Vanderbilt Autographs For Columbia University

William H. Vanderbilt autographs are few and farman."
between. But when his autographs appear on keyIn 1884, William Vanderbilt donated land valued at
documents related to the founding of the$200,000 that was located between 59th Street
Vanderbilt Clinic, it's an eye opener!and 60th Street, and between 9th and 10th
William Vanderbilt was a marvelous businessman.Avenues to the College of Physicians and
In 1877, he inherited an astounding $100 millionSurgeons. Vanderbilt contributed another $300,000
dollars from his famous father and railroadto construct three buildings on the site and found
magnate, Cornelius Vanderbilt. By the time of histhe Maternity Hospital. Checks provided to Dr.
death less than nine years later, William hadMcLane as treasurer of the College of Physicians
almost doubled his family's wealth to $194 million& Surgeons that served as the initial
dollars.donations can be viewed online. These frameable
Despite his astronomical increase in wealth, Williamchecks autographed by William Vanderbilt are
Vanderbilt was a generous humanitarian. Vanderbiltamong the greatest philanthropic medical
gave large sums of money to the YMCA andcontributions ever recorded in American history. In
Vanderbilt University (an institution founded by hisa few short years, this institution became one of
father). Vanderbilt was also instrumental in thethe busiest medical centers in America. In 1900,
founding of the Metropolitan Opera in 1883.over 150,000 persons were treated at this facility.
Vanderbilt had a special affinity for ColumbiaDespite giving away vast amounts of money for
University and provided a generous endowmentphilanthropic causes, William H. Vanderbilt was the
to the College of Physicians and Surgeons.richest man in the world at the time of his death.
According to a contemporary publication, JamesChecks bearing Vanderbilt autographs for
Woods McLane, M.D., an 1864 graduate of CollegeColumbia University attest to his great
of Physicians & Surgeons and professor ofphilanthropy. Although he considered great wealth
obstetrics at the College, said to Vanderbilt, "I'vea "... load for any back or brain to bear," Vanderbilt
got a rod in the pickle for you." McLane sentwill be remembered for his astute business
Vanderbilt a bill for funding a medical complex. Theacumen and his great philanthropic contributions to
contemporary publication reported, "It was theAmerica.
biggest bill ever made out by a New York medical