Editing Charles William Eliot (section)

===Attempted acquisition of MIT===
During his lengthy tenure as Harvard's leader, Eliot initiated repeated attempts to acquire his former employer, the fledgling [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], and these efforts continued even after he stepped down from the presidency.<ref name="TechRev">{{cite journal |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/article/425862/the-harvard-institute-of-technology/ |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911224243/http://www.technologyreview.com/article/425862/the-harvard-institute-of-technology/ |archive-date=September 11, 2015 |title=The Harvard Institute of Technology? How alumni rallied for an independent MIT |last=Marcott |first=Amy |journal=[[MIT Technology Review]] |date=October 25, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="McKay" />  The much younger college had considerable financial problems during its first five decades, and had been repeatedly rescued from insolvency by various benefactors, including [[George Eastman]], the founder of [[Eastman Kodak Company]].  The faculty, students, and alumni of MIT often vehemently opposed merger of their school under the Harvard umbrella.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Selection Committee Ballot — Power of the NSC|url=http://alum.mit.edu/about/elections/nscb/power.html|access-date=November 23, 2005 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051027135902/http://alum.mit.edu/about/elections/nscb/power.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = October 27, 2005}}</ref>  In 1916, MIT succeeded in moving across the [[Charles River]] from crowded [[Back Bay, Boston]] to larger facilities on the southern riverfront of Cambridge, but still faced the prospect of merger with Harvard,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tech Alumni Holds Reunion. Record attendance, novel features. Cooperative plan with Harvard announced by Pres. Maclaurin. Gov. Walsh Brings Best Wishes of the State.|publisher=Boston Daily Globe|date=January 11, 1914|page=117}}<br />
Maclaurin quoted: "in future Harvard agrees to carry out all its work in engineering and mining in the buildings of Technology under the executive control of the president of Technology, and, what is of the first importance, to commit all instruction and the laying down of all courses to the faculty of Technology, after that faculty has been enlarged and strengthened by the addition to its existing members of men of eminence from Harvard's Graduate School of Applied Science."</ref>
which was to begin "when the Institute will occupy its splendid new buildings in Cambridge."<ref>{{cite news|title=Harvard-Tech Merger. Duplication of Work to be Avoided in Future. Instructors Who Will Hereafter be Members of Both Faculties|publisher=Boston Daily Globe|date=January 25, 1914|page=47}}</ref>  However, in 1917, the [[Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court]] rendered a decision that effectively cancelled plans for a merger,<ref name="McKay">{{cite web | url=http://www.seas.harvard.edu/about-seas/facts-history/origins/founding/gordon-mckay | title=Gordon McKay Patent Pending: The Founding of Practical Science at Harvard | publisher=Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences | work=Founding & Early Years | access-date=April 23, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308001618/http://www.seas.harvard.edu/about-seas/facts-history/origins/founding/gordon-mckay | archive-date=March 8, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and MIT eventually attained independent financial stability. During his life, Eliot had been involved in at least five unsuccessful attempts to absorb MIT into Harvard.<ref name=Alexander>{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Philip N.|title=MIT-Harvard Rivalry Timeline|url=http://mta.scripts.mit.edu/CES/mit-harvard-rivalry-timeline/|website=MIT Music and Theater Arts News|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|access-date=July 7, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173624/http://mta.scripts.mit.edu/CES/mit-harvard-rivalry-timeline/|url-status=dead}}</ref>