In the early part of December of last year a committee was formed by the class presidents to consider the matter of a contribution from the undergraduates to the Union. A letter was written to Professor Hollis by the President of the Senior class, asking for suggestions on the matter, and in reply a letter was received from Professor Hollis, which was printed in the CRIMSON of December 11, 1900. In this letter Professor Hollis suggested that a sum of money be raised among the undergraduates sufficient to provide for the carving in wood and stone of the fire-place at the Harvard end of the living room. The committee decided that this suggestion was appropriate and that the necessary sum of 86,000 should be raised to carry out the project.

About a month later, on January 19, the committee made it known that the primary object of raising the fund was to have a portrait of Major Higginson painted by Sargent, and expressed the hope that the amount raised would be sufficient for the portrait and also for a large Harvard shield to be set into the panelling above the Harvard fire-place. The canvassing of dormitories was begun and circulars were sent out to non-resident members, but it was found difficult to raise a sufficient sum for the entire enterprise.

The portrait of Major Higginson was painted by Sargent during the summer, when the former was in London. As matters now stand the money received forms only about one-half of the sum required for both the portrait and the shield. A new committee will be appointed shortly and the work of collecting the remainder of the required sum will be begun.