[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.]
[Note: the Refectory was built in 1824 to provide boarding for Centre students. In 1831 it became the home of the college's president.]
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February 9, 1841
The Board met. Present Bell, Hopkins, Craig, McDowell, Barbour, Todd.
Messrs. Bell and Hopkins were appointed a committee to settle the claim of the College against George Caldwell, and to grant a release to Mr. Caldwell on the liquidation of the claim.
The financial committee, Bell, Barbour, and McDowell, were directed to examine
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the notes held by the College, and employ an agent at such a compensation as they see fit to collect interest on all notes on which interest is due.
The Board direct the financial committee to procure an exhibit from the Treasurer of all the funds of every description belonging to the College, and have it recorded by the Secretary on his books.
A proposition from W. W. Hall in relation to the Pyke legacy was by the Secretary laid before the Board, but action on it was postponed until the next meeting.
John C. Young, Secretary
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June 2, 1841
The Board met at Mr. Barbour's office. Present Todd, Barbour, Craig, Hopkins, McDowell, Bell.
Mrs. Williams having presented a claim for $50 paid by her husband in part of a share of Refectory stock, the Board resolved to allow her, in liquidation of the claim, $30 to be paid in the tuition of her son.
The Financial Committee were directed to prepare a deed conveying to Major Barbour the house purchased of the College by him, and to receive the purchase money.
Craig and McDowell were appointed to audit the accounts of Major Barbour with the Asylum.
Mr. Young presented to the Board a correspondence between himself and the executor of Mr. Pyke (W. W. Hall), upon which the Board appointed Walter Bullock, James K. Burch, Nathan Rice, and John L. Berryman to proceed to Paris [Kentucky] and settle with W. W. Hall on such terms as they may deem advisable.
Hopkins and McDowell were appointed a committee to close the business connected with the purchase and sale of the [Gideon] Blackburn property.
The Board directed the President to procure the assistance of the professors in teaching the Bible
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class when his other engagements prevented him from teaching it.
The building committee were directed to receive the wings of the College edifice [Old Centre] from the contractors, if they find them finished according to contract.
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September 30, 1841
The Board met. Present Todd, Berryman, Daniel B. Price, McDowell, Craig, Barbour, Hopkins. Mr. Walter Bullock appeared, and having produced his certificate of having been duly qualified as a Trustee of Centre College appointed by the Synod of Kentucky, took his seat.
Mr. [James A.] Jacobs [superintendent, Kentucky School for the Deaf] having informed the Board of the death of Colonel Allen, Mr. Henry Washington was by a vote of the Board appointed agent for the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in his place. The committee of correspondence is directed to notify Mr. Washington of his appointment, and inform him that the Board will allow him five per cent of the proceeds paid into the treasury of the Asylum of all the sales made by him of the Asylum lands remaining unsold, and to inform him that he is directed to adjust and settle with Allen's representatives the unfinished business in Allen's hands, and that for this service the Board will allow him a reasonable compensation. The committee of correspondence are directed to give such instructions to the agent for settling with Allen's representatives as they shall deem to be just and reasonable. The committee of correspondence are authorized to pay Thompson and Hagner a reasonable fee for their services. If Mr. Washington declines ac-
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cepting, the committee of correspondence are authorized to look out for an agent, and to report to a called meeting of the Board.
The degree of A. B. was on the recommendation of the Faculty conferred on the following young gentlemen, members of the Senior class, viz., Warren J. Burgess, Robert H. Crittenden, William Elder, Hugh F. Ervin, Brice G. Fields, James A. Gaither, Eli R. McCall, Abraham L. Mitchell, M. Branch Price, John M. Sharp, Richard C. White, Richard C. Wintersmitt, Henry C. Wood.
The following gentlemen, alumni of the College, received the degree of A. M., viz. William G. Allen, Henry G. Commings, Whitfield McElroy, William Preston, William Hill, John Montgomery, Thomas Walker Fry, William N. Tod, James Barbour, Samuel D. Burchard, Aaron A. Hogue, John L. Williamson, Ambrose Barbour, John C. Breckinridge, Samuel R. Bullock, John C. Richardson.
Afternoon Session
Present, same as in the morning.
The President presented and read to the Board a set of statutes for the government of the College. They were received, adopted, and committed to Messrs. Bell, Hopkins, and Craig to make any necessary additions and amendments, and cause them to be printed.
Mr. Bell was directed to endeavor to make the money due on a note from T. P. Moore, owned by the
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College, and secured by a mortgage and endorsed by David A. Sayre, from the mortgaged property, and to bring suit against the endorser only in case of failure to recover on the mortgage.
The financial committee were directed to require new notes on the part of all those who held loans from the College - and to put in suit, forthwith, all notes for borrowed money on which the interest had not been paid up. The committee were directed to require hereafter the punctual payment of interest on penalty of immediate suit in case of failure.
Mr. Young presented a letter from Rev. W. McElroy declining the agency to which he had been appointed by Synod, whereupon the Board directed Mr. Young, as president of the College, to report to Synod the condition of the College, and to state the reasons why it was thought preferable by the Board that Synod rather than the Board should appoint another agent or agents in the place of Mr. McElroy.
Rev. J. Montgomery made a partial report (verbal) through the Secretary informing the Board that he had taken in Danville and other Presbyterian churches in Transylvania a number of notes payable to Centre College, but that he had not yet completed the work, as several churches had not yet been visited, and that after visiting those remaining churches
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he would render a detailed and complete report. The Report was accepted.
Mr. Young reported to the Board a donation, received through him, of a donation from Samuel Laird of Fayette County [Kentucky] of $10,000, to be added to $2,000 heretofore received, and to be held on the same conditions, with a will to constitute a Laird Professorship in Centre College. Of the amount, $1,500 were in Northern Bank stock, $4,500 in Georgetown and Lexington Turnpike stock, $3,000 in two notes of $1,500 each on Samuel Laird payable in one and two years, and $4,000 in notes on sundry individuals. Mr. Young reported to the Board a probability of one of the notes given by Mr. Laird, on Burnes, of $1,600 in consequence of Burnes' failure since the note was received. The financial committee were directed to take any steps in addition to those already taken which they may deem necessary for the recovery of the money.
*
The Board conferred the degree of D.D. on Rev. Robert Davidson, President of Transylvania University.
The Board declined, for the present, acting on the case of Rev. T. Edwards, as presented in a letter from Rev. Lord as a suitable person for receiving the degree of D.D.
John C. Young, Secretary
*(omitted minutes) The Board received a report by Mr. Bullock from the committee on the settlement with Mr. Hall of the Pyke legacy. The papers were committed to Mr. Young with directions, if he could not settle with Mr. Hall, to hand over the papers to Mr. Berryman to bring suit.