Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of University of Illinois at Chicago (1921) [PAGE 8]

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HISTORICAL SKETCH xiv COLLEGE OF M E D I C I N E

XV

they believed to be a technicality to end the lease and refusing to rent longer their property to t h e University of Illinois. These men were anxious for the University to continue its medical course, with or without the cooperation of the college of Physicians and Surgeons. Others censured the University of Illinois because of its failure properly to finance the work in medical education which it had undertaken. They desired to return to the old regime, depending on students' fees for financial support, and have an independent medical college conducted without dictation from anyone. The annual election of officers of the alumni association was impending and a vigorous struggle was staged for control. Each faction was led by a popular, capable. energetic alumnus, both of whom had been members of the faculty of the medical college when conducted by the University. One of these, Dr. Frederick Harris, was taking p a r t in the reorganization of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and had the active support of its faculty and friends. The other, Dr. Edward L. Heintz, had resigned from the old faculty because its relations with the University had been broken and had refused to take part in the reorganization of the College outside of University supervision and control. The election resulted in an overwhelming victory for the interests of the University of Illinois, as represented by Dr. Heintz and his associates. The alumni organization and other friends of the University, including those members of the faculty of the University of Illinois College of Medicine who had refused to take p a r t in the reorganization into the College of Physicians and Surgeons and some who were to continue with the faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons bestirred themselves to arrange for facilities for the University of Illinois to continue its work in medical education. I t was found impossible to secure buildings already in existence in a satisfactory location suited for such use. I n the language of President James: "Having no plant and no money with which to purchase a plant, the University was obliged to close its medical school." Those who were active in supporting the interests of a University Medical School for Chicago were not inclined to accept this as a final arrangement. After consultation by a volunteer committee with President James and President Abbott of the Board of Trustees, a tentative scheme was suggested. Plans for a building in which to teach the two clinical years were drawn by Schmidt, Garden & Martin, architects, with provision for 200 students. An option on sufficient land in the immediate vicinity of the old college was secured. Money sufficient to finance this plan was pledged. I n conjunction with this it was expected t h a t the legislature, which would shortly be in session, would appropriate funds to establish the two pre-clinical years a t Urbana. About this time it was suggested t h a t if it were possible for the medical alumni to gather up the stock of the corporation of the college of Physicians and Surgeons and give it outright to the University of Illinois together with the absolute control of the property, it would be the best solution of the difficult problem; it would save to t h e University the fruits of its previous work in medical education; it would prevent the rivalry incident to another medical college being introduced into the field; it would bring back into the fold the friends of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and i t , would furnish a plant already in existence, under the absolute control of the University, in which to conduct its medical work. T h e officers of the Alumni Association recognized t h a t to obtain the stock of the College of Physicians and Surgeons by donation or purchase, there must be a unanimity of effort between the Association, the other friends of the University and influential representives of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. With this in view a committee was appointed b y the Alumni Association to take charge of the efforts to secure t h e stock for t h e University. The committee consisted of Dr. Edward L. Heintz, President of the Alumni Association; Dr. D . A. K. Steele, President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons; and the writer, Ex-trustee of the University of Illinois. The proposition to secure the stock through the efforts of the Alumni Association and their friends was presented to the Board of Trustees of the University by the writer and a resolution was adopted by the Board to the effect that they would accept the stock if all of it was delivered to them on or before Feb. 1, 1913, and would reopen the University College of Medicine and conduct it as a department of t h e University. By agreement between the members of t h e Committee and the President of the Board of Trustees of the University, Dr. Steele was made chairman of the Committee t o secure all t h e stock of the College of Physicians and Surgeons for the University of

