[Note: the "Asylum" or "Institution" for the Deaf and Dumb would later become the Kentucky School for the Deaf. Centre's trustees administered the school until 1870.]
[Note: the "college edifice" is today's Old Centre]
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Danville, February 15, 1822
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present William Owsley, James Birney, John Green, Joseph McDowell, Ephraim McDowell, James Barbour,
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William Craig, Jeremiah Fisher, Edward Worthington, Samuel K. Nelson, David G. Cowan. The regular Chairman not being present, William Owsley was unanimously chosen to preside.
Information was given to the Board of the engagements of Mr. Daly and Mr. Dougherty by Mr. Green and others as instructors in the College which are ratified and approved by the Board, the former at a salary of $400 per annum payable on half in specie and also to have his board paid, and the latter at the rate of $400 per annum.
And it is further ordered that Mr. Green have credit with the institution for the sum paid by him for this purpose with an allowance of the premium paid upon such payments as he made in specie, and that the Treasurer have credit for the amount paid Mr. Dougherty.
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The Rev. Samuel Finley is appointed president pro tem with a salary of $1,000 per annum payable quarterly. Ordered that Messrs. Green, Nelson, and Craig be a committee to inform him of his appointment.
David G. Cowan declined further service in the office of Clerk, whereupon James Harlan was unanimously appointed to the same, who took charge of the books and papers of the Board.
The following rules were adopted for the government of the Board for the government of the College and in relation to the fees of tuition.
James Birney, James Barbour, and Jeremiah Fisher are appointed a committee under the 1st Section, Chapter 1, 2nd of the Bylaws, upon repairs, etc., of buildings. John Green, Joseph McDowell, and Edward Worthington committee to superintend collections of debts.
Ordered that the committee
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heretofore appointed to correspond with suitable persons to enable the Board to select a suitable president continue their duties.
John Green, James Barbour, Joseph McDowell, or any two of them, are appointed a committee with power to engage an instructor or instructors in the College if they deem it necessary, and agree with them upon a compensation till the further order of the Board.
The Board then adjourned.
James Harlan, Secretary, William Owsley
Be it ordained by the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky that the following rules and regulations for the government of the Board of Trustees and for the government of the College be adopted, and be in force from the passage thereof.
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Rules for the Government of the Board
Chapter I
- There shall be two regular meetings of the Board in each year semiannually on the 3rd Monday in January and July, the latter being Commencement. The Board shall likewise be convened whenever the Chairman, or any three members of it, shall direct in writing. When such extraordinary meeting is ordered due notice thereof shall be given in the Olive Branch published in Danville and by the Clerk personally to such members as may be convenient.
- The rules and regulations of the House of Representatives of Kentucky, so far as the same are applicable, shall govern the Board in its deliberation proceedings.
- The Trustees are to attend at Commencement and if practicable on days of public examination and exercises.
Chapter II
- At each January meeting of the Board, the following committees shall be appointed: a committee of three to inspect the buildings and other property of the College and to cause all necessary repairs to be made; a committee of three to superintend the collection of debts and to examine the accounts of the Treasurer and to report at each stated meeting of the Board; and a committee of three to inspect the library and philosophical apparatus and to examine the accounts of the librarian and to report at each stated meeting of the Board.
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Chapter III
- The Chairman of the Board shall be authorized to draw in favor of the Treasurer from time to time for all dividends arising upon stock belonging to the College, his order being attested by the Clerk.
- It shall be the duty of each member of the Board to visit the College as often as his convenience will permit.
For the Government of the College
Chapter I
- All damages done to glass or any part of the College edifice [Old Centre] or furniture shall be repaired by the student or students by whom the damage was done within ten days, if not shall be subject to a fine to be assessed by the Faculty not exceeding $10 besides the amount of the injury, which if not paid by the student or his parent or guardian within one month after notice, such student or students be by the Faculty suspended.
Chapter II
- It is particularly enjoined upon the students to attend divine worship. Same when on the Sabbath.
Chapter III
- Every student shall deport himself towards the president, professors and instructors and each of them with all possible respect. He shall observe the strictest decorum while in the class, neither doing nor countenancing anything
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which may tend to incommode his instructor or divert the attention of his fellow students. - No student shall possess or exhibit any indecent picture, nor purchase nor read any lascivious or indecent books, and if any student shall be convicted thereof, or of swearing profanely, playing at any unlawful game, or other gross immorality, he shall be punished according to the nature of his offense.
