12 - The University of Chicago

Summary

Harvard and Yale were set up at a time when the American states were English colonies. As such, they were organized based on the model of English universities, where their founders studied. The same English models were used for organizing Princeton and Johns Hopkins. Columbia University of New York and the University of Chicago, however, were organized based on the hands-on, particular needs of the independent United States. As a consequence, both universities emphasized social sciences. Their model was followed by all subsequent American universities.

The University of Chicago was preceded by Harper College, named after its first president. Around the World Fair at the beginning of our century, the college's buildings burned down together with the exhibition buildings near them. John D. Rockefeller offered them the money needed for a new university on the condition it would not bear his name. His wife's name, however, Laura Spelman, appears as the name of the foundation in its initial stages, when it granted scholarships and subsidies only for social services and medicine. After Rockefeller made a billion dollars, he bequeathed two thirds of his wealth to the foundation. In the end, the foundation ended up representing three quarters of his estate. The rest he left to his son, John D. Rockefeller Jr.

When answering holiday cards from the president of the University of Chicago, old Rockefeller added a check for a million dollars for the needs of the university to his letter, which, as a cultural institution, could not cover its expenses from tuition, no matter how high that was. It covered its expenses from donations made by former students who went on to amass wealth.

It must be said here that poor students were given scholarships by the university. The scholarships were initially granted by exam, then in relation to a student's grades. The greatest percentage of donors came from among these poor students who later became rich.

Students with poorer grades could cover their expenses by working at the college, waiting tables or washing dishes.