President Adams was an artist in education, and the harmonious development of the institution was his great aim. When he became president the gymnasium had just been completed. The whole subject of athletics was to be considered. He believed in sports as a means of physical and moral development; yet his devotion to athletics was far surpassed by his devotion to art and literature and the ancient classics. He rejoiced in the esthetic development of the University, and the Historical Society building, costing $750,000, built to house the Society's collections, and the University Library, was to him a never-failing source of delight, the most pleasing achievement in his administration.