Historical Campus Tour

Danforth Campus

The William Greenleaf Eliot Plaque

Embedded in the ground beneath the Brookings archway, between the entrances to North/South Brookings, is a plaque presented to the University by the church William Greenleaf Eliot founded - the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis. The plaque was presented in 1953 in honor of the University's centennial. Eliot's service as 1st chairman of the board and 3rd chancellor is mentioned, as is a quotation of his: "Those who come nearest to truth come nearest to God".

William Greenleaf Eliot was the University's founder and author T.S. Eliot's grandfather.

- click on the image to see a larger version -

View the letter of thanks, written by Eliot in 1871, for a major gift to the University, given by a trustee named Hudson Bridge. Part of the gift went towards an endowment that funded the Chancellor's salary.

View the letter of acceptance for the position of Chancellor, written by Eliot in 1871.