YASSAk BROTHERS INSTITUTE. 7 



The Recording Secretary of the Literary Section re- 

 ported that the Section had been organized, with Prof. 

 T. J. Backus, Chairman, and H. V r . Pel ton, Esq., Record- 

 ing Secretary. 



The Recording Secretary of the Art Section reported 

 that the Section had been organized, with Prof. H. Van 

 Ingen, Chairman, and Mr. G. E. Bissell, Recording Sec- 

 retary. 



Dr. Van Gieson, from the committee previously ap- 

 pointed to prepare a brief biographical minute, and 

 resolutions with reference to the decease of Matthew 

 Vassar, Jr., the first, and recently elected President of 

 the Institute, reported as follows : 



Matthew Vassar, Jr. was born in Poughkeepsie, May 

 11, 1809. During his boyhood he enjoyed such educa- 

 tional advantages as were afforded by the district schools 

 of Poughkeepsie ( then a village ), and afterwards by the 

 Academy which was then situated at the corner of Acad- 

 emy and Cannon streets. 



At the age of fifteen he entered into business under the 

 direction of his uncle, Matthew Vassar, Sr., and at the 

 age of twenty-two was admitted as a partner, and remain- 

 ed in the same business until 1863. 



When Vassar College was founded by the liberality of 

 his uncle, he was made one of the Trustees and also 

 Treasurer of the College, which offices he continued to 

 hold until the time of his decease, performing the duties 

 of both with fidelity and sagacity. 



Throughout all the active years of his life, he was iden- 

 tified with the business interests of Poughkeepsie, and 

 was deeply solicitous for its prosperity. 



About two years ago he, in connection with his brother- 

 John Guy Vassar, erected and made over to Vassar Col- 

 lege the Vassar Brothers 1 Laboratory ; still more recently 

 the two brothers erected, equipped and endowed the 

 Vassar Brothers 1 Home for Aged Men, and a few months 

 before his death the two brothers planned for the erec- 

 tion of a building for Vassar Brothers' Institute, which, 

 under his fostering care, had been organized, and over 

 which he was elected its first President. * * * 



Mr. Vassar died August 10, 1881. 



The following resolutions are respectfully submitted : 



