Carl Sandburg’s Cornell connection chronicled
The Gazette’s Time Machine series covered the story of Carl Sandburg’s history with Cornell College. In 1920, English professor Clyde “Toppy” Tull invited Sandburg to read on campus, offering him $100. Sandburg thought $100 was a remarkable sum, and Tull said the offer gave the poet “a certain status at a time when he was criticized as a roughshod poet.” A connection was formed and Sandburg returned to campus 18 times.