Corporation Launched
The enterprise was launched with a $4.5 million endowment from Paul W. Mellon, son of Andrew W. Mellon. Mellon had attended St. John's as a freshman in 1939, despite already holding degrees from Yale and Clare College, Cambridge, and studied there until 1942 when he left to enter the Army.
A corporation was formed, named "Liberal Arts, Inc." Members of the corporation included Barr, Buchanan, famous educators Mark Van Doren of Columbia University and Mortimer J. Adler of the University of Chicago, two Pittsfield attorneys, and a legal secretary. Sass indicates that Robert M. Hutchins and Alexander Meiklejohn, former president of Amherst College and another "great books" luminary, also planned to join the college. The Hanna estate was purchased and deeded to the corporation in March 1947.
The Hanna farm property was later sold in 1948 to Hans Maeder, who founded the Stockbridge School on the site. The school, a private school for adolescents, operated from 1949 to 1976 and was notable for being completely racially integrated from its inception.. The Stockbridge School included Jackie Robinson's son among its attendees.
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Famous quotes containing the words corporation and/or launched:
“It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.”
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Mortality—ascending emerald-bright,
A fountain at salute, a crown in view—”
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