[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.]
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Danville, January 24, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present Messrs. Ephraim McDowell, John Green, Edward Worthington, Joseph McDowell, Benjamin H. Perkins, Samuel K. Nelson, William Craig, David G. Cowan, James Barbour, James Birney.
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The Rev. Nathan H. Hall, having resigned his seat as a member of this Board, the Board then proceeded to fill the vacancy when Col. William Miller was unanimously appointed, and having taken the oaths required by law, took his seat as a member of this Board.
Ephraim McDowell, James Barbour, and Jeremiah Fisher are appointed a committee under the 2nd Chapter of the bylaws to superintend repairs.
James Barbour, Joseph McDowell, and Benjamin H. Perkins are appointed a committee to superintend the collection of debts and examine the Treasurer's account.
Samuel K. Nelson, David G. Cowan, and William Craig are appointed a committee to inspect the library.
Resolved that until the further order of this Board, the President of the College be authorized to receive the tuition fees, and the Secretary to be authorized to collect all sums now in arrears.
Resolved that John Green, Ephraim McDowell, David G. Cowan, and John Boyle be appointed a committee on the part of this Board whose duty it shall be first, to revise the Laws of the College and report the same to the next meeting of the Board; 2ndly, to fix the course of studies in conjunction with the President; and 3rdly, to designate and purchase such books, maps, and apparatus as may be necessary and for that purpose they may draw on the Treasurer for any sum not exceeding $800.
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Resolved that the Committee of Repairs have fuel furnished at the College, and that they draw on the Treasurer for funds for that purpose whenever it is necessary, and that the President apportion the amount so expended amongst the students to be collected as tuition fees [illegible word].
Ordered that the Board adjourn to meet on Saturday the 8th February next.
John Boyle, Chairman pro tem
Danville February 8, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present The Honorable John Boyle, Chairman, Messrs. James Birney, James Barbour, Joseph McDowell, Ephraim McDowell, Benjamin H. Perkins, Edward Worthington, David G. Cowan, Jeremiah Fisher, John Green, Robert B. McAfee, Samuel. K. Nelson, Thomas Cleland.
The Rev. John L. Higgins a member
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of this Board appeared and took the oaths required by law before Edward Worthington, Esq., a Justice of the Peace for Mercer County, and took his seat.
Ordered that Samuel K. Nelson, John Green, and David G. Cowan be a committee to make the necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President of this institution, and that they give notice when the necessary arrangements are made.
Ordered that John Green, Ephraim McDowell, and David G. Cowan be a committee to superintend the printing of the by-laws, and that they prepare a suitable address to the public on behalf of this Board.
Ordered that the committee heretofore appointed to make the necessary arrangements for commencing the school for the deaf and dumb be authorized to engage some suitable person to board the students that may be offered for instruction in the said school, and that said committee be authorized to adopt a plan for a building for the Asylum of the said deaf and dumb, and that they be authorized to let out the building to the lowest bidder or on the best terms and contract to have the same completed as soon as possible, provided that said contract does not exceed $3,000 - or the amount of funds unappropriated for the Asylum.
Ordered that John Green and Joseph McDowell be added to said committee.
Ordered that John Boyle, John Green, James Barbour, and David G. Cowan be a committee to receive such books as may be offered as a contribution to the library, pursuant to the
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following proposition which is hereby acceded to, to wit:
We, whose names are hereto subscribed, propose to the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky to contribute to their library upon the following fundamental conditions, to wit:
- Each contributor, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns shall enjoy the privilege of using the books in the library subject to such rules, regulations, and conditions as said Trustees may from time to time prescribe.
- Each person who contributes the sum of $40 shall be entitled to said privilege as aforesaid, and said privilege, whether in the hands of the original contributor, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, shall be subject to a yearly tax of two dollars for the purpose of defraying the necessary costs and charges attendant upon keeping the library in good order, paying the salary of a librarian to the increase of the library - payments of said $40 to be
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made on or before the first day of July next, and the said two dollars annually at such time as said Trustees may prescribe, the privilege subject to be suspended till all arrearages are paid up. - The said contribution of forty dollars may be discharged in such books, etc., as may be approved by said Trustees or their committee and at such price as may be agreed upon with the contributor offering them. All payments in cash to be in specie or funds of equal value.
So soon as the said Trustees shall accede to the above proposition and conditions, we whose names are subscribed hereto at the date when the Trustees shall so accede or who may thereafter subscribe them do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns to pay the aforesaid sum of $40 and said tax of two dollars per annum to the said Trustees and their successors in office.
| David G. Cowan | 1 share |
| Phineas Rice | 2 |
| Alban G. Smith | 1 |
| David A. Russel | 1 |
| Jeremiah Chamberlain | 1 |
| James Barbour | 1 |
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| Forward | |
| James S. Hopkins | 1 |
| N. J. Rochester | 1 |
| Richard D. Crutchfield | 1 |
| James Harlan | 1 |
| John Green | 1 |
| Joseph Weisiger | 1 |
| Stephen Fisher | 1 |
| Samuel K. Nelson | 1 |
Ordered that the Board adjourn.
John Boyle
Danville February 15, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky present The Honorable John Boyle, Chairman, Messrs. Ephraim McDowell, James Barbour, William Miller, Jeremiah Fisher, David G. Cowan, Benjamin H. Perkins, Edward Worthington, John Green, Joseph McDowell, William Craig.
Ordered that the committee heretofore appointed to contract for the building of a house for an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb suspend that part of their duty until the further order of this Board.
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Resolved that the Treasurer be authorized to loan out for one year on good security and on the best terms he can obtain, $2,000 of the fund appertaining to the Asylum for the Tuition of the Deaf and Dumb.
