xh CHARLES OTIS WHITMAN 
Whitman could have had the necessary support in his plans they would 
have been centered at Woods Hole. This need of a national center of 
research in every department of biology is still before the laboratory 
as a living issue, and although this grand concept has so far failed of 
complete realization, who can say how much the laboratory owes to 
this catholicity of spirit of its director, how much biology as a whole 
owes to this splendid ideal? 
If the laboratory was to be truly national, Professor Whitman be- 
lieved that it must be founded upon the cooperation of individuals and 
institutions; no one man nor institution, however great, could accom- 
plish this purpose. He recognized that common ideals must form the 
basis of such cooperation, and he sought to bring into close connection 
with the laboratory every person and every institution that shared these 
ideals with himself. With these ideals, and by means of his own per- 
sonal charm and scientific abilities, Whitman secured the cooperation 
of many of the younger biologists of the country. There was thus de- 
veloped at Woods Hole a center for research work in biology which has 
had few equals in the history of the world. By his own work, as well | 
as by his appreciation of the really fundamental problems of biology, he 
has set a very high standard for the scientific work of the laboratory, 
and by his kindness, sincerity, and generosity he has called forth similar 
qualities in others, so that it has been characteristic of Woods Hole, 
as of few other laboratories at home or abroad, that a spirit of genuine 
cooperation and mutual helpfulness prevails. Who that experienced 
it can ever forget the inspiration and enthusiasm of those early years of 
the laboratory? Who of us can forget the cordial appreciation and 
generous encouragement which we received from Professor Whitman? 
Some of us feel that we there incurred a debt of gratitude to him which 
we can never fully repay. Since those early years other laboratories have 
arisen and other duties have drawn men away from Woods Hole, but 
the Marine Biological Laboratory never loses its charm for those who 
have worked there, and this charm will continue as long as the spirit 
of cooperation, which Whitman instilled into it, prevails. 
Finally, Professor Whitman stood for the complete autonomy ofthe 
laboratory. Although aid might have been had more than once from 
universities and institutions by surrendering the independence of the 
laboratory, he steadfastly and consistently refused to do this, even 
though in doing so he had to face the opposition of almost all the mem- 
bers of the board of trustees and the corporation. There is still a dif- 
ference of opinion as to the expediency of this stand, but there is prob- 
ably no question as to the desirability of the autonomy. If the labor- 
atory can obtain endowments such as to provide for its present and 
future needs and to insure its independence we shall all greatly rejoice, 
but whether it shall succeed in this aim or not, we are probably all 
agreed that this much at least of Professor Whitman’s ideal must be 
maintained, viz: that the laboratory must be left free to grow and develop 
as its own needs and the interests of science demand. 
