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Vice-Chancellor’s Office The University of the South Sewanee, Tennessee
19 May, 1905.
Dr, William M. Polk 7 East Thirty-sixth Street, New York.
My dear Dr. Polk,
Your letter of the 17th inst. is duly received.
The package containing the portrait of Bishop Polk reached Sewanee a few days ago, It is very much improved by the re-touching. We were sorry to be without the Bishop’s portrait during these past few months. It was St. Luke’s Oratory for so many years, and was always visited by people who came to Sewanee. I can assure you that we are most grateful to Miss Elliott and yourself for so valuable a donation, and one which we prize so highly.
Mr. Guerry tells me that there is a probability of your coming to Sewanee this Summer, in order to be present at the laying of the corner stone of the All Saints Memorial Chapel, and I extend to you a most cordial invitation to be present upon that occasion. The corner stone will be laid on the afternoon of Sunday, June 25th. I hope that Mrs. Polk can come with you.
I have read over and over again the Address which you delivered at our Commencement several years ago. I sent a copy of it to Mr. Roosevelt, and received a very appreciative note. Recently, I sent a copy to Booker Washington, who expressed himself as being very much pleased with the spirit and the treatment of the race problem. He said there were one or two points on which he might take issue with you, but that the Address as a whole was cordially endorsed by him. It seems to me that in that Address you anticipated a problem which has become a vital one here of late. The more I study the history of the University and the vicissitudes through which it passed, the greater is my admiration for the catholicity and statesmanship of our Founder. Such an institution can never die!
With warmest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
{handwritten} B.L. Wiggins {handwritten closed} Vice-Chancellor