James Birney a member appeared and took his seat.
Ordered that the sum of $50 be allowed James Harlan, Esq., Secretary of this Board, for his services up to the first day of March next, and that the Treasurer pay the same out of any money in the Treasury.
Resolved that the Secretary make a detailed report of the funds and effects of this institution and report the same to the Board at their next meeting.
Ordered that the Board adjourn to the last Saturday in March next.
John Boyle
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Danville May 10, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present Honorable John Boyle, Chairman, Messrs. James Birney, Ephraim McDowell, Joseph McDowell, William Craig, Thomas Montgomery, Edward Worthington, John Green, Samuel K. Nelson, Jeremiah Fisher, David G. Cowan, Benjamin H. Perkins.
Ordered that the following contract be entered into in lieu of the contract heretofore made, to wit:
Articles of agreement between the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky and David C. Irvine. Witnesseth that the said Trustees have engaged said Irvine as a teacher for the instruction of the deaf and dumb in the Asylum under their charge to teach according to such rules and such regulations as the Board may from time to time prescribe, and said Trustees agreed to pay said Irvine at the rate of $360 per annum payable in notes on the Bank of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or branches, as his compensation, given under the hands of the parties the 10th day of May 1823. If said Irvine chooses to board in the institution said Trustees will give him a salary at the rate of $300 per annum and pay his board
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for such time as he may board in the institution.
By order of the Board, John Boyle, Chairman, David C. Irvine
A copy James Harlan, Clerk
Ordered that the Clerk draw a warrant on the Treasury for $55.50 in favor of David G. Cowan for a bell purchased by him for this institution.
Ordered that Samuel K. Nelson, John Green, David G. Cowan, and James Barbour caused to be inserted in the different newspapers throughout this state a suitable address to the public on the subject of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum of this place.
Ordered that the Board accept of the medical services of Drs. Weisiger and Smith in the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.
John Boyle
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Danville July 2, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present James Birney, Edward Worthington, John Green, Benjamin H. Perkins, Samuel K. Nelson, Joseph McDowell, William Miller, David G. Cowan, Jeremiah Fisher, William Craig, James Barbour.
The regular Chairman being absent, Mr. Birney was chosen to preside.
Ordered that Mr. James Buchanan be employed as an instructor in this institution at the rate of $400 per year to commence from the last Monday in August next.
Ordered that Samuel K. Nelson, David G. Cowan, James Barbour be appointed a committee to confer with Mr. Joshua Fry relative to his employment in this institution.
Ordered that David G. Cowan, James Barbour, and William Miller be a committee to call upon the President and request of him a copy of his inaugural address delivered this day.
Ordered that the Board adjourn until the 1st day of August next.
James Birney, Chairman pro tem
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Danville August 1, 1823
The Board met according to adjournment. Present Honorable John Boyle, Chairman, Messrs. Samuel K. Nelson, Benjamin H. Perkins, David G. Cowan, Ephraim McDowell, Edward Worthington, Joseph McDowell, James Birney, John Green, William Miller, Jeremiah Fisher. Absent John Green.
Resolved that the Rev. John R. Kerr be employed as a teacher in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum and that his salary be at the rate of $400 per annum to commence from the 29th day of May last.
Whereas Dr. Alban G. Smith has this day tendered his services to the Trustees of this institution gratuitously, therefore resolved that Dr. Smith be appointed Professor of Chemistry pro tem.
Resolved that this Board approves of the selection of Mr. Redmond Dougherty as the assistant professor to be furnished by him, and Mr. Doherty is hereby appointed professor of the Greek language pro tem.
Ordered that the Board adjourn.
John Boyle
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Centre College October 29, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, present Honorable John Boyle, Chairman, Messrs. Samuel K. Nelson, James Birney, James Barbour, Edward Worthington, Ephraim McDowell, Joseph McDowell, John Higgins, Benjamin H. Perkins, John Green, William Craig.
Ordered that the Board adjourn till 3 o'clock this evening.
The Board met according to adjournment.
Resolved that a committee be appointed to prepare a memorial to the [Kentucky] Legislature petitioning for an amendment of our charter, and that they report to the next meeting of the Board.
Ordered that John Green, Samuel K. Nelson, and James Barbour be a committee to prepare a memorial according to the above resolution.
Resolved that Robert Holman be appointed librarian to this institution.
Ordered that the Board adjourn to meet again at the Asylum on Saturday next at 10 o'clock a.m.
John Boyle
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Danville November 1, 1823
At a meeting of the Board of trustee of the Centre College of Kentucky, present Honorable John Boyle, Chairman, James Birney, James Barbour, David G. Cowan, Joseph McDowell, Jeremiah Fisher, John Green, Benjamin H. Perkins, Edward Worthington, Samuel K. Nelson, Ephraim McDowell.
The Treasurer pro tem of this institution exhibited to the Board a settlement of his account as made by James Barbour and Benjamin H. Perkins, the committee appointed for that purpose, which settlement is approved of and ordered to be filed.
Ordered that a further time be allowed the Secretary to make a report of the funds of this institution.
The committee raised to draft a memorial to the Legislature reported a draft which was unanimously agreed to, and David G. Cowan, Samuel K. Nelson and John Green appointed a committee to present the same.
Ordered that the Treasurer be authorized to draw quarterly upon the [United States] Government for the amount due for the maintenance, etc., of indigent pupils in the Asylum.
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Ordered that the Treasurer be authorized to advance to Mr. Kerr any sums not exceeding $500, to be by him accounted for to the Board.
Ordered that the sum of $300 in good money be placed at the disposal of James Birney, David G. Cowan, James Barbour, and John Green to be applied to purchase of philosophical apparatus.
The Board then adjourned.
John Boyle