Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Gregory Hall [PAGE 7]

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May 2, 1914, will stand as well for other illustrious names and for the great deeds that find place in the perennial freshness of grateful appreciation. The structure and its contents is to be of a general memorial character for all time and for all worthy interests.

THE OLD ART GALLERY

Those of the older days well remember the Art Collection exhibited on the fifth floor of the "New Building" (University Hall). It was for many years the show place of the University, and visitors were always taken to it. Very often even those from far distance inquired for it, because its fame was widespread. And the influence it exerted in regard to culture and taste was certainly considerable. There are those of the student body of the 70s and 80s who now assert their whole lives have been different from what they would otherwise have been on account of this art collection. I t owed its existence to Doctor Gregory's personal efforts. He started the original movement, made personal contributions for it, received subscriptions from others after his presentations, devoted to it the proceeds of lectures and entertainments, and with the money thus secured—about $4,000—went to Paris at his own expense and purchased the very excellent collection of casts of famous sculptural pieces, the large number of engravings and other instructive art objects. He asked of the Trustees a little money for fitting the room and installing the objects; otherwise the expenses were provided as has been told. When the room was urgently demanded for other purposes the pieces were distributed widely in University rooms, and because they are now so disseminated they make no impression. So true is this last that it is commonly supposed they are mostly lost. This is not true. They can be largely gathered again and will make a good beginning for a new collection.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

I t is unwise to try to predict at this time what the building details will be or what will be the prominent features of the exhibit to be contained therein. A pretty good answer to such an inquiry is to be found in the outcome of a very similar project now well on in development on the campus of the University of Michigan—an Alumni Memorial Hall, dedicated May 11, 1910. It cost $206,000 of which there was raised by an alumni committee the sum of $156,000, and that of $50,000 was contributed by the Board of Regents with the understanding that the building should to some extent house distinctively University affairs. The Alumni Association has headquarters in the building and a general reading room open to all also has a place here. A large sized Faculty club room in the basement is found to be very useful. A lecture room for the department of Art and Design is also provided, and a fine sky-lighted Sculpture Gallery is at present used for public assemblies. Otherwise the building is for art exhibitions and the collections now in place represent a value beyond that of the cost of the building. The "Lewis Collection" of paintings is prominent among these. As 7