Kirklands letters and other files, various times:, 2003 - 2004

Undated comments on suggested plan of medical campus from JK papers; JK to Sanford in Knoxville June 22 and 24, 1904 about his taking a position at the UT; Wallace Buttrick to JK March 1,1910 about campaign the underway (contains a description of GEB operational principles); 1909 "What it is to be a college president"; Buttrick to JK Aug 7, 1911 about JK leaving for Alabama; JK to Vaughn Oct 31, 1911 in JK's hand showing church affiliations of faculty; Buttrick to JK April 13, 1912 about recent visit by WB to Nashville; JK to Fletcher in NY May 14, 1913 in which JK explains delay in responding to invitation to Tufts because of impending gift from Carnegie. JK in this confidential letter describes some of conditions laid down by Pritchett and Carnegie; JK to Moose in Little Rock May 26, 1913 declining Arkansas offer; telegram JK to Buttrick March 21, 1914 proclaiming VU victory in TN Supreme Court over Methodist Church; Buttrick to JK March 23, 1914 with congratulations on VU victory; JK to Jones in Cambridge May 23, 1914 about JK's distress over lawsuit, conflicts with Bishop Hoss; Buttrick to JK Nov 16, 1914 with thanks for recent visit; copy of letter Flexner and Buttrick to JK Dec 15, 1914 reviewing status and needs of VU from perspective of GEB Buttrick to JK June 19, 1914 about upcoming visit to VU; JK to Buttrick Feb 23, 1915 about solicitation of Vanderbilt; Buttrick to JK Feb 25, 1915 about GEB's wish to help in any way "We believe in VU" (first letter from new offices on Broadway; Flexner to JK Nov 4, 1916 with congratulations about fundraising success; Buttrick to JK Nov 10, 1916 with congratulations about fundraising; Buttrick to JK June 18, 1917 notifying him of trip to England and declining invitation to Ahmic; JK to Buttrick June 25, 1917 with light hearted response to previous letter including admonition in Latin for safe return; Buttrick to JK July 9, 1917 with translation of Latin, interaction of Flexner with tranlators; Buttrick to JK Dec 19, 1918 describing flu in daughter and her convalesence; Flexner to JK March 1, 1919 noting that GEB was interested in developing modern med school; JK to Buttrick June 16, 1919 describing JK's attempts to get help from Pritchett at Carnegie with Buttrick's response on June 20, 1919 stating that Flexner will respond; Flexner to JK Sept 6, 1919 handwritten statement that GEB will support VU, that Buttrick and AF want to confer--probably sent to Ahmic as vacation mentioned, AF asked to be remembered to Cullen; JK to GEB Sept 27, 1919 IMPORTANT LETTER follow-up to previous letter in which JK states need for $4M, that faculty have resigned preparatory to reorginization of med school with appended resolutions adopted by BOT and Exec Fac of med school; Flexner to JK Oct 29, 1919 suggesting visit by D. Winford Smith to survey possibilities for med school and mentioning conversations with Welch and Howland about "post of leadership" (Dean); Smith to Buttrick (copied to JK) Nov 6, 1919 analyzing possibilities for new hospital;JK to Flexner Nov 27, 1919 with thank-you and description of $4M gift locally; Buttrick to JK Dec 19, 1919 with thanks for BOT resolution and expressing strength of working relationships with JK; Flexner to JK Dec 27, 1919 with thanks for Christmas greeting and expressing pleasure in working with JK; Buttrick to JK Feb 19, 1919 declining invitation to speak at Commencement with JK's reply; Flexner to JK March 4, 1920 with description of interaction between Canby Robinson, Haggard and Witherspoon, comment on the Ahmic cottage, comment on removal of Buttrick's eye for tumor;Buttrick to JK March 6, 1920 describing recovery from surgery, again declining to speak; JK to Buttrick March 8, 1920 with consolation about surgery, hopes for recovery, and expressing "our constant love and admiration" and we speak of you "with the most abiding affection." Buttrick to JK March 11, 1920 thanking JK for letter and expressing his joy in life. JK to Buttrick Mar 20, 1920 in a philosophic manner noting coming of spring, Buttrick's courage, inviting them to visit in Nashville with Buttrick's response; JK to Flexner June 11, 1920 about Chancellor's concern over salary increase voted by BOT, with Flexner's response June 22, 1920 stating GEB's position about not interfering in local affairs and mentioning his first trip to Ahmic; Flexner to JK Sept 21, 1920 mentioning that Robinson was to send a "draft of his ideal scheme" (first mention of Robinson's dream) and of the improvement in Eleanor's health after the summer at Ahmic; JK to Flexner Sept 24, 1920 describing Speer property at Ahmic, a picture from Flexner, and Robinson's