Frank G. Logan collection

From Paul Homer Nesbitt's memorial address, October 7, 1938, with edits:

Dr. Frank Granger Logan was born in Cayuga County, New York, on October 7, 1851, the son of Simon and Pheobe Hazon Logan. His early education was cared for at Ithaca Academy, NY, where he developed a strong liking for a business career. At the age of 20 he came to Chicago, and soon afterward was employed by the firm of Field, Letter and Company, ultimately becoming manager. In 1876 he entered the Board of Trade business and one year later founded his own grain business, the firm of Logan and Bryan. In 1901 he retired from the business field.

During the 25 years of his business career, he made the most of the highly competitive opportunities and emerged as one of Chicago's most successful men. When at the height of this career, his interest was awakened to a large range of subjects and to each of those new interests he gave unselfishly of his time and money. He became an outstanding benefactor to anthropology, art, music, and institutions of higher learning. Among his many activities the following were especially close to his heart:

• Trustee, Collector, Vice President and Honorary President of the Chicago Art Institute
• Founder of the Logan Prize Fund at the Art Institute
• Director of Association of Arts and Industries, and Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association
• Founder of the American College of Surgeons
• Research Fund in Pathology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine at the University of Chicago
• Logan Museum and Chair of Anthropology at Beloit College
• One of the builders of Orchestra Hall, Chicago, and Patron of the Chicago Civic Grand Opera and Civic Music Society

Of most of these interests he had a master knowledge which radiated with scholarship at once wide and sound.

Dr. Frank Granger Logan became connected with Beloit College on June 19, 1893, when he was elected to the Board of Trustees. He served with this board for a period of 36 years, retiring in 1929. On the same date he was elected as an honorary trustee of Beloit College.

In 1893, Dr. Logan made provision for the study at first and of the record of man's life and progress through the long past as evidenced by is archaeological remains. This marked the birth of the Logan Museum and the Department of Anthropology. While visiting the World's Columbian Exposition in 1892, he was impressed by the wealth of archaeological materials on exhibit and recognized in them the foundation for a new department at Beloit College and a field of research which at that time was in its infancy. The most outstanding collection at the Exposition was the Rust Archaeological Collection which won both prize and bronze medal. This collection was purchased by Dr. Logan and presented to Beloit College as a gift. It served to form the nucleus around which has been built up the fine collections in the Logan Museum today.

The records show that Dr. Logan was one of Beloit's largest contributors. His gifts to the college total over $297,000 and cover a period of 40 years from 1894-1936. Among his many gifts to the college, he donated funds to build Hancock Athletic Field in honor of his wife, Josephine Hancock Logan. In 1922 he received an honorary doctorate degree from Beloit College. Dr. Logan passed away on July 18, 1937.