[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. In 1826 the federal government granted the Trustees one township of land in Florida. It then became the Trustees responsibility to survey and sell the land to provide funds to help support the institution.]
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Danville January 24, (Friday) 1834
The Board met. Present Doctor Todd, Chairman pro tem, John Green, James Barbour, James G. Birney, James S. Hopkins, Phineas G. Rice.
Mr. Green reported that Mr. Harlan agreed to serve the Board as special agent in the business of the Asylum, and to visit Florida, the Board bearing his expenses and giving him $3 per day as compensation. The Board resolved to engage the services of Mr. Harlan. Mr. Birney was appointed on the building committee. The Board resolved to hold monthly meetings at half past 2 o'clock. The Board appointed Doctor Luke Munsell Secretary of the Board.
John C. Young, Secretary pro tem
[Page 76]
Danville March 21, 1834
The Trustees met. Present Honorable George Robertson, Chairman pro tem, John Green, James G. Birney, Phineas G. Rice, James Barbour, James S. Hopkins.
It was resolved by the Board to grant to Doctor McDowell a loan of $1,800 on the usual terms, he giving bond and approved security for the payment thereof.
Resolved that the tuition fee of each student who may be preparing for the gospel ministry, and receiving assistance from any benevolent society or church of any denomination of Christians to effect this object, shall be reduced to $10 per annum; and that this regulation take effect from the commencement of the Fall Session of 1834.
Resolved that the Treasurer of the Asylum, Major Barbour, receive as compensation for his services hitherto rendered the sum of $250.
Resolved that Messrs. Birney and Todd be appointed a committee to consider the expediency of devising a plan for providing manual labor for the youth at the Asylum.
Resolved that the Treasurer of the Asylum hereafter receive for his services the sum of $50 per annum.
Resolved that Messrs. Rice and Doctor Todd be a committee to settle the accounts of Major Barbour as Treasurer of the Asylum.
Resolved that Doctor Luke Munsell, as physician of the Asylum, shall receive two dollars per pupil per annum.
Resolved that Doctor Crass be appointed agent in Europe for the College, to receive donations of books, funds, and apparatus for Centre College; the services of Doctor Crass to be rendered without charge.
John C. Young, Secretary pro tem
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Danville May 16, 1834
The Board met. Present Doctor Todd, Chairman pro tem, James Barbour, Phineas G. Rice, John Green, James G. Birney, James S. Hopkins.
Professor Green appeared before the Board and announced his intention to visit Europe on the first of August next, with the expectation of being absent for 12 or 18 months, and wished the Board to take such measures in reference to the subject as they shall see fit. The consideration of this subject was postponed to a future meeting.
Resolved that the Visiting Committee of Ladies be re-organized, and the following ladies be appointed as its members: Mrs. P. Cocke, Mrs. Bell, Mrs. C. Breckinridge, Mrs. F. Breckinridge, Mrs. Youce, Mrs. Todd, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. David Russel, Mrs. Robert Russel, Miss Martha Ayres, and Miss Lucy A. Kerr.
Resolved that the Visiting Committee be requested to visit the Asylum every week by a delegation of two from their number, the members performing this duty in regular rotation.
Resolved that two of the members of the Board of Trustees will visit the Asylum semi-monthly, the members of the Board taking the duty in rotation.
John C. Young, Secretary pro tem
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Report of a committee of Synod appointed to confer with the Board October 1834
Extract from minutes of Synod
The committee appointed to confer with the Board of Trustees of Centre College report the following resolutions:
- That the authority of Synod to release any of our brethren from the payment of their notes for the endowment of Centre College ceased when the notes were assigned.
- That in all cases where the agent or agents of Synod have taken up contributions in churches which were previously pledged by the notes of their representatives in the Synod of 1826, without a previous conference with the officers of the same - provided the subscribers should certify that had they known the precise state of the notes, they would have subscribed in reference to them - such certificates with the payment of the subscriptions should entitle the note to a credit, and the Synod hereby pledge themselves to the Board to make good to Centre College any deficiency of funds arising by reason of this act.
- That the Trustees ought to require absolutely the annual payment of interest on all the notes; and they ought to take immediate steps for collecting or securing the whole unpaid amount of each note.
- That the salary of the collecting agent, Mr. Huber, should be paid jointly from the funds collected for the Theological Department and from those collected for the College proper; and these separate funds charged with the payment of this salary in the relative proportion to the whole amount collected for each of them.
John C. Young
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Danville September 18, 1834
The Board met. Present Charles M. Cunningham, Chairman pro tem, James Barbour, James S. Hopkins, Phineas G. Rice, Abijah Bayless, Doctor Todd.
