his stature as a farsighted scientist and conscientious philan- 

 thropist, made the following presentation to Harvard University 

 in 1939: 



"It is now my intention to give my herbarium and associated library to 

 the Botanical Museum of Harvard University under conditions similar 

 to those governing the gift of my economic botanical collections in 1918, 

 it being understood that during my active life I shall have control of the 

 herbarium and its policies under the conditions that now prevail. 



"In order that my herbarium shall be efficiently maintained and in no 

 way a burden on the university in the future, it is my intention at this 

 time, ... to establish a fund . . . the income from which fund shall be used 

 to pay the salary of a curator. This fund with any subsequent additions 

 to be recorded as the Oakes Ames Fund for Orchidology. 



"If at some future time the University should deem it wise to erect a 

 fireproof structure to house the now scattered herbaria, I should be 

 willing to have my herbarium, on the understanding that it should be 

 kept as a distinct unit, (and to this there is no administrative obstacle), 

 transferred to that building and be designated as the Orchid Herbarium 

 of Oakes Ames. . . ". 



Perhaps it should be noted here that the Orchid Herbarium 

 was housed first in Professor Ames's residence at North Easton, 

 Massachusetts. Then, it was moved to his home at 355 Com- 

 monwealth Avenue in Boston. Eventually, it was installed in the 

 Botanical Museum of Harvard University, where it was at the 

 time that the gift was made to Harvard. One more move took 

 place in 1954 to 22 Divinity Avenue, where a new herbarium 

 building had just been completed. Unfortunately, Professor 

 Ames died in 1950, but the members of the Corporation of 

 Harvard University, through Mr. Kane, sought the approval of 

 Mrs. Oakes Ames, because they wanted to honor him with a new 

 location for his herbarium. The following exchange of corre- 

 spondence is part of the record: 



"North Easton, Mass. June 29th, 1953. Dear Mr. Kane: It is gratifying 

 to my children, as it is to me, that the Harvard Corporation wishes to 

 place the Orchid Herbarium of Oakes Ames in the new Botany Building 



in a place of honor. 



"Our understanding is that can be done in accordance with the stipu- 

 lation of his deed of gift to Harvard and his herbarium and library be 

 kept as a working unit. 



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