- No student shall quarrel with, insult, or abuse a fellow student, nor any other person whatever. No student shall go to a tavern nor any other public house for the purpose of entertainment or amusement without permission from an instructor, nor shall he associate nor keep company with persons of bad character.
- No hallooing, loud talking, whistling, jumping, or other disturbing noise or act shall be permitted in the buildings of the College, nor disorderly conduct in the town by a student, nor shall any student disturb or attempt any imposition on his fellow student in any manner whatsoever.
- If any student offending against the laws should presume to leave the College without a certificate from the Faculty of his conduct or standing whilst there, it shall be at the discretion of the Faculty to make the name of such offender
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public with the nature of the offense. - No student shall engage or assist in any theatrical performance unless permitted by the Faculty.
- The students shall treat all persons with whom they have intercourse with decency and respect, and shall on all occasions observe the commands of the officers.
Chapter IV
- The punishments of the College are as follows: private admonition or reprehension, admonition before the professors and instructors, admonition before the class of the offender or in the presence of a select number of persons, public reprehension and admonition in the presence of all the students, degradation in the class or to a lower class, suspension from the privileges of the institution, dismission from the College without expulsion, and lastly, public expulsion. Except the first and third, which may be applied by any instructor, the application of the other punishments according to the degree of the offense shall be made by the Faculty. The professors and tutors are authorized to make use of the rod as a punishment on all offenders under the age of 12 years.
- Every professor shall cause an exact roll to be kept of each class attending upon his instruction. The roll shall be punctually called over
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at the hour of attendance and all absentees marked. An abstract of this roll, insofar as it relates to each student, shall be transmitted semiannually to his parent or guardian.
Chapter V
- Complaint of misdemeanor in a student must be made in the first instance to the President or one of the professors, who unless the offense be so flagrant as in his judgment to require the interference of the Faculty, shall privately admonish the offender, and upon failure of success may at his discretion bring the offender before the Faculty.
- The punishment of public admonition, degradation, suspension, dismission, and expulsion shall be inflicted only in virtue of an act of the Faculty with the advice and concurrence of five Trustees.
- A student whom it may be necessary to bring before the Faculty shall have due notice of the time and place of its meeting, and shall be allowed to defend himself.
- When a charge of misconduct shall be preferred against a student, the Faculty shall have power to require the attendance of any student to testify against the delinquent, and it shall be the
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duty of such witness to disclose his knowledge of the facts touching said charge. On pain of being guilty of contumacy, provided that no student shall be compelled to give testimony which may condemn himself. - All public punishments shall be according to the written form which shall be read aloud by the President or one of the professors, and shall be entered on the records of the Faculty.
Chapter VI
- There shall be annually a public examination in the presence of the Faculty, a committee of the Trustees, and such other persons as may choose to attend, beginning on the first Wednesday before Commencement, in the studies of the preceding year. Every member of a class shall attend punctually and orderly, and answer such questions as the President or any instructor or any member of the committee of Trustees may propose.
- The examinations are to be close and rigid, every student being left to stand or fall upon his proper merits, due tenderness being at the same time
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shown, that the effects of perturbation may be avoided as much as possible. - At the close of every examination the students shall be ranked according to their respective merits.
- Honorary testimonials of the first, second, and third grades decorated with the seal of the College, and with suitable devices shall be adjudged at the annual examination to such students as may distinguish themselves.
- No student who shall obtain an honorary testimonial of the first grade twice in succession shall be a competitor for a premium thereafter, unless he shall appear to have grown negligent, in which case he shall loose the premium implied by exclusion and be again put on the list of competitors.
- The names of all students who shall obtain honorary testimonials or possess the honor of exclusion from competition shall be announced by the President at the public commencement, and he shall also confer these testimonials in the presence of the assembly.
- Two weeks shall be allowed for revision previous to the annual examination.
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Chapter VII
- Previous payment of all College dues and the return of all books taken by a candidate from the library are also required before any honorary distinction is conferred.
- There shall be one vacation from Commencement for six weeks. The stated exercises after those in the morning will not be required on the days of public exhibition nor on Christmas day nor on the 4th day of July.
