Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 196]

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194

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 9

Alumni—Louis C. M O S C H E L , Chairman, J A M E S M . CLEARY, HAROLD A. P O G U E . Agriculture—HAROLD A. P O G U E , Chairman, OSCAR G. M A Y E R , M r s . N E L L I E V. FREEMAN.

MATTERS P R E S E N T E D BY P R E S I D E N T WILLARD T h e B o a r d considered t h e following m a t t e r s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e Presid e n t of t h e U n i v e r s i t y . VISIT O F T H E GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1) For many years it has been the custom of t h e General Assembly of Illinois to make a biennial inspection of the University in a body. T h e invitation t o make t h e visit usually originates with t h e University, and I request authority t o arrange for the inspection this year with the officers of t h e General Assembly.

On motion of Mrs. Plumb, the President of the University was authorized to arrange for this inspection.

L O R A D O TAFT COLLECTION O F PLASTER CASTS (2) A t its last two meetings the Board has considered the purchase of t h e late Lorado Taft's entire collection of plaster casts. At t h e meeting on February 27, I presented a statement from Mrs. Ada B. Taft, Executrix of her husband's estate, offering to sell the collection t o t h e University of Illinois for $12,000 with t h e exception of Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" which was purchased by t h e Athletic Association of Hyde Park High School as a contribution to Mr. Taft's proposed museum of casts. When t h e plan for this museum was given up, t h e Hyde Park High School asked Mr. Taft t o keep this piece in his own studio. There is a possibility t h a t the Hyde Park High School will wish t o donate this piece to the University if it purchases the entire collection. I t was suggested a t t h e last meeting t h a t t h e University secure an independent appraisal of t h e value of this collection by a competent authority on a r t . Dean Rexford Newcomb of the College of Fine and Applied Arts has secured such an estimate from Dr. John Shapley, Head of t h e Department of Art of t h e University of Chicago, who appraises the Taft collection of casts a t a minimum of $50,000.

On motion of Mrs. Plumb, the purchase of this collection was authorized, and an appropriation of $15,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary, was made from the General Reserve Fund for the purchase and transportation of the collection, by the following vote: Aye, M r . Adams, M r . Cleary, Mr. Karraker, Dr. Meyer, M r . Moschel, Mrs. Plumb, Mr. Pogue; no, none; absent, Mrs. Freeman, Mr. Horner, Mr. Mayer, Mr. Wieland.

DIRECTORS O F T H E ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (3) A recommendation t h a t t h e following be appointed members of t h e Board of Directors of t h e Athletic Association t o serve from March 9, 1937, until t h e next annual meeting of t h e Board of Trustees, or until their successors have been appointed:

F . A. RUSSELL, Urbana F . E . RICHART, Urbana W . E . C. CLIFFORD, Champaign J . P . KRATZ, Monticello W. S. W I L S O N , Urbana

On motion of M r . Pogue, these Directors were appointed as recommended.

ORGANIZATION O F DEPARTMENT O F ENGLISH (4) Under t h e University Statutes, an academic department may be organized with either a head or a chairman, and t h e Statutes provide for a change of departmental organization from a headship t o a chairmanship on recommendation of its members of t h e ranks of assistant professor and above. In accordance with this procedure, it is recommended t h a t t h e Department of English, which is a t present on a headship basis, b e organized with a chairman and