, who had left the Baptist Union Theological Seminary to become a professor at Yale University, had been in conference with Rockefeller and in communication with Goodspeed.
When Harper on October 13, 1888, reported to Goodspeed a conversation with Rockefeller and urged that it would be a pity if the Morgan Park plans interfered with a larger program, Goodspeed immediately placed all his facts in Harper’s hands and induced Gates to abandon his campaign.
Harper believed that Rockefeller would establish in Chicago a university with graduate and professional schools. Goodspeed understood that he intended to found a college.
Gates suggested the wisdom of beginning with a college, even if a university were to be the ultimate creation. Goodspeed then wrote a report embodying his conception of Rockefeller’s intentions. This report was approved in March 1889 by the American Baptist Education Society.
Rockefeller then offered to give the new institution $600, 000 provided others gave $400, 000. On June 10, 1889, Goodspeed officially began his work for the society, and he and Gates worked together to raise the required sum.
On July 9, 1890, at the first meeting of the board of trustees of the new university, of which he was one of the six incorporators, Goodspeed was made the secretary of the board.
For nearly twenty-three years, he served in this position, earnestly cooperating with President Harper and then with President Judson and the trustees in developing the financial strength of the university.
From 1894 until his death, he was secretary of the board of trustees of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary and of Rush Medical College.
He served also on the boards of Frances Shimer Academy (1895 - 1914), the Chicago Baptist Hospital (1895 - 1900), and the Chicago Manual Training Association (1897 - 1913).
Retiring from active service in 1912 with the title of corresponding secretary of the board of trustees, he began to write his reminiscences but interrupted this task to prepare a history of the university for its quarter-centennial celebration.
At the time of his death, he had almost finished his biography of William Rainey Harper, posthumously published in 1928.
Goodspeed was convinced of the urgent need for higher education in the Midwest; he argued that it was "an immediate and imperative denominational necessity. "
Goodspeed infused the modern university with respect for the spiritual; believing that it was essential to education, "No one can be said to be truly educated whose spiritual nature has not been cultivated. " This belief extended beyond his religion; he aimed to make the school open to all denominations. He believed he could build a great university and then he knew that he had.
Personality
In his histories of the university, Goodspeed neglected to tell the role that he himself played and often credited others with his achievements. For example, in his biography of Harper, he credits Harper with convincing Rockefeller to fund the university, while it is well documented that Harper and Rockefeller negotiated through Goodspeed and Gates.
He was full of energy and vigor even as he aged. He continued cultivating his rustic home in the Wisconsin woods every summer and researching in conjunction.
Connections
On September 4, 1866, in the Baptist Church of Panton, Vermont, Goodspeed was married to Mary Ellen Ten Broeke, by whom he had two children.