Goodspeed, Thomas Wakefield, 1842-1927

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Baptist educator. Secretary, Board of Trustees, University of Chicago, 1890-1913. Registrar, University of Chicago, 1897-1913. University historian, 1916-1927.

From the description of Papers, 1865-1927 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 55818990

Clergyman, educational leader and extraordinary fundraiser, Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed (4 Sept. 1842-16 Dec. 1927) conceived the modern university and saw its fruition in the University of Chicago. Born in Glens Falls, New York, Goodspeed's family relocated to Illinois in 1855 after the failure of his father's, Stephen Goodspeed's, business. It was there that Goodspeed witnessed one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. His mother, Jane Johnson was a devoted Baptist who was determined that her sons should become ministers, to which end Goodspeed attended academies and preparatory schools in Glen Falls, Poughkeepsie, New York, and in Galesburg, Illinois. In 1862 Goodspeed graduated from the soon to be doomed first University of Chicago [Established with a grant from Stephen Douglas]. The University of Rochester granted his A.B. degree in 1963, and it was at the Rochester Theological Seminary that he was ordained in 1865 and graduated in 1866. In this same year Goodspeed married Mary Ellen Ten Broeke who bore their two sons. Serving in the ministry first in Avon and Chicago, IL he then accepted the position as pastor of the Baptist Church of Quincy, Illinois where he stayed for five and half years until 1872.

Goodspeed might have never left Quincy had it not been for a plea from his ailing brother, that he required assistance in the demanding ministry at Chicago's Second Baptist Church. Goodspeed stayed in Chicago and one year later he accepted a position on the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary. His appointment was a fortunate one for the institution because Goodspeed managed to collect enough funding to save the financially troubled institution. Later the Seminary would become the Divinity School at the new University of Chicago.

Seeing the importance of fundraising, Goodspeed resigned his post at Second Baptist Church in order to raise funds for the Seminary. He became the secretary of the Seminary and moved to Morgan Park, in the suburbs, in order to become the foundering pastor of the Morgan Park Baptist Church (1876-1879). Over the course of eight years Goodspeed managed to raise more than $250,000 for the Seminary. Many of those contributions were given one dollar at a time by individuals; however Goodspeed also developed connections with the major businessmen which included Marshall Field and the future benefactor of the University of Chicago, John D. Rockefeller. Their relationship began with Rockefeller's gift of $30,000 for the Seminary.

Before Goodspeed conceived the new University of Chicago he attempted to save the old one. In April 1886 Yale University attempted to woo William Rainey Harper, the professor of Hebrew, away from the Seminary. Goodspeed suggested that Rockefeller should fund the University's move to Morgan Park near the Seminary and Harper could be retained in Chicago to be the president. Harper expressed interest in this plan but went to Yale to teach while the details were worked on. The old University of Chicago closed its doors that same year.

From the ashes of Goodspeed's efforts rose the Pheonix that adorns the University of Chicago's logo to this day. Goodspeed promoted the idea of a major Midwestern college or university that would be a place of intellect and light. Working with Reverend Frederick T. Gates (of Minneapolis) on the founding of the American Baptist Education Society, Goodspeed became more strongly convinced of the urgent need for higher education in the Midwest; he argued that it was "an immediate and imperative denominational necessity."

After years on negotiations it was on 17 may 1889 that Rockefeller committed to donating $600,000 toward the endowment of the new University of Chicago if Goodspeed and his associates could raise $400,000 in other contributions to provide for land, building and equipment. A seasoned fundraiser Goodspeed vacated his Seminary position in Morgan Park within a month in order to allocate more time to the collection effort. He turned first to local Baptist groups and then to other religious groups and the Chicago business community. Again the majority of the contributions were small or moderate gifts given by churches, businesses, and clubs in Chicago and other cities. One year later, 23 May 1890, the driven fundraiser reported to Rockefeller that the Education Society had raised $549,000 to match Rockefeller's donation. Additionally Goodspeed convinced Marshall Field to donate the real estate for the university, just south of the city in Hyde Park.