- No student shall be absent a day without leave granted for some good reason by the instructors whose exercises he is required to attend, nor shall he prolong the absence beyond the time granted. If his absence exceeds three months his relation to the College will cease without some cause be assigned satisfactory to the Faculty.
Chapter VIII
Library
- A librarian shall be appointed by the Faculty from among the instructors or students every year. He shall arrange and number the books belonging to the library, make a catalogue thereof, and have repairs when necessary made.
- No person except a professor, officer, or trustee shall be admitted to the library or to handle
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or to use the books. - Those students who shall pay to the Treasurer half yearly one dollar and a half shall be entitled to the use of the books, except such as the Faculty shall direct not to be taken out of the Library.
- The librarian is responsible for the contributions of students to whom he shall give the use of the books. He is to attend at the library at 12 o'clock on every Friday, except during vacation, to deliver and receive books, of which he shall keep an account, as well as of the condition in which the books are when taken out and returned.
- No student shall keep a book longer than as follows: to wit, a folio two months, a quarto one month, and any other book two weeks. No person shall lend out a book appertaining to the library. Every person receiving books shall be responsible for their safe return, and for all injuries done to them whilst in his possession. If any volume shall be lost, defaced or otherwise injured, a sum shall be paid equivalent to the damage incurred or the work of which the volume makes a part shall be replaced at the option of the librarian, subject to the right of appeal on the part of the student to the Faculty.
- On the first day of January and the first day of July annually the librarian shall render to the Treasurer an account of all students who shall have had the use of the library during the preceding six months and shall also pay over to him any money that he may have received on account of the library during the same period.
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Tuition
The following rules to commence and be in force from and after the 15th day of April 1822.
Chapter I
- That the price of tuition be as follows: to wit, for instruction in the languages at the rate of $40 per year, and for instruction in the sciences at the rate of $50 per year, all the students engaged in the study of any science to be deemed a student of the sciences.
- No student shall be received for a less time than six months or the residue of the year remaining at the time of admission.
- The tuition fees shall be paid quarterly in advance, or secured by a note payable to the Board to be approved by the Clerk.
- If the tuition fees of any student shall at any time be in arrears for the term of three months, such student shall be by the Faculty suspended
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until all arrearages be paid. - If any youth of good morals and promising talents be desirous of admission to the College, and shall be unable to pay the tuition fees, the Faculty by the advice of seven members of the Board may give him instruction gratis, provided that the number of students so admitted shall never exceed six without consent of the Board.
James Harlan, Clerk
Danville April 29, 1822
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present James Birney, John Boyle, Edward Worthington, John Green, Joseph McDowell, Ephraim McDowell, Jeremiah Fisher, David G. Cowan, Nathan H. Hale, Samuel K. Nelson. The regular Chairman being absent
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James Birney was unanimously chosen to preside.
Ordered that the words "public admonition" in the 2nd Section of the 5th Chapter and the word "twelve" in the 1st Section of the 4th Chapter be stricken out, and the word "fifteen" be inserted in lieu of "twelve" in the bylaws of this institution, and that the Clerk have that alteration made in the printed copies in his possession, and the President to make the alteration in those copies made use of in the College.
Ordered that the following rules and regulations be adopted in addition to those already adopted.
Of the Faculty, the President, and other Professors
Chapter I
- The Faculty consists of the president, professors, and other instructors of the College for the time being. The Faculty is charged with the immediate government and direction
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of the College. It is to attend to the enforcement of the laws and regulations which shall be prescribed from time to time by the Trustees. The President is to preside at meetings of the Faculty which is to decide by the greater number of votes, that of the President always being one to give validity to the decision of the majority. - The Faculty is to designate the books to be read and the course of study to be pursued by the classes during the period of their study.
- It shall be the duty of the President to take charge of the College generally; to superintend the buildings, grounds, and moveable property belonging to it; to report to the Committee of Repairs such damages as may need repair; and to report to the Trustees as occasion shall require concerning the state of the College and concerning such measures as may conduce to its further prosperity.
- He shall have power to visit the classes and any of the departments of the College. He shall also have power to give such directions and perform such acts generally not inconsistent with the laws of the College nor the ordinances of the Trustees nor the regulations of the Faculty as shall in his judgment promote the interest of the institution.