IIIIUIUM, and it was largely due to his indefatigable efforts t h a t all this stock was se'«"«-<! as a gift to the University. < M the 2170 shares of stock held by various people, 1488 were donated outright " • •• i !>«' University. Of these 1488 shares, 1065 were donated by the owners; 423 shares M • i«- purchased during the campaign from their original owners and donated by friends ••' I In* University. Tim next step in t h e campaign was the securing of options of purchase from the • •u IHTH of the remaining shares of stock who would not donate their stock to the Uni•« i .il.y. Options were obtained on 675 shares until July 1, 1913, a t a total purchase r» n-r of $28,151.65. T h e remaining 7 shares had never been issued by the corporation. Next came the campaign to secure subscriptions and collect the money needed (•• 1.1I.e. up these options by Feb. 1, 1913, the time limit set by the Board of Trustees -I i In- University. A direct appeal was issued to the members of the Alumni Associai :itid to those interested in medical education in Chicago under the auspices of the I 'iiivrrsity of Illinois. This was followed by active individual solicitation by members •ii i In' committee and those alumni who were assisting them. \ . a result, the entire total of $28,151.65 was secured from 173 different sources, «". lulling large subscriptions from several classes. «>n Jan. 30, 1913, the complete stock issue of the College of Physicians and Sur• • •MI • of Chicago, accompanied by the resignations of the officers of the corporation, was •i in <red by the committee to the President of the Board of Trustees of the Univer« . nf Illinois. ( rim charter of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, deeds to the real estate, • l-ill of sale of the personal property, the Robert L. Rea scholarship fund of $4800 • •• I">IHIS, the Medical Missionary scholarship fund of $2000 in bonds, receipts for all ''•• iimjr, indebtedness of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and a balance of i '. • -i1.11 on deposit a t the Chicago Savings Bank & Trust Company, were turned • • i l.o the authorities of the University of Illinois. • . I'he real estate consisted of two properties:~ i The old college building, later known as the dental school building, a six-story, I".. I. a,nd stone building occupying a space 1 0 0 x 1 0 0 feet at the northwest corner ••i M. orison and Honore Streets, facing Cook County Hospital. • The Medical College building known as the old high school building, a five-story, • •I 11-1. building of 100 x 200 feet with a four-story, brick laboratory wing 30 x 96 feet -••I-1 i separate power plant, situated on a lot containing over 3500 square feet of land, H••MI 11IK four streets, Ogden Avenue, Lincoln, Congress and Honore Streets. Mie personal property consisted of the equipment of the medical college and a • •»• •!" a,l library of approximately 12000 volumes. The transfer was made subject to obligations resting on the property in the form •i I "ii ids and mortgages amounting to $245,000. The plant was a going concern with •••• m. nine of approximately $100,000 a year. In addition to the property of tangible i hi.- there was the prestige and publicity asset of an institution of good standing, carry• ii.- <>ii for thirty years, practically half of t h a t time under University sanction, and also • !•• i snet of 3000 loyal medical alumni. I he College of Physicians and Surgeons passed out of existence as the transfer • -i iim.de. I t has become a memory,—a pleasant memory to some of the older mem, - i of its faculty, increasingly pleasant with the reverie of the years. «»u Feb. 12, 1913, the Board of Trustees of the University formally approved t h e I i oh of the transfer, accepted the gift on behalf of the University and directed the »'«• ident of the University to reopen its medical school in this plant, admitting students •i 11" medical school of the College of Physicians and Surgeons to the corresponding • !•• t-A of the University Medical School, and accepting the faculty of the same school I the close of the current academic year. The session of 1913-14 was conducted under the personal supervision of President •on- i. Dr. William E , Quine was appointed dean of the two clinical years (senior i m i and Prof. George P . Dreyer of the department of physiology dean of the pre• I'Mi• al years (junior dean), practically separating the work of the college into two •I- i "ins. Later Dr. D . A. K. Steele became senior dean, retaining the office till July f . '''IV, when he resigned to enter the medical service of the U. S. Army as Major .» ii.- World War. indents entering the college were for the first time required to present college or •••«• •• rsity credentials. Credit for at least thirty semester hours was required for •'•• • mrent year and announcement was made t h a t thereafter credit for at least 60