James Bemiss, Warwick Tunstall, Beriah McGoffin, Jr., Charles Rochester, and Joseph Platt were recommended by the Faculty to the Board as having passed through their collegiate course, and being worthy of the degree of A.B. Resolved that the degree of A.B. be conferred on each of those young gentlemen. Mr. Hughes, on application, received a remission of a portion of his tuition fee of last session.
Resolved that Messrs. Bullock and Allen, for additional services in the College proper, occasioned by the absence of Mr. Professor Green during the present session, be allowed $26.75 each as additional compensation, and that Mr. Graham receive $25 for services rendered in the Preparatory School.
Resolved that Messrs. Bullock and Allen by appointed tutors of the College and teachers of the Grammar School, and that their compensation be increased in consideration of the higher duties they are required to perform as tutors in the College to $400 per annum each. Resolved that Mr. Graham be appointed Assistant Teacher in the Preparatory Department at a salary of $136 per annum.
Mr. Huber's report was presented to the Board by the Secretary, and referred to the Financial Committee.
John C. Young, Secretary pro tem
[Page 80]
Danville November 17, 1834
The Board of Trustees met. Present Doctor John Todd, Chairman pro tem, Phineas G. Rice, James S. Hopkins, James Barbour, John Green, James G. Birney.
Ordered that the account of Samuel M. Brown for $50, formerly presented by him as his fee in the suit against Hunley's heirs, be allowed, and the Treasurer is hereby directed to pay the same to John Green who has advanced the same to Mr. Brown.
Ordered that James Barbour and James G. Birney be appointed a committee to draw up a letter of instruction to James Harlan, the agent for the Asylum to transact business in Florida.
Ordered that the regular meetings of this Board be hereafter held on the second Friday in every month, at 11 o'clock a.m.
The Board then adjourned.
Luke Munsell, Secretary, John Todd, Chairman pro tem
[Page 81]
Danville November 24, 1834
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, at Danville, present Doctor John Todd, Chairman pro tem, James Barbour, James S. Hopkins, James G. Birney, John Green, Phineas G. Rice.
A form of a power of attorney from the Board to James Harlan, Esq., bearing date the 22nd day of November A.D. 1834, and prepared under and in pursuance of a former order of the Board, was submitted to the Board and approved, and ordered to be recorded; and the seal of the Corporation was affixed thereto.
The following is a copy of the power of attorney referred to in the above minute, viz.
The Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky, To all to whom these presents may come. Know ye, that whereas this Corporation have, by virtue of several Acts of Congress and sundry patents issued in pursuance thereto, titles to sundry tracts of land in the Territory of Florida; and also the right to enter and locate sundry other sections and parts of sections of land in said Territory; and have right to sundry large sums of money in the hands of their present agent Colonel Richard C. Allin of said Territory, and of divers other persons residing in Florida: Now we, being desirous to locate and carry into grant all such portions of land as have not yet been located, and to make sale of all the lands belonging to this Corporation, and to collect all moneys due to the same for lands already sold within said Territory of Florida, have to that end and intent nominated and appointed, and do by these presents, nominate and appoint James Harlan, Esq., of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, our attorney at law and in fact; and do hereby give unto him full power and authority to proceed forthwith to Florida, to demand and receive from our resident agent Colonel
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Richard C. Allin all moneys now in his hands, or which may be in his hands coming to this Corporation. And likewise, at his discretion, to demand and receive all bonds, notes, or covenants in his the said Allin's possession respecting any lands which may have been sold by said Allin; and to receive from said Allin, for our information, a full and complete expose of all his actings and doings as our agent and attorney. Likewise to enter and locate, either in conjunction with our said resident agent and attorney, or by himself, as shall be most convenient, all such portions of land as this Corporation may be entitled to enter and locate by the several acts of Congress above referred to; and to make sale of the same and all other lands belonging to this Corporation as have not yet been disposed of. Also, to receive all moneys now due, or which may be due, or in any manner coming to this Corporation for lands sold or to be sold, and the same to pay over to this Corporation or to any legally appointed officers. And also, to execute in our corporate name all deeds, receipts, acquittances, and covenants which we, as a Corporation, may or can legally execute. And we do hereby bind ourselves (in our corporate character only,) and our successors in office, to ratify and confirm whatsoever our said attorney may lawfully do in the premises. It is to be fully understood that this letter of attorney is not to be construed as a revocation of all or any of the powers heretofore granted to our said resident agent and attorney Colonel Richard C. Allin, but the said Harlan is to aid and assist said Allin to bring our said affairs to a speedy and prosperous termination; and, to that end, is to act either jointly with him, or separately, as our business and interests may require.
In testimony whereof, we the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky have caused these presents to be sealed with our corporate seal, and attested by our Secretary Doctor Luke Munsell, this 22nd day of November A.D. 1834
Luke Munsell, Secretary, Board of Trustees, Centre College