- He shall preside at Commencement and on occasions of exhibitions and examinations. He is charged with instruction in logic, rhetoric, and moral philosophy.
- The President shall furnish to the Clerk of the Board, two months previous to each annual Commencement, a report of the names of the students who have attended the College during the session and the length of time of their continuance.
- The Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy is charged with instruction in that branch and with the care of such of the philosophical apparatus as shall be assigned to his department by the President.
- The Professor of Languages is charged
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with instruction in the Greek and Latin languages and with Grecian and Roman antiquities. He is, under the direction of the President, also charged with the Grammar School, and is to be assisted with such tutors as the Trustees may for this purpose appoint.
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Thomas Cleland a member of the Board appeared and took his seat.
Resolved that the Faculty be authorized to make a rate from time to time upon each student for the purpose of raising a fund to keep the College edifice cleanly swept and scoured when necessary, and on the failure of any student to pay his rate the amount to be charged to the account of his tuition fees.
Ordered that the Board be adjourned.
James Birney, Clerk pro tem
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Danville May 30, 1822
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present Thomas Montgomery, Samuel K. Nelson, James Birney, James Barbour, Joseph McDowell, Ephraim McDowell, Edward Worthington, William Craig, John Green, Thomas Cleland. The regular Chairman being absent James Birney was unanimously chosen to preside.
Jeremiah Fisher a member of the Board appeared and took his seat.
The Board proceeded to the election of a president pro tem of this institution, when the Rev. Dr. Matthew Brown of Washington, Pennsylvania, was unanimously elected to that office with a salary of $1,500 per annum payable quarterly to enter upon the duties of his office at the commencement of the next session.
Resolved that the Rev. Dr. Brown,
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the president pro tem elect of this institution, be authorized to engage a suitable person qualified to act as professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in this institution with a salary of $800 per annum payable quarterly.
Ordered that the Board be adjourned to meet on the 3rd Monday of July next.
James Birney President pro tem, James Harlan, Clerk
Danville July 15, 1822
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present Thomas Montgomery, Thomas Cleland, John Boyle, John Green, David G. Cowan, Ephraim McDowell, Joseph McDowell, Jeremiah Fisher, James Barbour, James Birney.
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James Birney was appointed Chairman pro tem.
The resignation of Col. Isaac Shelby was handed in. The Board then proceeded to the election of a person to fill the vacancy occasioned by his resignation, whereupon Benjamin H. Perkins was unanimously elected to that office, who having took the oath prescribed by the act of incorporation before David Jones, Esq., a Justice of the Peace for Mercer County, was admitted to a seat as a member of this Board.
Jeremiah Briscoe, a member of this Board, appeared and took his seat.
Jeremiah Briscoe having resigned his office as Trustee, the Board proceeded to fill his vacancy when Rev. John I. Higgins was elected to that office. Ordered that the Clerk inform Mr. Higgins of his appointment.
Ordered that John Green, Ephraim McDowell, and James Barbour be a committee to correspond with the Rev. Mr. Brown.
Ordered that it be certified to whomsoever it may concern that the members of the Board now present 12 in number are unanimously of
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opinion that the Rev. Matthew Brown of Washington, Pennsylvania, ought to be appointed president of the institution, and that such would be their votes could they be now legally given, but that is prevented by the lack of the number required by the terms of the Charter, two thirds of the whole number 19 being required to be present when any permanent appointment of officer is made, and it is further ordered to be certified that the present Board is [of the] opinion that the whole of the absent members will concur in the appointment, and it is further ordered that so soon as the signature of any absent member or members is obtained to a copy of this order it shall be the duty of the Clerk to certify and forward the same to the said Rev. Matthew Brown.
Ordered that the Board adjourn to meet again on the Saturday succeeding the 1st Monday in August.
James Birney, Chairman pro tem
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Danville September 21, 1822
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present James Birney, Edward Worthington, Joseph McDowell, David G. Cowan, William Craig, John Green, John Boyle, James Barbour, Samuel K. Nelson, Jeremiah Fisher. James Birney was appointed Chairman pro tem.
Ordered that James Birney, Treasurer pro tem, be and he is hereby authorized and requested to receive from the Branch Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky at Harrodsburg any money which this Board is entitled to draw for under the Law of 1821, and to hold the same subject to the further order of this Board.
