[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. In 1836 the trustees received a second land grant in Arkansas. It was the Trustees responsibility to survey and sell the land to provide funds to help support the institution.]
[Note: John A. Jacobs functioned as superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Deaf and treasurer of the Board.]
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January 6, 1844
Board of Trustees met. Present John Todd, Alexander Sneed, John Ford, William Craig, Charles Henderson, James Hopkins. Mr. Henderson having been duly elected by Synod and qualified took his seat.
The following power of attorney to Mr. Charles A. Dupont was read and directed to be duly executed and sent to him.
Whereas the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky did, by an act approved January 21, 1819, incorporate the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky at Danville, and did afterward, by an act approved December 7, 1822, establish the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at the same place, and place it under the management and control of the Trustees aforesaid; and whereas the Congress of the United States did by an act approved April 5, 1826, endow the said Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb with a township of land to be located under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and did, by several subsequent acts recognize the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky as legal holders in trust for the said Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and more particularly did by an act of the third session of the 27th Congress transfer to them the control and title of the above-mentioned donation fully and entirely, together with all the patents that have issued to the said Asylum, as holders in trust for the benefit of the said Institution for the education of the Deaf and Dumb:
Now, therefore, know all men that the Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky have constituted, and by these presents, do constitute, Charles A. Dupont, Esq., of Quincy, Florida, their agent and attorney in fact, to finish and complete all the business, relating to the above
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recited donation of a township of land by the Congress of the United States to the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb heretofore in the hand of Richard C. Allen, Esq., Rev. W. W. Hill, and James Barbour, Esq., with all the powers necessary to do the same, and more particularly with full powers to locate any portion of the said grant remaining unlocated; to receive patent for the same, or for any former locations not yet patented; to sell the portion of the grant aforesaid yet unsold, and to make proper deeds and conveyances in the name of the said misters for the same, or for any part or parts of it, sold heretofore by the late Richard C. Allen; to cancel or compromise any former sale made by the said Allen, as he may deem the interests of the grantors of this power of attorney may require; to collect all the proceeds, as well of sales which he himself may make, as of former sales of lands of the said grant to collect all the notes left in his hands by James Barbour, Esq., belonging to the grantors for the use of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum; and to have control over and collect all the judgments obtained by the said Barbour or since obtained in favor of the grantors for the use aforesaid, and to do any and every thing in the premises which the said Trustees of the Centre College of Kentucky might lawfully do for the use and benefit of the institution aforesaid, except so far as relates to a sale made by the said Richard C. Allen to Romeo Lewis, both since deceased, the control and management of this claim (the said Lewis having died at Oxford, Ohio) is retained by the said Trustees.
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In testimony whereof the said Trustees have caused this power of attorney to be signed by this Chairman, attested by their Secretary, and sealed with their seal, at Danville in the state of Kentucky on the 8th day of January in the year eighteen hundred and forty four.
Authority was given to the Treasurer of the Asylum to assign for the purpose of collection the notes of Rutgers now in his hand given to the Trustees of Centre College, but belonging to the Asylum.
The Board directed, until further order be given, the Financial Agent to invest the moneys now collected, or which he may hereafter collect, in Kentucky Bank stock at not more 80 percent.
The committee appointed to settle with the executors of James Barbour, deceased, reported the executors have exhibited and given of claims on the College to the amount of $1,000, and payment of the interest of to the day of settlement on the purchase by said Barbour of the house and lot bought by him of the Trustees, situated on Main Street in Danville, Kentucky. The Board directs that a deed be made to Mrs. S. Barbour, that it be signed by the Chairman, counter-signed by the Secretary, and sealed with the corporate seal.
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March 26, 1844
The Board met at the College. Present John Todd, Joseph McDowell, Alexander Sneed, William Craig, John Ford, James Hopkins, Robert Grundy
The President of the College was requested to procure, as far as practicable, the renewal, unconditionally, of all such scholarship notes as had been given on the condition of the Board of Trustees raising the endowment of the College to $75,000 by January 1, 1844. The Board authorized the President, in such cases as he shall judge it to be for the interest of the College, to receive payment for a scholarship in Kentucky Bank stock, at par.
Whereas the funds of the College are sufficient, in conjunction with the tuition fees, to meet the current expenditures of the institution, the Treasurer is directed not to use for the ordinary expenses, but to reinvest such portions of the principal as may, from time to time, be paid into the treasury, unless the Board give a special order to the contrary.
Mr. Jacobs read an exhibit of the funds of the Board, classifying the various funds that yield, and showing the total amount of interest accruing from year to year, with the average amount of tuition fees for the last few years.
The Financial Agent was directed to except from the rule of the
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Board requiring the payment of twenty percent on the principal of all debts due to the College in this region, the debts due from Michael G. Youce, from Nelson Shields, and from David C. Proctor's administrators.
Messrs. Hopkins, Henderson, and Young were appointed to arrange with the administrator of Richard D. Crutchfield for a share of Refectory stock held by said Crutchfield.
The President reported that there had been during the past session 156 pupils connected with the College. Of this number 114 belonged to the College proper, viz., 15 seniors, 23 juniors, 25 sophomores, 29 freshmen, and 21 irregulars - thus showing the average of the regular classes to have been 23 1/4.
The Board authorized Mr. Jacobs to have a board fence put up in front of the Asylum school house, and to have the floors of the dining room painted.
The Board directed the Treasurer to pay to Alexander Sneed $15 for a portion of land sold by him to the College, the deed for which land he is to deliver to Mr. Jacobs.
