February 26th 1864
Miss Sarah J. Hale
Dear Madame
Your favor of the 19th Current came duly to hand,
but at a moment when I was intensify engaged in pre-
paring for a special adjourned meeting of the Board
of Trustees to review the plan of Organization &ca of
the College previously submitted to them, one of which
I believe I sent you. This meeting was fully attended,
much discussion on various topics transpired, and espe-
cially as regards the System of instruction & the pro-
fessional appointees of the Collegethus far my views
in long unison with yours in favor of Ladies teachers
has gained ground, and I am encouraged to believe,
that if competent females can be obtained, every one
of them will be filled by that sex, and if not at the open-
ing will soon thereafter. As soon as they can be printed
will send you my address to the Board and that of
Doctor Magoon, Chairman on the Committee of Art
on the influence of fine Arts upon Society. Our Board
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Feb. 26, 1864
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is composed of men of various talents most happily
divided to promote the material & litterary advance-
ment of the Institution. Such a combination of talent
is rarely to be found in any Board.
Your wishes in the matter of change in the College
name was fully discussed. B. I. Lossing and several
others strenously advocating its adoption, and others
opposingthe most efficient of these latter were Dr
Bishop of N. Y. Dr Anderson of Rochester & Dr
Raymond of Brooklyn. The final question of its adop-
tion however was deferred until the regular annual
meeting in June. It was resolved that the utmost ex-
ertion be made to open the College in Septr next,
therefore if you should in the intermediate time hear
of any distinguished Ladies highly qualified to fill
either of the Chairs, please to inform me.
The Success of all true progress is earnestness, ability
& perserverance with moderation. Men long wedded
to old customs will reluctantly consent to change their
opinions, altho' fully convinced of their wrong, I
therefore have advised to begin our College with only
a portion of the chairs occupied by Ladies teachers,
ultimately we can make them for ourselves. I do not
think our President heartily in favor of your idea of
either altering the name of the College or adopting the
policy of Ladies Professorship in general. I believe
I informed you of having caused to be printed a num-
ber of Copies of your sons article on that subject. The
idea is now fully before the public. We hope to de-
velope it more largely.
With much respect
Yours &c
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