Board of Trustees minutes, Ohio University, v. 04, 1845-1861

21 (top right corner) Ohio University. Athens, Tuesday, July 31, 1849 Annual Meeting. There not being a quorum present at the hour appointed for the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees, the mem= bers present adjourned till tomorrow morning, 8 O'clock Wednesday Morning, August 1, 1849. The Board met pursuant to adjournment. Present the fol= lowing Members, to wit. Rev. Alfred Ryors, D.D. Pro t. Rev. James Hoge D.D. Rev. William Cox, Rev. William Aikin, W.B. Horton Esq. John Welch Esq. Amos Miller Esq. Leonidas Jewett Esq. and A.G. Brown Secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read, amend= ed and approved. The President presented his first annual Report, which was read and referred to Messrs. Horton, Hoge, & Jewett, and is as follows: "To the Board of Trustees of the Ohio University. Gentlemen- The year which has just drawn to a close, has been one of general health to both Faculty and Students. In our exemption this Summer from the ravages of the Cholera, we have, in common with the citizens of Athens, great cause for unfeigned thankfulness to Almighty God. The year has been one of considerable diligence and good order among the students of the Univeristy. No instance of insub= ordination or other misconduct has occured to require the exer= cise of formal discipline or the infliction of college punishments. The number of Students has at no time during the year exceeded 49, and this Summer the number has been only 35. The small= ness of these numbers is quite discouraging to the friends of the U= niversity as well as to its officers; though I see in the di= minished number of the present Term no cause of particu= lar concern. For with the exception of those from Athens almost all our Students have been from the Country, many of whom are obliged to spend their Summers at home; while from the Country few accessions can be expected in the Spring, to take the places of those who leave. Until the University regains the confidence of the public so far as to gain the patronage of the larger Towns, her numbers must at all times be overall and always diminshed much in Summer. Herewith I submit the Register of Students for each Term from which it will be seen that the Room Rent and the overall remain= der of Tuition arising, from deducting allowance to the Faculty, amouunt to ($98.00 + 96.75=) $194.75.

22 (top left corner) Annual Meeting. August 1, 1849. Continued. Herewith also is submitted a paper setting forth in detail, the orders drawn by me or the Auditor for necessary expenses about the University. These amount to $142.21 3/4. Besides these, there was bought by me of Mr J. Ballard, for the public Rooms of the University 625 barr= els of Coal, amounting to $40.62, and also a Bell rope and Brooms, amounting to 56 cents, which were presented by Mr Ballard in a Bill cotaining also other items furnished or contracted for previous to my coming to the University all which were allowed by the Committee of the Board to whom I referred the Bill. The painting of the Roofs of the Wing buildings and the new roof on the West Wing have been done under the direction of the same Committee. Last Winter a general Catalogue of the Institution was issued, in consequence of the order and appropriation of the Board at its last meeting. Therein the titles and designations of the several members of the Faculty differ a little from the appointments as made by the Board, but were made thus in accordance with the permission of the Board, and are now submitted for its approval or re= jection. The Records of the proceedings of the Faculty for the past year, are herewith also respectfully submitted for the in= spection of the Board. There have been during [during][crossed out] the year many val= uable documents of public and permanent [utility][crossed out] interest presented to the University Library by different persons, much the greater however, have been received from the H. S.J: Vinton. The great advantage of a Library con= taining the more fixed and general Text Books for the use of Classes during part of their courses has claim= ed the attention of the Faculty, and something has been done towards procurring such as one. Through the efforts particularly of Prof. Ballard, nearly one hundred dollars have been subscribed for this purpose. Such a Library, though charging a small fee of each Student who wishes to avail himself of it, greatly diminishes one of the Student's heaviest expenses. The propriety of making a small appropriation to this object, from the funds of the University is respectfully submitted to the consideration of the Board.

