98 McGEE MEMORIAL MEETING 



faction. The period during which I was associated with him was 

 made pleasant by the kindness and the charming personality of the 

 man, profitable by the training received under his elevating educa- 

 tional influence, inspiring by the magnitude of his interests, and dis- 

 tinctively interesting throughout by the diversity and originality of 

 his work. 



On intimate acquaintance Doctor McGee could only be regarded 

 as a big-hearted, clean, liberal-minded gentleman. His very ap- 

 pearance reflected an inherent dignity; his deliberate determined 

 manner, together with his honesty of purpose, inspired respect. Yet 

 beneath the apparent sternness and austerity of the man there was a 

 certain simplicity, a genuine sincerity, an unfailing courtesy, which 

 aroused the admiration and love of a host of friends. I was always 

 impressed by his uniformly amiable disposition. Throughout my 

 connection with him he never addressed a cross or unkind work to me; 

 in the place of criticism or complaint, entirely justifiable at times per- 

 haps, there was only such encouragement and constructive suggestion 

 for those assisting him as to inspire diligent and conscientious effort. 

 Doctor McGee was a man of almost austere personal habits, yet 

 always ready to find excuse for the faults of others. 



In his work his methods were distinctive. Referred to as eccen- 

 tric by some, these very eccentricities were merely indicative of that 

 originality which is one of the characteristics of constructive genius. 

 Although his ideas were remarkably broad and comprehensive, he 

 gave particular attention to the smallest details. A chaotic arrange- 

 ment of materials the mass of literature and correspondence which 

 he insisted on keeping on his desk presented an appearance of con- 

 fusion. Yet the orderly prosecution of his work was in itself an 

 evidence of a well developed, well balanced, and, above all, a sys- 

 tematic mentality. Every subject apparently was carefully studied 

 and digested and stored in an orderly arrangement in his brain, and 

 this probably explains his wonderful memory, even for details. He 

 met each task as it came, and concentrating his efforts on the par- 

 ticular matter at hand continued his work uninterruptedly, often dis- 

 regarding the passage of hours or days, until it was brought to a 

 satisfactory conclusion. 



His writings were dictated, always without references before him, 



