Hunt Institute Archives Text Discovery Platform

Page transcription

-2-

specimens which came to it from other sources. There was the famous Gray Herbarium and there were many other similar gifts, bequests and purchases made over the years. Many of the books and botanical specimens acquired in this way were closely related to those which had been collected by the Arnold Arboretum but, unfortunately, they were not housed in any central place. The Arboretum collections were in buildings at Jamaica Plain, whereas the other collections were scattered through a number of different buildings located six miles away in Cambridge.

Some years ago a comprehensive plan known as the Bailey Plan was proposed for bringing together under a single direction all of the botanical and horticultural activities at Harvard. One of the features of this plan was the centralization in a new building in Cambridge of all the libraries and specimens relating to botany and horticulture. The plan also called for the use of a portion of the income of the Arboretum to pay for its fair share of the cost of operating and maintaining the new building and caring for its collections.

The Bailey Plan was presented to the Harvard Corporation with the full approval of the director and staff of the Arnold Arboretum, but nearly four years after it had been approved by the Corporation, questions were raised as to its wisdom and legality. The Corporation referred the legal questions to counsel and the question of the wisdom of the plan to the Board of Overseers, which is a group of thirty distinguished alumni who supervise the affairs of the University. After prolonged study extending over several years the Overseers unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Corporation to proceed with the construction of the new building and the centralization of the botanical books and specimens, together with the accompanying financial arrangements. Counsel advised that there was no legal objection to this and it was, accordingly, done. Other features of the plan were found to be unwise or of doubtful legality and these were abandoned.

Now let us see just what the Harvard Corporation did. The land at Jamaica Plain and the trees and shrubs which grow there were not in any way injured nor have they been neglected. Today they are in as fine condition as they ever were and just as much money is being spent on them as before - in fact more. They are receiving the best of care and are in constant use as a basis for study and teaching.

Certain books and specimens which relate strictly to horticulture were kept at Jamaica Plain because that was the place where it appeared that they would be of greatest use. The rest of the books and specimens were moved to the new central building where they continue to be the property of the Arnold Arboretum and remain completely accessible to its staff. The usefulness of these books and specimens to the staff of the Arboretum, as well as to the many others interested in many parts of the world, has, in fact, been greatly increased by their immediate proximity to the other related collections belonging to Harvard. They are better housed than they were before and the scientific work of the Arboretum has been made easier.

Why then is there any objection on the part of those who have the best interest of the Arboretum at heart? Frankly, that is a question which it is very difficult for me to answer. The dissenters say that the books and specimens.