Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

Th9 third phase began with the Rodes Trust Nemorizl Lectures
at Oxford in 1928, which led through a series of fortutitous circurn-
stances to his organization and direction of the Institute for Advanced
Study (1930- 1939).
Abrahm Flexner was the sixth of nine children born to Moritz
and Esther Flexner, who had migrated to the United States fn the middle
of the nineteenth century. His father died in 1882, in Abraham's six-
teenth year, leaving the eldest son Jacob to ass- his responsibilities
for the family, which was close-knit and devoted. Jacob selected
Abraham to be hostage to the familyqs future fortunes, sending him ta
the Johns Hcpkfns University in 1884 -- its eighth year, Two years
later the boy graduated, just under twenty years of age, and began
to teach Greek at Boys High School in his native Louisville, tutoring
on the side to improve the family's finances, Four years later h&
opened his m preparatory school, dfsplaying marked success in inducing
even recalcitrant young men to want to study, and in preparing them well
for the colleges of their choice. The school was hlglhy rmnerative.
Uith its income he ai&d his brothers to prepare for.their professional
careers. h.1905, free ncrr of these financial responsibilfties, be
closed the school, and left ~ufsville with his wife and first child,
intending with the zeal of a true reformer to work in national educa-
tiohal administration. L2
:I
His graduate studies enabled him to enlarge on his considerable
knowledge of hr5cen colleges and secondary schools, and to cornpare them
vfth the Gellnan systems through first-hand studies and consultation with
educators and adminf stratoxs here and .abroad. The cqarisona were