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.