Messrs. Henderson and Ford were appointed a committee to procure the erection of the necessary outhouse for the College and Grammar School.
John C. Young, Secretary
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September 24, 1844
The Board met. Present John Todd, John Ford, William Craig, Alexander Sneed, Charles Henderson, Joseph McDowell, James Preston, John Berryman, James Hopkins
The Treasurer was directed to hand to Charles Caldwell the Rev. Robert Grundy's note in exchange for one of equal amount on the Danville, Nicholasville, and Lexington Turnpike Company.
Messrs. Henderson and Ford reported that they had attended to the business committed to them at the last meeting.
The President of the College reported that he had procured from a part of the persons who had given conditional scholarship notes a relinquishment of the condition. He was requested to obtain the relinquishments of such others as had given their notes conditionally.
Mr. Jacobs made a report of his transactions as Financial Agent during the last six months.
The degree of A.B. was on recommendation of the Faculty conferred on the following members of the present senior class: William Atwood, Robert D. Baker, John Russell Butler, Isaac W. Canfield, Gavin H. Cochran, Edward R. Elliott, William H. Fleece, Charles W. Forman, James B. Harbison, Lewis A. Lowry, Thomas H. Morehead, Richard M. Mosby, Joseph F. Ray, Henry K. Steele, David C. Sandy, Robert H. Wood, Edward S. Worthington
The degree of A.M. was conferred in course on the members of the class that graduated in 1840.
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It is ordered by the Board that deeds for the land, or any part thereof, sold to Romeo Lewis by Richard C. Allen, agent of the Asylum, be made out, that the seal of the College be affixed to said deeds by the Chairman, that they be signed by the Chairman and countersigned by the Secretary, and be legally acknowledged and authenticated, and that Mr. Jacobs tender these deeds or procure them to be tendered to Mrs. J. N. Lewis, administratrix or executrix of Romeo Lewis, deceased, or to whomsoever he may be who is administrator or executor of said Lewis.
Resolved that Mr. Jacobs is authorized to draw on the Treasury of the Asylum for the purpose of defraying any incidental expenses which may arise in the prosecution of suits in behalf of the Asylum.
Mr. Jacobs is authorized to offer, as a compromise to Mrs. Lewis of the suit against her, that if she will renew the notes of her late husband with sufficient security, the Board will wait for the payment of both principal and interest for a term of from two to five years.
The Secretary and Treasurer of the Asylum were directed to settle the accounts up annually to the 1st of January, and present their compared accounts at each spring meeting of the Board.
The accounts of the Treasurer of College were presented, and referred to Messrs. Henderson and Sneed to be examined.
The Board authorized Mr. Jacobs
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to draw on the Treasury of the Asylum for the sums necessary to pay for spouting at the Asylum, and for binders, two hundred copies of the "Exercises" for the pupils of the Asylum.
2:30 o'clock February 24, 1844
Board met. Present as in the forenoon.
The committee on the Treasurer's accounts reported that they were accurate. The report of the Treasurer was ordered to be filed.
The Financial Agent was directed to cancel a note of David A. Russel, Treasurer, on proof presented to him by the Treasurer that it had been paid.
Resolved that the sons of the Rev. J. C. Barnes be not charged with tuition fees during the ensuing year.
Mr. Jacobs presented a report on the accounts unsettled between the College and Asylum. After some investigation this report was referred to Messrs. Jacobs and Young to be examined and reported on at the next spring meeting of the Board.
The President of the College reported that the number of students was larger than it had ever been, the whole number in both College and Grammar School amounting to 159, of which number 99 were in the 4 regular College classes. The whole number entered during the year had been 195 in both the departments. The report was filed.
Resolved that in view of the past success of Messrs. Bullock, Price, and Montgomery in raising funds
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for the College, the Board believes that if these brethren would spend a few months each year in procuring additional subscriptions and scholarships, a sum would be raised sufficient to warrant the employment of an additional professor.
Resolved that Synod be urgently requested to procure the services of these brethren to finish the work of endowing the College.
Resolved that in view of the increased number of students, and of the fact that the number of professors in College is smaller than the ordinary number in respectable institutions, the services of an additional professor are greatly needed, and the Board deeply regret that the funds of the institution do not, at present, warrant them in making an appointment.
Resolved that the President of College present these resolutions of the Board to the Synod.
Mr. Jacobs presented an estimate of the income of the College made by himself and the Secretary, exhibiting in detail to various funds belonging to the College with the amount of interest yielded by each separate investment.
John C. Young, Secretary
October 19, 1844Present Joseph McDowell, Charles Henderson, John Todd, William Craig, Joshua Bell, Alexander Sneed.
It was resolved that, whereas at a meeting of five members of the Board of Trustees on the 15 of October, it was concluded by them to send William Ambrose Barbour, as agent to Arkansas
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to endeavor to save the forfeitures of certain lands sold by the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb to Romeo Lewis, and which are in imminent danger of forfeiture for the taxes; and it was also further concluded to borrow from the Danville Branch Bank $700 for the purpose above stated, and Messrs. Charles Henderson, Joseph McDowell, and John Ford were authorized to put in a note for that sum for the use of the Asylum. Now, therefore, it is ordered that the doings and proceedings above stated be authorized and confirmed, and that the funds of the Asylum be bound for the payment of the sum above borrowed, for the purpose above stated, and the employment of Mr. Barbour be sanctioned and confirmed. This saving of the forfeiture of these lands is made in reference to an agreement on the part of Mr. Lewis that no advantage should be taken of the same.
John A. Jacobs, Secretary pro tem