Vault Early Papers of the University Box 2 Document 67

University Place. Tenn

Nov 24 1861

Dear Sir

At the request of{struckthrough: I promised} Dr Crane to communicate to you the following Resolution passed by our Board of Trustees of the University at our meeting in Columbia

Resolved. That such funds as shall be specially contributed for that purpose be applied to the establishment of a preparatory school at Sewanee under the direction of the Ex: Com:"

The resolution as offered mentioned your name in connection with it, but the {illegible: never?} requested that part of it to be left out of the {illegible} journal

The Board entirely approved of the suggestion but did not under their Charter & Constitution

feel at liberty to place it in any other shape than above {struckthrough: it}. It was sug gested that {illegible word struckthrough} citizens of Mississippi might make a special contribution to erect the buildings necessary with the view of placing you at the head of a school of high order {insert symbol}here which might {illegible: alleviate?} the difficulty {struckthrough: fill the gap} which so many suffer {illegible} of educating their sons in the interva {struckthrough: the difficulty of} between the Seminary & the University studies {struckthrough: of their sons} the reputation acquired by Dr Arnold {insert symbol} and others in England {struckthrough: & others} as well as some in this country like the {illegible: Letchifield &c?} {insert symbol} it was hoped might induce you to take charge of it

I have no doubt that if you would engage in such an enterprise if the buildings could be {illegible: presented?} to you free of cost it would be a decided success and that your wide spread reputation would bring to you more {insert symbol}young men than you

could possablly receive

The buildings need not in the outset be very expen-sive as probably a considerable number of gentlemen would make up a capital by $100 subsrip -tions say of $10,000 to begin upon.

The University contemplates putting up in the Spring a boarding house to accommodate some 30 or 40 persons comfortably as a place for visitors and very likely {struckthrough: probably} if a school was to be established persons could be found who would make a permanent residence here with the {struckthrough: illegible of here to live and would} receiving boarders -- By that care {struckthrough: only? truly?} {struckthrough: Thus making any such} {insert symbol} new buildings {struckthrough: requisite as} would be requi red {insert symbol} {struckthrough illegible} except for to accommodation {illegible} class recitations &c. The cost of building substantially of stone would be less here I think than wooden building in {illegible: such?} other locali

-ties. We are preparing to have the lots ready to be {illegible} the coming Spring.

I shall remain here the ensuing year & will be glad to furnish any information you may desire --

Yours Respectfully

G. R. Fairbanks

{upside down at bottom:}

{illegible: Telled?} to Dr {illegible}

{illegible} {illegible}

re= Establishment prep school