Resolved that in the opinion of this Board it is inexpedient (under existing circumstances) to continue for the present the Grammar School under the direction of the Trustees, and that David G. Cowan, James Barbour, and Benjamin H. Perkins
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be a committee to wait upon Mr. Maury and confer with him on the subject, and that they be authorised to offer to Mr. Maury the use of the College edifice for his private school, should he wish it, until further arrangements may be made.
Ordered that this Board adjourn.
James Birney, Chairman pro tem
Danville December 31, 1822
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present John Boyle, Edward Worthington, Robert B. McAfee, John Green, James Barbour, Jeremiah Fisher, James Birney, Benjamin H. Perkins, David G. Cowan, Ephraim McDowell, Joseph McDowell. The Board proceeded to the appointment of a Chairman to this Board when the Honorable John Boyle was chosen to preside.
Resolved that James Birney, the Treasurer of this Board, make application in the name of the Trustees to the Governor for a warrant upon the Auditor of Public Accounts for $3,000 under the provisions of the 2nd
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Section of an act entitled "An Act to Endorse an Asylum for the Tuition of the Deaf and Dumb" and hold the money when obtained subject to the future order of the Board.
William Craig a member of this Board appeared and took his seat.
Samuel K. Nelson a member of this Board appeared and took his seat.
Resolved that Samuel K. Nelson, John Green, David G. Cowan, and James Barbour be appointed a committee to take such measures as shall appear to them best calculated to obtain donations or voluntary contributions to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at the Centre College at Danville, and that the said committee correspond with similar institutions in other states when such or similar establishments are in operation, and obtain such information as they can on the best method of teaching, conducting, and managing such institutions, also such books as are most advisable to be had for said purposes, and that said committee be authorised to draw from the Treasurer a sum not exceeding $200 to purchase such books and apparatus as they may be advised and in their judgement deemed most necessary.
Resolved further that the above committee endeavor to ascertain the number of persons within this state who will probably apply for admission to the
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Asylum, also their places of abode, the number that will be paupers, and the number that will be [able] to support themselves and pay the tuition fees.
Resolved that Benjamin H. Perkins, Ephraim McDowell, Jeremiah Fisher, and James Birney be a committee to prepare a plan for an edifice to be erected on the College lot, and report the same to this Board at their next meeting.
Resolved that said committee procure a school room for teaching the deaf and dumb, and make all necessary arrangements for commencing tuition by the 1st Monday in April next, and that they procure boarding for such paupers as may be offered for instruction.
Resolved that the Board employ David C. Irvine as a teacher in the Asylum for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb upon the following instructions, to wit, the said Trustees will pay the said Irvine's board until the lst day of April next, when it is expected his services will be required; when the institution goes into operation they will then pay him at the rate of $200 per annum, certain, and all that he can make over and above that sum from tuition fees, indigent pupils at the rate of $20 and others at $40 per annum until an assistant is necessary; they will then pay
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him at the rate of $400 per year so long as they employ him.
Resolved that the Rev. Messrs. Samuel Findley, John Lyle, and John L. Higgins be authorized and respectfully requested to solicit donations from the charitable and humane for the benefit of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum attached to the Centre College of Kentucky.
Mr. Worthington offered the following resolution.
Resolved that the tuition fees in the Centre College shall hereafter be as follows: to wit, Senior Class, $50; Junior and Sophomore, $40; Freshman and Preparatory, $30.
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. Green, it was decided as follows: yeas - Messrs. Worthington, McAfee, Fisher, Birney, Perkins, Cowan, Ephraim McDowell, Joseph McDowell, Craig - 9; nays - Mr. Chairman, Messrs. Green, Barbour, Nelson - 4.
Ordered that the resolution be adopted.
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The Reverend Jeremiah Chamberlain is appointed President of this institution with a salary of $2,000 per annum payable quarterly, and the said Chamberlain is to furnish his assistant.
Mrs. Whelan, Mrs. M. M. Reed, Mrs. Lawson Moore, Mrs. Akin, Mrs. Cooke, Mrs. Youce, Mrs. Clement, Mrs. Finlay, Mrs. George Caldwell, Mrs. Rochester, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Charles Henderson are appointed a committee under the 2nd Section of the laws establishing an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.
Ordered that the Board adjourn to meet on the 3rd Monday in January next.
John Boyle, Chairman pro tem