28 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



The board, at the meeting held on July 6, received its first gift of 

 an academic nature. Ex-Governor William Gilpin presented the 

 first and second volumes of his work entitled, The Mission of the 

 North American People. 1 The Boulder News remarked that this gift 

 formed "the nucleus of the University library." 2 



On July 17 the board was thoroughly organized, a standing com- 

 mittee on finance and an executive committee being elected. 3 At the 

 following meeting, on July 22, thirty-five bids varying from $28,700 

 to $42,000 were received for the erection of the university building. 4 

 The president made his first annual report at the same meeting of the 

 board. 5 Late in July the contract was let to McPhee & Keating, of 

 Denver, for $28,700 and the ground was broken for the foundation on 

 July 27, 1875. 6 



With the building started the board began to think of equipment 

 and the course of study. It decided to profit by the experience of 

 other universities. On August 2 Nathan Thompson stated to the 

 board " that he had secured passes on the K. P. Railroad to Lawrence, 

 Kansas, and back for two members of the Board, and suggested that 

 the Board authorize two of its members to visit the University of 

 Kansas located at that place," with a view to inquiring into its history 

 and management and inspecting its. buildings. 7 Messrs. Thompson 

 and Leonard, appointed to make the visit, left for Lawrence on August 

 10, and returned home on the 20th. In addition to a thorough inves- 

 tigation of the University of Kansas, they made a hurried side trip 

 to St. Louis where they visited Washington University. 



1 Minute Book, p. 78. a Boulder News, July 9, 1875. 



3 Minute Book, p. 79. The places of Granville Berkley and Jesus M. Barela were declared vacant, for 

 non-attendance, at this meeting. In the Boulder News, July 23, 1875, the reports of the president, treasurer 

 and finance committee are given in full. They are not contained in the minutes. 



« Minute Book, p. 80. 



s Boulder News, July 23, 1875. The president states that 54 meetings, regular and adjourned, had been 

 held during the past year. He states that J. M. Barela, J. B. Chaffee, J. S. Jones, A. O. Patterson, Henry C 

 Thatcher, John F. Topping, John H. Wells, members of the board, had not been present at any meeting. Of 

 the resident members Nathan Thompson had been present 47 times, A. Widner 44 times, E. Pound 43 times, 

 T. J. Graham 31 times. 



6 Boulder News, July 30, 1875; Minute Book, p. 82. The News gives the name of the sub-contractors: 

 Sam Milner, stone work; Martin & Co., cut-stone work; Caldwell & Parsons, brick work. 



1 Minute Book, p. 82. A full report of this visit is given in the Boulder News, August 27, 1875. Cf. 

 Minute Book, p. 83. 



