John Pillsbury

Title: Resolution From the University
Type: Document
Date: no date
Source: Minnesota Historical Society

Description: In recognition of Pillsbury's years of service to the University of Minnesota, the alumni passed this resolution thanking him for his work.
Read Transcription

Activities:

1. What things has Pillsbury done that have earned him the thanks of the University?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: He has donated large amounts of money, built buildings on campus, and donated his own property to keep the University in operation.
2. What threat did the University face if Pillsbury had not given his donations?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: At one point the university would have been separated into different institutions because it could not afford to meet its bills.
3. What might these things tell you about how Pillsbury felt about education?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: It seems that education was very important to him, based on the time, gifts and resources he gave without expecting pay in return.
4. Why might a state's governor feel that having a state university stay open is a good thing?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: In Pillsbury's case, the university was a land grant institution, meaning that it was created to support and teach new farming methods, which would create more products for the milling industry and therefore also more profits for Pillsbury himself.