Inscribed simply with "1771-1930," (the Hospital received its charter of founding from King George III of England in 1771), the plain limestone block was laid into place on June 12, 1930 in a ceremony attended by Edward Sheldon, president of the Hospital's board of governors, and Dr. Livingston Farrand, president of Cornell University.
Summing up the similar vision and unique relationship between the New York Hospital and Cornell University, Dr. Farrand declared: "For more than 160 years the New York Hospital has demonstrated with distinction its devotion to the ideal of service to the suffering and has maintained with unswerving fidelity the soundest standards of medical practice and science. The second motive that both institutions share is the search for new truth to be applied for the relief of distressed humanity everywhere and for the training of men and women in the science and art of medicine. In these aims Cornell University associates itself with the New York Hospital with complete devotion."
The cornerstone, located on the south façade of the Whitney Pavilion, contains various items that document the Hospital's remarkable history, as well as the era in which the cornerstone was laid into place. It holds, among other documents and objects, a printed copy of the Hospital's 1771 charter, a copy of the agreement of June 14, 1927 between the Society of the New York Hospital and Cornell University, a copy of the will of Payne Whitney, a copy of the New York Times for June 12, 1930, and coins of the United States minted in 1930.
To commemorate the cornerstone's 75th anniversary, the Medical Center Archives of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell have on display at the Medical College lobby an exhibit that provides additional information about the cornerstone, including historic photos, as well as the silver trowel that was used to lay the cornerstone. The exhibit will be on display until the end of the year.
Photo courtesy of Medical Center Archives of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.