The University of Chicago incorporated on 9 September 1890. Goodspeed was elected to the board and served first as the secretary and he also worked as the unofficial business manager and then the registrar, public relations officer, fundraiser and eventually he became the historian of the University.

Harper returned to Chicago to act as the University's first president. Goodspeed and Gates constantly served as negotiators between Harper, the educational visionary with little sense of expense and Rockefeller, who tired of bailing the University out of its early deficits. In 1910, after supplying $35 million, Rockefeller refused to supply funding toward the endowment until the University could raise enough funds to clear its own debts. The work was accomplished in two years through Goodspeed's efforts and Rockefeller resumed his position as benefactor.

Once the endowment was restored in 1912 the University was secure Goodspeed allowed himself to retire. President Harry Pratt Judson who had replaced Harper upon the latter's death, requested Goodspeed to assume the honorary position of secretary to the board. Judson later suggested that Goodspeed collect the biographies of the University's founders that he had written over time and publish them in addition to writing the early history of the university. (The Story of the University of Chicago 1925)

Goodspeed good humouredly apologized for "breaking into literature" at the age of 74. Always dedicated to the University he continued writing the Harper's biography up until the week before his passing. The final two chapters fell to his sons for completion. Charles Ten Broeke Goodspeed published a biography about his father and his brother, Edgar continued teaching in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago.

In his histories of the university he neglected to tell the role that he himself played and often credited others with his achievements. For example, in his biography of Harper he credits Harper with convincing Rockefeller to fund the university, while it is well documented that Harper and Rockefeller negotiated through Goodspeed and Gates.

Goodspeed was full of energy and vigor even as he aged. He continued cultivating his rustic home in the Wisconsin woods every summer and researching in conjunction. In the first week of December, 1927 Goodspeed suffered a stroke from which he seemed to be recovering until he was struck again the following week. This time he slipped into a coma. A member of the family or university staff stayed with him every moment until he passed away on 16 December 1927.

Goodspeed infused the modern university with respect for the spiritual; believing that it was essential to education, "No one can be said to be truly educated whose spiritual nature has not been cultivated." This belief extended beyond his religion; he aimed to make the school open to all denominations. He believed he could build a great university and then he knew that he had. He son wrote of him,

He has in a sense written his own biography, in his thirty-four biographical sketches of University friends and donors

From the guide to the Goodspeed, Thomas W. Papers, 1865-1927, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1839-1937. Correspondence, 1886-1892 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn University of Chicago. Office of the President. Harper, Judson and Burton Administrations. Records, 1869-1925 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Gates, Frederick Taylor. Papers, 1888-1906 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Harper, William Rainey. Papers, 1872-1938 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn University of Chicago. Office of the President. Records, 1889-1925 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Arnett, Trevor. Papers, 1921-1932 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Gates, Frederick Taylor, 1853-1929. Papers, 1888-1906 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn University of Chicago. Founders' Correspondence, 1886-1892 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Hermann Eduard Von Holst collection University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Hermann Eduard Von Holst collection University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Arnett, Trevor, 1870-1955. Papers, 1893-1955 (inclusive), 1920-1940 (bulk). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Harper, William Rainey, 1856-1906. Papers, 1872-1938 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Goodspeed, Thomas W. Papers, 1865-1927 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Walker, George C. Scrapbook, 1873-1903 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Gates, Frederick Taylor, 1853-1929. Papers, 1888-1906 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Goodspeed, Thomas Wakefield, 1842-1927. Papers, 1865-1927 (inclusive). University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Walker, George C. Scrapbook, 1873-1903. University of Chicago Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Arnett, Trevor, 1870- person
associatedWith Arnett, Trevor, 1870-1955. person
associatedWith Gates, Frederick Taylor, 1853-1929. person
associatedWith Harper, William Rainey, 1856-1906. person
associatedWith Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1839-1937. person
associatedWith Strong, Augustus Hopkins, 1836-1921. person
associatedWith University of Chicago corporateBody
associatedWith University of Chicago. Board of Trustees. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Chicago-History corporateBody
associatedWith University of Chicago. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith Von Holst, H. (Hermann), 1841-1904. person
associatedWith Walker, George C. person
associatedWith Walker, George C. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1842

Death 1927

English

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