May 21, 1866. Geo. Geddes to Ezra Cornell: "I have received a letter from Mr. Selkreg informing me that the men of Tompkins Co. will present your name to the Union Convention this fall for the office of Governor?" May 22, 1866. Henry Wells to Ezra Cornell: "?I was still under the necessity of differing with you in your opinions regarding the connection of a female department to your University; in a few words I will say that the object of this institution is to make one of higher standard than those refered to in your letter & prepare young ladies to be wives & mothers to educate the rising generation who are to take our places & influence & direct the destinies of a great nation, feeling and appreciating a mothers influence attending through a whole life, has induced me to begin an institution to promote a higher standard to moral & intilectual culture than has yet been attained by the ordinary village & town institutions to which you allude, this has been a dream of my life?. I will then have an institution that will educate American girls to fulfil the duties & take the possition that a kind Providence has assigned to the better half of our race in this broad land & woman then can fulfill her mission without going to the polls or entering the areana of politicks." May 25, 1866. Thomas Hillhouse, New York State Comptroller, to Ezra Cornell: "?I am hopeful that as you have a greater interest in the formation of a permanent and ample endowment for the Institution than any other individual, we may agree on some plan under which you can become the purchaser of the scrip held by the State, with such provision as to the disposal of the proceeds as will conform with what I conceive to be the requirements of law." Topics: Offer of natural history collection; Wells College; telegraph business correspondence: stock; Land Grant Act; Cornell University: buildings Personal names: Geddes, George; Wells, Henry; Chace, Miller; Hillhouse, Thomas; Homer, J.; Bell, J.A.; Chace, Theophilus; Brown, Amos Geography: