>Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:31:40 -0700 (PDT)
>From: James Struck <accelinflation@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: accelinflation@yahoo.com
>Subject: Rockefeller’s supposed founding of the University of Chicago
>To: uchicago-magazine@uchicago.edu, zmag@zmag.org
>Cc: letters@chicagoreader.com, inCommon@neiu.edu
>
>
>Many sources, like wikipedia and the web site of the Admissions Department
>of the University of Chicago, describe the University of Chicago as being
>founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1890. History is complicated, and I want
>to challenge the University of Chicago to provide some legal evidence that
>John D. Rockefeller founded the University of Chicago rather than simply
>gave it a substantial endowment. Some sources describe William Rainey
>Harper and Stephen Douglas as founding earlier versions of the University
>of Chicago.
>
>
>If a philanthropist and Oil Trust and Corporation executive gives money to
>a university or organization, that does not mean that he founded the
>organization. Instead, it means that he endowed or funded the organization
>or university. It is problematic to call funders or people who donate to a
>cause founders, because the people who developed the idea are not
>receiving adequate recognition. If the donation or endowment by
>Rockefeller came with the agreement that Rockefeller would be called
>Founder, then it is understandable that he is labelled founder. Still,
>making people who donate money into founders is problematic. I would
>prefer that University of Chicago’s founder be described as “People such
>as William Rainey Harper, Charles Hendersen, John Rockefeller providing
>significant endowment, Baptist Education Society, Stephen A. Douglas
>founding an earlier university that went bankrupt in the 1880’s and many
>others.” Many contributors to the development of an organization should be
>listed as Founders if the contribution is legitimate.
>
>James T. Struck BA, BS, AA, CNA, MLIS
>7333 N. Ridge Blvd APt. 108
>Chicago, IL 60645 cell (312) 316-2055