University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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THOMAS WAKEFIELD GOODSPEED Thomas Wakefield Good'speed was born at Glenns Falls. New York. September 4, 1842. He studied at Knox College and was present when Lincoln and Douglas met in debate on the campus in 1858. In 1859 he became a member of the first Freshman class in the .old Chicago University, where he continued his studies until 1862. Here he par- ticipated actively in the college sports, being most proficient in baseball and wrestling. In 1862 he entered the University of Rochester as a Senior and was graduated with the degree of A. B., in 1863. At Rochester he became a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. Being resolved to enter the ministry, Mr. Goodspeed took up theological work at once in the Rochester Theological Seminary. Mr. Goodspeed married Miss Mary Ellen Ten Brooke 01' Panton, Vermont, in 1866. and became pastor of the Vermont Street Baptist Church of Quincy, Iltinois, the same autumn. In 1872 he became the associate of his brother, Rev. Edgar J. Goodapeed. in the pastorate 0f the Second Baptist Church, Chicago. In 18?6, Mr. Goodspeed resigned to undertake the financial secretaryship 0f the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, then in great financial straits, and removed from Chicago to Morgan Park. After the collapse of the old University in 1886, Dr. Goodspeed shared somewhat actively in the counsels looking to a new and broader cdueational foundation in Chicago. In the next few years he was occupied by the tasks mentioned more fully on the follow- ing page. In 1897 he undertook if: addition the duties of University Registrar. After twenty-two years of service to the University, he retired from this position January 1, 1913, with the title of corresponding: secretary. It is: thir-ty-six years since he left the ministry, temporarily, as he thought, to help the Seminary over a crisis, and all of this time has been spent in the service of the Divinity School or the University. Dr. Goodspeed has on several occasions served as trustee of the University and of the Divinity School. Since 1898 he has been secretary of the Board of Trustees of Rush Medical College. For twenty years he has been very active in the work of the Hyde Park Baptist Church, of which he is a. member. He has spent his vacation month for the last thirty.' years among the woods of northern Wisconsin. In 1894 he found his way to the shores of Plum Lake, and there in the following summer, in company, with his nephew, began with his own hands to build a 10;: house upon a wooded island. To this island Dr. Goodspeed has ever since gone for his vacation, and on it and on the lakes and trails of that region he has spent some of his happiest hours. 11

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THE BEGINNING OF THINGS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HE first University of Chicago began the work of instruction in 1857 and suspended it in 1886. Debts had been contracted which could not be neithe except through the sacrifice of the property and life of the University. Nevertheless, it had done an important work, and had made such an imu pression on the denomination which had established and conducted it, that, on the closing of its doors, plans Were at once considered and elfm-ts at once begun for a new institution under the same denominational auspices. John D. Rockefeller had been for some years taking a liberal interest in the Baptist Theological Seminary, then located at Morgan Park, and now the Divinity School of the University. All of us here in Chicago, who dreamed of a new Univer- sity, turned in our thoughts to Mr. Rockefeller, and several of us wrote to him, asking his interest and assistance. In 1888 another force entered the field. Dr. Wm. R. Harper had been a teacher in the Theological Seminary at Morgan Park and had been called to Yale. He had refused the presidency of the old University, but was profoundly impressed with the need of a. great institution of learning in this city. In October, 1888, Mr. Rockefeller introduced the matter of such an institution to Dr. Harper, and asked his advice. Of course. Dr. Harper encouraged him to take the matter up. The two men met often and Dr. Harper urged the cause of Chicago. Mr. Rockefeller became so much interested that in November, 1888, he permitted Dr. Harper to invite me to visit New York and talk the matter over. We called, by appointment, early in the morning, and took breakfast with the family. The subject was fully gone over during the meal, Mrs. Rockefeller and other members of the family- joining in the discussion. Mr. Rockefeller finally said, iiI am interested in the matter and am willing to put a few hundred thousand dollars into it. Now, Mr. Goodspeed, what would you like to have me do? I would like to have you tell me just what is in your mind. Summoning all my reserves of courage, I made this answer: ttI would like to have you give us $1,500,000, on condition that we raise an additional sum of $500,000. This, I believe, with such encouragement from you, we could do. On this we rose from the table, Mr. Rockefeller making no response, either encouraging or discouraging. I returned to Chicago and my relation to the matter, for the time being, ceased. It so happened that in less than two years after the work of the'old University ended, the American Baptist Education Soeiety was organized, tin May. 188m and became the agency through which the new University of Chicago was founded. The new Society appointed Fred T. Gates its Corresponding Secretary. Mr. Gates made a comprehensive study of his wide field, and became convinced that the great work to which the Society should address itself was the. foundinp; of :1, new institution in Chicago. The Society endorsed his views and instructed him to devote himself to that object, which he was eager to do. In January, 1889, Mr. Rockefeller sought the advice of Mr. Gates with reference to Chicago, and was strongly encouraged in his purpose. He determined to make the new Education Society the agency for founding the institution. 12