GIFT TO THE COLLEGE

The Trustees are in receipt of an offer of $10,000 to constitute a memorial to E. Phelps Johnson, graduate of the College in the Class of 1913, whose affiliations were, however with the Class of 1912.

Phelps Johnson, as he was generally known, was one of the most brilliant students in his class and expected to study medicine following his graduation from College. In this hope he was thwarted on account of precarious health. He, accordingly, took up farming in a small way in his home village of Holden, Massachusetts, and interested himself in all the civic activities of the little communtiy of which he was a part. His class letters were full of good humor and patient optimism.

When the United States entered the war he made every effort to be accepted for enlistment, but was refused. Last winter he fell victim to the influenza, and the day before Christmas succumbed to the disease.

From his estate his parents are turning over to the College the sum of $10.000, which is to be used in the purchase of library books in the field of the social sciences. The wish of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to make this disposal of part of their son's property is fully expressed in their letter to the Trustees, a copy of which is reprinted herewith:

Holden, Mass., March 5, 1919.

To the Trustees of Dartmouth College:

Gentlemen:

Our son, E. Phelps Johnson, entered Dartmouth College in the class of 1912. His college experience was that of a brilliant and hopeful beginning, followed toward senior year by constant struggle between high intellectual ambition and inadequate physical strength.

On account of the latter he was obliged to interrupt his course for a period of fourteen months, eventually receiving his degree in 1914 as of the Class of 1913. Following his graduation continued ill health prevented his realizing his hopes for further study, nullified his every effort to enroll actively in the armed defense of his native land, and compelled the direction of his life along quiet paths of usefulness. In the winter of 1918 he succumbed to influenza and died in his home town of Holden, Massachusetts, on. December 24, 1918, at the age of twenty-nine years.

E. Phelps Johnson loved Dartmouth College, and loved the opportunities which he found there for mental stimulation and for human companionship. We, his parents, are therefore desirous that the College should bear some permanent and suitable memorial of him and his brief career; and we can think of nothing more appropriate than that he whose great promise was so tragically unfulfilled should be associated for all time with those aspects of collegiate education whose reach is toward the long goal of social and political righteousness.

From our son's estate, therefore, we wish to turn over to you, the Trustees of Dartmouth College, securities to a par value of from Eight to Ten Thousand Dollars, to be held in trust and to be known as the E. PHELPS JOHNSON MEMORIAL FUND.

We wish further that the income from this Fund be utilized as follows and under the following conditions:

1. Each year such part of the income as is needed is to be utilized for the purchase of library books and pamphlets in the field of the Social Sciences.

2. Such part as is not thus expended in any year is to be added to the principal of the Fund.

3. In so far as possible the books and pamphlets purchased from the income of this Fund are to be placed together for reference purposes in a department library, or seminar room, or alcove in the main library, which when fixed with reasonable permanence is to be designated as the E. PHELPS JOHNSON

LIBRARY SEMINAR or ALCOVE, as the case may be, — suitably marked with a metal plate, and further identified by a framed and inscribed photograph of our son.

Expenditures for these things, as well as for the fitting of the place selected, may be charged to the income of the fund.

If this trust is accepted, we shall be glad, on notification, to place the securities in the hands of your Treasurer so soon as legal transfer may be effected, which will be within not more than six months.

In addition to this College endowment, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have expressed their intention of turning over to the Class of 1912 a further sum from their son's estate sufficient to endow his regular class fees and dues so long as the class organization shall exist. Mr. D. Basil O'Conner, acting secretary of the class is in receipt of an expression of their intention.