Part 2 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

Aydelotte could meet late in September. He introduced the proposed by-law
to Maass as cnabling the Board, "in the light of experience, to follow a
more definite procedure than has been possible up to the present
clearly in expectation of additional funds. To Aydelotte he wrote when
his friend questioned a provision setting aside as an annual reserve an
unspecified percentage of income:
You know college faculties. They will spend anything they I
can lay their hands on, and probably to good purpose. But
... the head of an institution has to look to the future, and
evcn to the .distant future, and...to reserve something for a . ii-
day even though a fine immediate use could be found for
He prepared fox the October meeting with unusual care, briefing -
Dr. Aydelotte with parts of his preparcd report, and suggesting that he
speak his mind -- his own mind -- fully upon certain subjects, notably the
proposed dcvelopmcnt of economics, and the new building. Aydelotte, clear
in his own mind about the importance of.beth these things, did make his
views known. Flexner began his report to the Trustees with the usual
account of the professors* activities, finally telling them that he had
very good news: the Founders wanted to finance a building for the fnsti-
tute, without impairing its capital funds. He outlined a course of order
which he thought would save the time of the Trustees and the staff, and
make it unnecessary far any member of the faculty to spend time on the
project:
I propose to ask each of our three groups for a definite statement
as to what accomodations and fa~ilities they require now,
and what would be a fair margin,../to/ - - cover needs that can be
anticipated far some years to come. k%en these facts have been
assembled and harmonized, they can be put in the hands of a
competent architect....