Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1896 [PAGE 217]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

the resolution of the Board of Trustees adopted December 28th, I advise you that I have held several extended interviews with the professor and the assistant professor of architecture touching the matter. These gentlemen have expressed serious apprehensions as to their ability to find the time to carry out this important undertaking while carrying their regular University work. I have answered them that I understand the Board is very willing to make provision for any expense which may be incurred either in employing draughtsmen to assist them upon the plans or in employing instructors to assist in the work of instruction. It has therefore been concluded to advise your committee that upon this understanding Professor Ricker and Professor White will undertake to present to the committee, in less than thirty days, * several sketches and estimates of cost for the proposed building, and they have already entered enthusiastically upon the work of preparation. I am, Very truly yours,

A. S. DRAPER,

President. Under this arrangement four designs were prepared and submitted to this Committee, at the University, on the 28th of January, 1896. After careful consideration of the designs the following motion was adopted:

MEETING OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

January 28, 1896. On motion of Mr. Raymond, Mr. Morrison was instructed to proceed to Springfield at the earliest possible day, accompanied by Professor Ricker or Professor White, for the purpose of submitting the designs for the library building, prepared by the architectural department, to Governor Altgeld, for consultation with him, and to report promptly and fully to the Chairman of this Committee the result of the interview.

RICHARD P . MORGAN,

Chairman. Mr. Morrison being, in consequence of sickness, unable to attend to the matter, a meeting was arranged with Governor Altgeld at his office in Chicago, on Tuesdayj February 4th, at which there were present, Governor Altgeld, Professor Ricker, Professor White, and Mr. Morgan. The plans were fully explained by Professor Ricker and Professor White, and after full consideration the purely Romanesque design was considered satisfactory to all. On the evening of the same day your Committee invited a conference, at the Palmer House, of the Trustees residing in Ckicago, at which were present, Mrs. Flower, Mrs. Dr. Smith, Mr. Armstrong, and Mr. Morgan. At this meeting there was a very thorough discussion of the merits of the several designs, which resulted in a unanimous agreement upon the Romanesque design. The question of the employment of Professors Ricker and Wnite to supervise the construction of the building, and also their compensation, were fully considered and this Committee was informally instructed to arrange with those gentlemen in its discretion. That the entire responsibility of thus employing Professor Ricker and Professor White, in a degree out of the educational corps of the University, should not rest upon President Draper, and also for the general information of the Trustees upon the subject, your Committee addressed a letter of inquiry to President Angell, of the University of Michigan, and to Professor Adams, of the University of Wisconsin, and received the replies now read. After this preparatory work and having received the unanimous approval of the Trustees of the Romanesque design, your Committee entered into the the following agreement with Professors Kicker and White.