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Historic documents may be burned if Harvard does not cough up cash
The American Thinker ^ | 10-17-13 | Thomas Lifson

Posted on 10/17/2013 5:35:18 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic

If Rufus McDonald were white, you'd already know his name, and he'd be on the path to pushing George Zimmerman aside as the most hated man in America. But because he is black, you probably have never heard of him, unless you live in Chicago. You see, Mr. McDonald was cleaning out an attic and discovered some papers. As Kim Janssen of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday:

Hidden in a dusty trunk in an abandoned and looted Englewood home, the papers of Harvard's first black graduate, Richard T. Greener, had long been thought lost to history. (snip)

Several museums and Harvard University itself expressed a keen interest in the historically significant 140-year-old Greener documents. An excited Gates, who leads Harvard's W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African-American Research, even said the discovery gave him "gooseflesh."

But now McDonald says the irreplaceable collection could go up in flames - literally.

McDonald - who recently sold just two of the documents for $52,000 to the University of South Carolina, where Greener also studied and taught - is threatening to torch the rest unless Harvard offers him more cash.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chicagoway; greener; harvard; mcdonald
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1 posted on 10/17/2013 5:35:18 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: afraidfortherepublic

I’d do the same. Harvard has billions in its endowments, it they want to increase their “black street cred” they need to pay up or else....


2 posted on 10/17/2013 5:37:04 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Oh, puh-leeze!

Selling historical documents for money is perfectly legal. Calling this man names, that he is envious and greedy, is absurd in the extreme. He sounds like a capitalist who is demanding a fair price for finding treasure.

“McDonald apparently is so consumed by greed and envy that he would rob posterity of these documents.”

Bull. Harvard must get realistic, though that’s probably asking too much.


3 posted on 10/17/2013 5:43:01 AM PDT by SatinDoll
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To: afraidfortherepublic

the Chicago way.........


4 posted on 10/17/2013 5:43:55 AM PDT by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Gaffer

It’s called “Property Rights”, or do we still have those in this country?


5 posted on 10/17/2013 5:44:29 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: afraidfortherepublic

He needs to get some business advice from the family of MLK. but that would cost him BIG $$$$.


6 posted on 10/17/2013 5:48:04 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

One appraiser said the documents were worth $65,000. Harvard offered $7,500. If they are “priceless”, then Harvard can afford to offer the appraised price, and stop trying to take advantage of the guy.


7 posted on 10/17/2013 5:51:37 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: dfwgator

Whose property? No mention that Harvard ever had title to the papers.


8 posted on 10/17/2013 5:54:21 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Gaffer

I assume it belongs to Mr. McDonald.


9 posted on 10/17/2013 5:55:53 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Ok, just wanted to be sure. Mr. McDonald has possession with no publicized claims to the counter. The papers are his to do with as he pleases.


10 posted on 10/17/2013 5:58:42 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: SatinDoll

There is a bit of double standard at work, though. A white man doing the same is unthinkable.

Harvard cab afford it. they probably want a “donation”, though.


11 posted on 10/17/2013 5:59:28 AM PDT by chesley
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To: afraidfortherepublic

people are consumed by the idea of money

the idea that if he simply donated them in an honorable fashion say with a ceremony that the unseen hand of God would reward him


12 posted on 10/17/2013 6:00:31 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

BS; their endowment fund has billions. They just won’t spend it. There is no reason for their tuition to be where it is.


13 posted on 10/17/2013 6:10:05 AM PDT by CincyRichieRich (“Life is hard, but it’s harder when you’re stupid.” John Wayne)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Gee, they’ve been missing for hundred years and somehow life has gone on? F him. Burn ‘em.


14 posted on 10/17/2013 6:14:16 AM PDT by workerbee (The President of the United States is DOMESTIC ENEMY #1)
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To: chesley

He received $52,000 for 2 documents-

The article NEVER mentions:
A. how many documents there are - A full trunk ?
B. what Harvard has offered for them- ?
C. How he can claim ownership over an “abandoned” property
D. what he is currently asking/wanting for the rest of the
documents.
E. Just what’s IN THE DOCUMENTS- ?- TARDY slips?

pretty lame article- other than this guy thinks he hit
the Lucky Motherload.


15 posted on 10/17/2013 6:16:04 AM PDT by mj1234
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Use them for toilet paper.


16 posted on 10/17/2013 6:17:52 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: mj1234

If he was smart he would hype them to the rich academic liberals and then put them up for auction. Marketing 101 could get him millions...oh yeah...who cares about the first black/white whatever but a racist?


17 posted on 10/17/2013 6:27:47 AM PDT by gr8eman (Ron Swanson for President!)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

from a looted home....think jail


18 posted on 10/17/2013 6:32:20 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: yldstrk

Well, the “unseen hand of God” may not support him in his old age....

he purchased the papers, albeit not known at the time...They belong to him to do with as he wishes...


19 posted on 10/17/2013 7:13:21 AM PDT by Boonie
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To: afraidfortherepublic

He’s not going to burn the papers. That would be the same as burning money.

If he doesn’t succeed in extorting money from Harvard, he will try something else.

He needs to be talking to some high-end auction houses.


20 posted on 10/17/2013 7:19:37 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.)
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