Without Him Was Not Anything Made
The Hall of Fame is almost entirely the invention of one self-sufficient self-starter, a man possessed. On his own, within one year, Henry Mitchell MacCracken had written the contract with the University, had it approved by the University Council and by the Senate. He had devised the electoral process and made it work, meanwhile checking every detail of design and construction of the Colonnade, just as with Gould Library.
During the construction of the library (1897-99) Dr. MacCracken had a running correspondence with architect Stanford White, protesting this, suggesting that. One noteworthy incident was his acceptance of White’s suggestion that the columns of the rotunda not be of the sham marble first planned by White but of Connemara Irish Green marble, which could be had for forty-one thousand dollars.
This is the marble they endeavored to use in Columbia, but which had to be abandoned because it was impossible to get the marble in so large diameter. It is the most beautiful green marble in the world, and it would be a great thing to use after having had to give it up in Columbia.
The Chancellor emerged triumphant in that round with Columbia, as did Stanford White over his partner Charles McKim, who designed the Columbia library.
MacCracken appointed and briefed the first electors of The Hall of Fame, checked the nominations, and even helped his assistants sort out the first ballots. We see a photo of him at his desk, wearing a fashionable pillbox hat, counting votes. In effect, he was the first Director of the Hall of Fame, even as he ran the University.
And he worked a gold mine named Helen Gould, a principal founder of the Hall and chief donor for many years; a generous, self-effacing woman to whom, it was said, background meant more than good breeding. She was also, with her husband, a powerful influence behind the scenes. By contract, while they lived, the University could not change the governing rules without their permission.