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© 2007 University of Chicago Library
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When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: University of Chicago. Subscriptions for Contributions. Records, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
This collection contains several groups of records relating to early subscription drives for the University of Chicago. It includes ledger books with lists of subscribers and records of payments, original subscription forms, correspondence from subscribers, and other related materials.
Most of the records in the collection pertain to the $400,000 raised by the American Baptist Education Society in 1889-1890 in order to obtain a $600,000 grant from John D. Rockefeller for the creation of an endowment for the University of Chicago.
The first volume in the inventory, Record of Pledges for the University of Chicago, contains an alphabetical numbered listing of subscribers, amounts pledged, and payments made through 1906. The subscription forms and letters (1:4-13) are numbered to correspond to this list, and also include outright gifts that were not recorded in the book. The second Volume (1:1) contains a listing similar to that in the Record of Pledges, but records payments only to 1891; the third volume (1:2) lists actual payments made on pledges, by date.
Also contained in the Record of Pledges are lists of subscribers to later fund drives, including funds raised to match subsequent gifts by Rockefeller and Martin A. Ryerson, and for special purposes such as the Woman’s Building and oratorical prizes.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections: