April 7, 1905

Mr. Andrew Carnegie
New York City

Dear Sir:

The Board of Trustees of Central University of Kentucky met on the 31st of March, and unanimously agreed to accept your proposition, and to proceed to raise the sum mentioned as the condition of your gift. This action was taken with a high appreciation of your generous aid to the institution and its work, as well as to the cause of learning in general, and we are encouraged to go forward with this gift as a most helpful stimulus in the prosecution of our work.

I hope I may not be considered presumptuous if I take the liberty of calling your attention to certain conditions that appear as we undertake this enterprise. This is the first year of my administration, and I find certain needs in our equipment that are exceedingly pressing at this time. The needs are as follows:

• A central heating plant, to cost $14,000
• Scientific books, and books for the Department of Modern Languages - $5,000
• Changing old library [Second Sayre] into biological laboratories and equipment - $3,000
• General repairs - $3,000

Making a total of $25,000 for general improvements. With these additional improvements and the new library building, our college equipment would be placed in excellent condition for the work that we are doing. I greatly desire to incorporate these additions in the general movement necessary to meet your condition. Will you still further consider our needs and help us in the completion of this plan by extending your condition from $30,000 to $42,500, and your gift to the same amount, as that the whole plan may be instituted at the same time. It is understood that we are now proceeding to meet your generous offer for the library alone, but if you will kindly cooperate with us in the further movement, I am sure that our friends will be most grateful and pleased to fulfill the conditions of contributing an additional $12,500 for the of improvements enumerated above. I should be glad to give additional information in regard to the plan suggested, as you may desire.

With many thanks for your kindness, and with the hope that you may favorably consider this additional statement and request, I beg leave to remain

Yours respectfully [Frederick W. Hinitt]

Notes
1. Original is a very faded typescript copy of letter sent to Carnegie
2. In 1905 Andrew Carnegie offered Centre $30,000 for the construction of a new library building on the condition that the college raise a matching $30,000 to endow the library. It would take until 1912 before the money was raised; the new building, named Carneigie Library, would open by the summer of 1914.