Chicago Tribune
MISS CULVER’S RICH GIFT.
DEEDS TO $1,000,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY TRANSFERRED
University of Chicago Given Title to a Number of Pieces of Land, but the Ground
on which Hull House Stands is Not Included — Reports to the Contrary
Contradicted by Miss Helen Culver and Miss Addams — Mr. Hull’s wishes Carried
Out.
The deeds to $1,000,000 worth of property, the gift of Miss Helen Culver, will be transferred to the trustees of the University of Chicago this afternoon. The property consists of several parcels of land situation in various parts of the city. These lands do not include the plot now occupied by Hull House. Miss Culver is the owner of that plot, the whole block, and had a perfect right to convey it to the university if she had so wished. But she did not include any part of the block in her great gift. She still holds the Hull House land in her possession. The northeast corner of the block, where Hull House stands, comprising 135 feet on Halsted street and 60 feet on West Polk street, is held in lease by the Hull House corporation. The lease is to run till 1920, and was given, rent free, by Miss Culver some time ago. She is one of the trustees of the institution.
Miss Jane Addams of Hull House said yesterday:
"I knew there must be some mistake when I read that the property given to the university by Miss Culver included the Hull House land. This block is not included in her gift. Miss Culver owns this land and she could give it away if she cared to do so, but possession could not be taken until after the year 1920. Hull House has a free lease until that time given by Miss Culver herself. Some of our friends were surprised (and perhaps a little scared) today to read that this property had been given to the university. I did not believe the report, and this morning I ascertained for myself that no part of this block is to be included in the gift. Miss Culver has always been exceedingly kind and courteous to Hull House. She is one of our trustees, and takes great interest in the society.
Would Give Mr. Hull the Credit.
"We could not be very ???? with the university. I do not believe Miss Culver would desire that. Such an organization as this must remain independent to do its work in this community."
Miss Culver was seen at her home in Union Park yesterday afternoon by a reporter for THE TRIBUNE. She spoke of her gift to the university as taking a weight of responsibility from her mind, but did not care to say much about herself or the history of her life. She said:
"I wish my name might be left out altogether. I consider the matter as the gift of Mr. Hull rather than of myself. He had long thought of founding an institution of learning in Chicago. He was for many years one of the trustees of the old Chicago University, and was greatly interested in educational work. When the talk of the new university first started Mr. Hull thought the plan was a good one. He wanted the university to be placed on the West Side, in the neighborhood of Douglas Park, and was willing to give a campus for it. He talked something of this with the organizers of the university, though I believe he never made a formal offer of the land. The founders thought the South Side was the best place for it, and I presume they were right. Mr. Hull did not live long enough to do what he intended. His death was rather sudden and unexpected. Many of his plans had not been completed.
Mr. Hull Wished it So.
"In giving this property to the University of Chicago I wish to be regarded as carrying out Mr. Hull’s designs. He left no instruction or specifications as to what he had meant to do, but I know that Mr. Hull, had he lived, would have done something for the further advancement of education in this city, and I wish this gift to bear his name.
"I am as much pleased in making the gift as the university people can be in receiving it, because it takes from me the doing of a very difficult work. My part is done. Now the work is theirs. The difficult part is yet to be done. But I have faith in the ability of the university to do it, and do it better than I could.
Helen Culver was born in Randolph, a village in Western New York. She came to Chicago in 1854, and this has been her home since that year. At first she was connected with educational work. She taught for a time in the West Division High School, but has not done any school work for thirty-five years. She was a cousin of Charles J. Hull, with whom she had lived for many years.
Asked about her plans for the future, Miss Culver said;
"I have non that I care to say anything about. My time during several years past has been fully occupied with the management of my estate. Much of my time will still be employed in the same way. Chicago will be my home as long as I live."
Special services were held in the chapel of the university last night to give thanks for the gifts which the university has lately received. President Harper, Prof. Small, Prof. Mathews, and others spoke.
Dr. Harper said: "I telegraphed Mr. Rockefeller last night, telling hm the good news, I did not receive a reply from him. That is not necessary. According to the agreement under which his gift was made we are to receive from him an amount equal to that we received from any source, which means we are to get another $1,000,000 from Mr. Rockefeller as soon as the technicalities can be gone through with. It will be necessary to appraise the property given by Miss Culver, although I believe her appraisal is correct."
