312 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
building in the rear of Fay House on Mason Street. Mrs. 
Hemenway was well known in Boston for her philanthropic 
interests, practically all of which had one definite and spe- 
cific aim — the cultivation among girls of the pursuits and 
powers that tend to the making of better homes; her benefi- 
cence was therefore directed to the encouragement of in- 
dustrial and physical training as a part of education. The 
fact that her husband had given the Hemenway Gymna- 
sium to Harvard University doubtless suggested to her the 
plan that she proposed in the following letter. 
TO MRS. LOUIS AGASSIZ 
Boston, December 20, 1896 
Dear Mrs. Acassiz: In making a visit to Rad- 
cliffe lately I was struck with the inadequacy of the 
gymnasium, and in looking across the street and see- 
ing what friends had done to make Harvard what it 
is, I felt that we were not showing the same apprecia- 
tion of our women that had been so freely bestowed 
on the boys. 
I donot know what plans you have for a gymnasium 
or for the future of Radcliffe, but I am sure you have 
an immediate want for a larger building, and I 
should like to give, if my means permit, a permanent 
gymnasium to Radcliffe and have the pleasure of see- 
ing it used and enjoyed soon — that is, if your plans 
are sufficiently matured as to the College’s future to 
allow of its being rightly placed. Will you please 
mention this to no one, but if things open toward the 
building of it, I shall be ready to begin at any time. As 
