William W. Cook was an inspired, and inspirational, donor. He gave, in today's dollars, close to $300 million to the University of Michigan, and his first gift to Michigan was the Martha Cook Building. Cook stated in his 1929 will that he wanted his gifts to "cause others to realize that the University can no longer be extended in its main developments by state taxation alone" and that others "should be generous in their financial support. That University is and should be the pride of the State of Michigan."
Cook, born and raised in Hillsdale, Michigan, (1858-1876), earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Michigan (1876-1882), and became a successful practitioner of corporate law in Manhattan (1882-1920). He also wrote the standard treatise, Cook on Corporation Law, and many other books and articles. He died in June 1930 at his Port Chester, N.Y., estate. From his father, John Potter Cook, Cook learned the rules of success: morality, virtue, industry, and economy, as well as an interest in law and business. From his mother, Martha Wolford Cook, young Will developed a sense of responsibility to his family and a sense that home was "the nation's safety." Martha raised not only her own six children, but the three John Cook had with his first wife Betsy (Martha's sister) before Betsy died. Cook's first philanthropy was to Hillsdale College, to repair a women's dorm and then establish a department of domestic science. His giving to Hillsdale ceased after he pledged $10,000, in 1911, toward a women's dorm at Michigan. Cook's pledge quickly grew to provide the entire $400,000 to build, furnish, and landscape the Martha Cook Building. The terms of Cook's gift established the Board of Governors and gave them responsibility to manage the building. Cook retained a strong interest in the building, sending notes to the residents, and receiving flowers from them on his birthday. Cook clearly expressed his desire that women from all economic strata be able to live in the Martha Cook building, writing to the Board: "The cost of the living in the building should not be greater than the average expense of those living outside. I do not wish it to be made a rich girls' home. The poor girl should not have to look elsewhere for a room. Would it not be well to let the poor girl have some of the luxuries of life which the daughters of wealthy parents can have in their homes?"
Margaret Leary
MCB Governor and Author of Giving It All Away: The Story of William W. Cook & his Michigan Law Quadrangle