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McGregory Hall, Colgate University, Hamilton NY, 13346
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About George R. Cooley
George R. Cooley is one of Colgate University's most substantial benefactors. He attended Colgate in 1917 intending to become "the greatest Baptist minister in the country." World War I called him away from Colgate a mere six months later, but his association with the University remained firm.
After the war he started working in the investment banking business. Later he started his own banking firm, George R. Cooley and Co., which eventually became the First Albany Corporation. He retired from the firm in 1953.
While retired Mr. Cooley worked in botany and conservation. He became a research fellow at Harvard University's Gray Herbarium and was involved for a decade in a project to identify and name plant species in the eastern United States. Several plants now bear his name; a fern, Polypodium cooleyi, a conifer, Thalictrum cooleyi, and a water willow, Justicia cooleyi. He published the book Flora of Sanibel Island. As a member of the Nature Conservancy's Board of Governors he was instrumental in creating several rare plant and wildlife sanctuaries in New York and Florida.
The philanthropic endeavours of George R. Cooley are extensive. A partial list of his gifts to Colgate include:
The Cooley Science LibraryThe Cooley Herbarium
The Harry Emerson Fosdick Chair in Philosopy and Religion
The Cooley Chair in Peace Studies
Mr. Cooley also made possible libraries and herbaria at other schools.
At the October 15, 1981 dedication of the Cooley Science Library Mr. Cooley said "I offer you a program: the elimination of hunger, the increase of knowledge instead of disease, replacing suspicion with understanding, freeing civilization from mental enslavement. I shall return in May of 1996, my hundredth birthday, to learn of your results."
Mr. Cooley's death on September 27th, 1986 kept him from that engagement, but he can rest assured that he has provided an inspiring environment for Colgate students to pursue his challenge. The Colgate Libraries are indebted to George R. Cooley for his care and generosity.