“se

Was ready to purchase land for its purpose, ani gave half of the tract which
it had decided to buy. This field has been partly graded, affording excellent
baseball and football grounds, end a good grand stand has been erected. It
has been appropriately christened McCook Field'".

I quote next from a pamphlet published in 1694, a short history of
University athletics by J. V. May, secretary of the athaetic association at
that time.

- “One of the first enterprises undertaken by the new organization was the
purchase of a suiteble athletic ground ani the building of « gymnasium. Col.
J.J. McCook, of New York City, who delivered the commencement address of 1890,
presented the Athletic Association before leaving the city, with fifteen
hundred dollars, and afterwards aided another thousand. Marly in '91 ex-Gov.
Chas. Robinson offered to donate to the association one-half of a twelve-acre tract
west of the University on condition that the other half was bought at $200 per
acre. This offer was accepted ani MeCook Field is the result. The deed is
held in trust by the University Endowment Association. With a good athletic
field at its disposal, the success of the association was assured and its
prosperity has been uninterrupted."

I may say that Mr. Mey was mistaken in saying that Colonel McCook delivered
the commencement address that year. The address was delivered at commencement
time but was An Address Before the Literary Societies.

In the Graduate Megagine of May, 1905, I find an article entitled
"& Historical Survey of the Campus", by Professor W. C. Hoad of the engineering
school. I quote from his article.

". . . the first aidition to the University grounds made after North
College campus was completed was through the generosity of Colonel John J. McCook.
While on a visit at the University, in dune, 1890, Colonel McCook witnessed a
game of base-ball between the University nine and a visiting team, a game well