Gates, Frederick Taylor. Papers, 1888-1906

  • IdentificationICU.SPCL.GATES
  • TitleGuide to the Frederick Taylor Gates Papers1888-1906
  • PublisherUniversity of Chicago Library
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Date1888-1906
  • Physical Description0.5 linear feet (1 box)
  • RepositorySpecial Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.
  • AbstractBaptist minister, businessman. Corresponding secretary, American Baptist Education Society, 1888-1902. Philanthropic adviser to John D. Rockefeller; president, General Education Board. Trustee, University of Chicago, 1896-1910. Summary: Correspondence to and from Gates relating to the American Baptist Education Society and founding of the University of Chicago (1888-1892). Major correspondents include Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed, William Rainey Harper, Henry L. Morehouse, and Augustus Hopkins Strong. Carbon copies of letters primarily to Gates from William Rainey Harper (1893-1906) concerning affairs relating to the university.

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University of Chicago - Founding and Early History

Religion and Theology

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When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Gates, Frederick Taylor. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Frederick Taylor Gates (1853-1929) was a Baptist minister, businessman, and chief architect of John D. Rockefeller's great philanthropic enterprises. He worked his way through the University of Rochester -- receiving his degree in 1877-- and the Rochester Theological Seminary (1880). Superintendent of missions for the American Home Missionary Society in Kansas, in 1888 he became secretary of the newly organized American Baptist Education Society; from that time on he was associated with the founding and development of the University of Chicago. Contact with John D. Rockefeller, founder of the University, led to Gates' employment by Rockefeller in 1892, first as principal philanthropic adviser, later as President of the General Education Board (first of the unrestricted Rockefeller foundations). He was also the founder of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. F.T. Gates was for many years also a trustee of the University of Chicago.

The correspondence covers the period from 1888-1906. The correspondence section contain letters written to and by Gates in his capacity as corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Education Society. This correspondence is, thus, of direct bearing on the history of that body. Among the correspondents are W.R. Harper, T.W. Goodspeed, Augustus Strong, and Henry L. Morehouse, corresponding secretary of the American Home Missionary Society. The letters are almost entirely concerned with the founding, support, and development of the "institution for higher learning in the west" which became the University of Chicago. This portion of the collection is composed entirely of carbon copies of letters written from the time of the founding of the University until the death of President Harper.

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

  • Names
    • Gates, Frederick Taylor, 1853-1929
    • Goodspeed, Thomas Wakefield, 1842-1927
    • Harper, William Rainey, 1856-1906
    • Morehouse, Henry L.
    • Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1839-1937
    • Strong, Augustus Hopkins, 1836-1921
    • American Baptist Education Society
    • University of Chicago -- History
  • SubjectBaptists -- Education