Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 311]

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308

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 20

Y.M.C.A. Following his graduation he was a Coach and Assistant Dean of Men at the East High School, Rockford, for three or four years, and is now Personnel Director of the Mechanics Universal Joint Division, Borg-Warner Corporation, Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Spurgeon is a young man of excellent character and was one of the prominent student leaders during his undergraduate years.

Mr. Davis presented this matter. On motion of Mr. Davis, these Directors were appointed as recommended.

PURCHASE OF RARE BOOKS BY J O H N MILTON (12) The University Library has an opportunity to purchase from the Scribner Book Store in New York a collection of 19 first editions (1608-1674) of works written by John Milton, at a price of $9,900 for the lot. Such rare first editions seldom are on the market. T h e collection includes the Comus "A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634," which is so rare that the University may never have another opportunity to purchase it. This single work has sold at auction for as much as $21,500. T h e Scribner's copy of the Comus alone has recently been offered for sale at $10,500, so that in terms of book value the purchase of 19 items for less than the quotation on the Comus is an excellent bargain. So far as is known, only four copies of the Comus remain in private hands. T w o of these are earmarked for H a r v a r d University, one for Georgetown, and the fourth is the copy the University is considering. A detailed list of the items in this collection, and the list price of each, is herewith given to the Secretary for record. Funds are available for this purchase as follows: $3,000 from the UniversityLibrary budget assignment for acquisitions, and $6,000 assigned by the University Research Board from Graduate School research funds. T h e purchase of this collection is strongly recommended by the Director of the Library, by the Chairman of the University Senate's Library Committee, and by Professors T. W. Baldwin and H . F . Fletcher of the Department of English, both of whom are nationally eminent authorities on the Milton and Shakespeare periods of English literature. I recommend that this purchase be authorized.

On motion of Mrs. Grigsby, this purchase was authorized as recommended.

ADDITION TO CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING LABORATORY (13) On January 23, 1943 (Minutes, page 238), the Board approved a contract with King & Petry, the lowest bidders, for construction of the Sewage Research Laboratory which is now to be known as the Sanitary Engineering Laboratory. T h e amount of the original contract was $31,500, and the amount assigned to the project was $45,000. W h e n the specifications for bids were drawn, insulation of the roof was considered but was not included, as it was not then certain that there would be sufficient funds for the purpose. The Physical Plant Department now recommends an addition to this contract to provide and install roof-insulating material in accordance with specifications. A fixed price estimate of $1,040 has been submitted by the contractor and checked and approved by the Physical Plant Department. The Comptroller recommends approval, and I concur.

On motion of Dr. Meyer, this addition to the contract was approved.

ADDITION TO CONTRACT FOR EQUIPMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH LABORATORY (14) On December 16, 1041 (Minutes, page 719), the Board of Trustees approved a contract with the Vilter Sales Construction Company, the lowest bidder, for the installation of air-conditioning equipment for the atmospheric environment research in the College of Medicine at a price of $4,094.