ENDOWMENT 



THE project of an Endowment Fund was first discussed by the 

 Trustees in May, 1880, Mr. James M. Constable urging the 

 establishment of an endowment of $300,000 " for the per- 

 manent support of the Museum." It was only in 1884, however, 

 that the bequest of $5,000 from the estate of William E. Dodge, Sen., 

 formed the beginning of this fund. At this time the Trustees 

 adopted the following resolution: 



"Whereas, The Board of Trustees of the Museum of 

 Natural History in Central Park regard it as highly im- 

 portant to constitute a permanent endowment fund of which 

 the interest only shall be applied to the use of the Museum 

 as shall be deemed most expedient by the Board, and there- 

 fore it is resolved that the Board do hereby establish a fund 

 to be called the permanent endowment fund. 



"Resolved, That the bequest of the late William E. Dodge 

 of $5,000 be hereafter known as the William E. Dodge Fund, 

 and that the same shall constitute a part of the permanent 

 endowment fund." 



The first large bequest was that of William H. Vanderbilt, in 1886, 

 of $50,000. In 1890, through vigorous effort, $246,500 was added 

 by Trustees and other friends of the Museum. A number of bequests 

 and individual gifts followed. In 1904, $561,500 was contributed, 

 chiefly by Mr. Morgan and Mr. Jesup. The bequest of Mr. Jesup, in 

 1908, raised the total amount of donations to $2,002,757.75. 



CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ENDOWMENT FUND ESTABLISHED 



IN 1884 



1884 Bequest of William E. Dodge... $5,000.00 

 1886 Bequest of William H. Vander- 

 bilt 50,000.00 



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