scheme--JK told him "he had hynotized himself until he had unrealistically reached the conclusion that his dream was practicable";Flexner to JK Sept 29, 1920 with comments about Speer/Stevenson properties, and a PS "I find a memorandum from Dr. Robinson which Dr. Buttrick and I will examine at our leisure"; Flexner to JK Oct 15, 1920 with cover letter and copy of response to Robinson in Baltimore with comment Flexner and Buttrick were embarrassed, and that questions should have been addressed to JK--this all relates to Robinson having submitted plan for hospital on campus without having consulted JK; Flexner to JK Nov 1, 1920 referring to blueprints from Mr. Coolidge, Dr. Smith's letter and questioning the architects chosen were too expensive with JK's testy response including the following: "Your letter differsin that it gives me very little comfort and does not offer practical contributions" obviously reflecting tension from Flexner's managing style. Flexner responds on Nov 8, 1920 suggesting a meeting of the principals in Louisville on Nov 14. Six letters between JK and Flexner Nov 12, 1920 and Nov 27 about meeting in Louisville, illness in Flexner's family preventing his travel, with JK apparently going to NY and his subway difficultie, and with overview by JK comparing advantages and disadvantages of south and west campus sites; IMPORTANT LETTER JK to Buttrick and Flexner outlining problems in reorganizing med school and basically asking for commitment of support by GEB; Buttrick to JK Dec 24, 1920 stating that Exec Co of GEB was authorizing a study of comparative costs; Flexner to JK Dec 27, 1920 with financial details about paying $4M and interest. Flexner to JK March 3, 1921 apparently responding to complaint about slow remittances from GEB. Flexner to JK March 28 and April 1, 1921 about building on VU campus; Wickliffe Rose to Dora Barnes (?) at Peabody about GEB and Carnegie interests in building on west campus; JK to Flexner May 23, 1921 notifying him of meeting between JK and med faculty, noting their support for move to west campus;JK to Flexner May 26 and May 27, 1921 stating that director of Galloway Hospital would not oppose move and thanking Flexner for telegram notifying that GEB was giving $1.5 M as was Carnegie for moving to west campus--JK also writes"it will be appropriate to have in the entrance marble busts of yourself and Dr. Buttrick. In far distant ages you will both be canonized as great physicians or scientific investigators. I should be greatly pleased to contribute toward so creditable a form of immortality for you both." Flexner to JK May 27, 1921 with resolutions of GEB to give additional $1.5M. JK to Buttrick June 10, 1921 with BOT resolutions expressing gratitude for recent donation; JK to Flexner July 2, 1921 approving Robinson's appointment for one year to Hopkins and noting he would bring first drawings of new medical plant to the Lake so we might go over them. Buttrick to JK July 8, 1921 with thanks for Vanderbilt Alumnus--notes that Flexner is at Ahmic. Flexner to JK May 6, 1922 about his survey of med education in Europe--no Ahmic this summer "We are heartbroken"; Flexner to JK May 26, 1922 with notice Buttrick was coming to Nashville in next ten days to discuss building plans and problems and with confirmation Flexner would not be at Ahmic--he was "heartsick and homesick"and JK to Flexner May 10 noting that Robinson and Winford Smith had been over every inch of plans down to water faucets; Flexner to JK Sept 26, 1922 with thanks for taking care of lake property; Flexner to JK Sept 8, 1923 about dinner at Ahmic with Anne, comments on problems faced by JK and Robinson; JK to Flexner Sept 12, 1922 with preliminary report on plans needing GEB approval; JK to Flexner Sept 15, 1922 about Exec Committee VU approving plans, mentions conversation at Lake; Flexner to JK Sept 17, 1923 noting that Exec Co GEB authorized $3.25M for construction--so bids could be let; Flexner to JK Jan 2, 1924 expressing concern over Robinson's plan to avoid full-time plan with JK to Flexner Jan 4, 1924 agreeing that Robinson's plan was not possible, and noting an operation on Buttrick--type not specified; JK to Flexner May 16, 1924 noting Robinson was making good progress in getting faculty together, and that Dauncey and son had caught fish near Old Man's Creek (their private fishing grounds; JK's history of medical education at VUSM from Jour Assn Am Med Colleges, 1935, with references to Buttrick and Flexner visiting again and again, sitting on the pile of rocks by Nashville General and Flexner stating full support to Buttrick; Miley Wesson to EWG in 1958 with notes about Cullen's help in financing VU and EWG'sresponse.