23 (top right corner) Annual Meeting- August 1, 1849. Continued. Complaint has in cases been made that those who, because engaged part of their time in labor for support, are unable to take the usual number of recitations, are yet charged the same Tuition as others of their classes. In two instances during the first Term the Faculty revisitted part of the tuition fee for such reasons, but finding the difficulties increasing from various pretexts being offered to procure a diminution of the charge for Tuition, declined subse= quently to make any more such revissions until after the matter should have been referred to the Board for their advice. In order to stimulate the Students to the highest effort and to the highest attainments, it has been deemed de= sirable by the Faculty, to institute a few prizes, or premiums for excellence. Various places have occupied their attention and the plan upon which they finally agreed is respect= fully said before the Board for action. All which is respectfully submitted. A. Ryors" On Motion, the honorary degree of A.M. was conferred upon Mr. Thomas McIntyre, Principal of the Tennessee Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The Resignation of Rev. David Young of Zanesville was laid before the Board, which, on motion, was accepted, and it was ordered that the expression of the gratefulness of the Board of obligation to him for his long and faithful services, until disabled by the infirmations of age, be entered upon the Minutes. On Motion, it was resolved that Joseph M. Dana Esq. of Athens, be appointed a Member, pro term (underlined) of this Board, in place of Rev. David Young resigned. On Motion resolved, that, as recommended in the President's communication, the designations of of Proffessors Ballard and Hoge, be changed to "Pro= fessor of Latin Language and Literature" and "Professor of Rhetoric and Associate Professor of Mathematics," respectively as pub= lished in the Catalogues. On motion, the Standing Committee of Finance was filled by the appointed of Messrs. Welch, Jewett and Brown On Motion, the acting Committee was established

24 (top left corner) Annual Meeting. Wednesday Aug. 1, 1849. Continued. of the Members of the Board residing in Athens Co. to wit. Pres. Ryors, Miller, Welch, Jewett, Dana & Brown On Motion, Mr Jewett was added to the Committee on the sale of Lots. A communication from Prof. Williams offering the sale of certain Books to the University, was received, read and referred to the Committee on Finance. At 1/2 past 10 A.M. the Board took a recess un= til 3 o'clock P.M. to hear the Inaugural Address of Prof. Wm J. Hoge. Afternoon Session. The Committee on the President's Communication made a Report which was adopted. The Committee on Finance made a Report which was accepted, except a recommendation to pur= chase the Books offered by Prof. Williams, which was rejected, on the grounds of the low state of the funds On motion it was resolved that the sum of $75.00 be appropriated for the purchases of necessary ap= paratus and chemicals, to be expended by Prof. Mather. The Board then proceeded by ballot to the election of Officers for the ensuing year, when it ap= peared that the following persons were duly elected, viz. Treasurer, John Brown. Auditor, Henry Bartlett. Secretary, A.G. Brown. Collector, Abel Stedman. On motion Mr Welch was appointed President Pro Term (underlined), for the ensuing year. On motion, Mr Hubbard was added to the Committee heretofore appointed on the subject of the changes of the tenure of the University Lands to Freehold, and the Committee continued On Motion the matter of the claim of the University against the late President McGuffie was again referred to the acting Committee, with full power to settle or compromise the same. On Motion, resolved, that the Acting Committee be empowered, with the consent of Prof. Mather, to cause evidence of debt in the usual form to be issued to A.G. Brown for the amounts advanced for the freight of certain minerals belonging to Prof. Mather, with interest. Provided that the

25 (top right corner) Annual Meeting. Wednesday Aug. 1, 1849. Cont. the said amount with the intent thereon shall remain a lien upon said minerals, and that said minerals shall remain in the possession and for the use of the Uni= versity, until the same shall be refunded, or other pro= visions made. The reasons for absence from the meetings of the Board of Mr Convers and Judge Keith were sustained On motion, resolved in consequence of absence for more than two years from the meetings of the Board, without the assignments of any cause, Wm H. Trimble and R.F. Hickman Esquires, be and hereby are removed from their appointments as Members of this Board. On motion, resolved that James Ragurt Esq. of Zanesville and Gen. James T. Worthington of Chillicothe be appointed members pro term (underlined). of this Board. On motion, resolved that the provisions for a meeting of the Alumni and former Students of the University, be continued for another year On motion, C.C. Convers Esq. was appointed to address the Alumni and Students at the proposed meeting, and Cha. G. Sherman Esq. his alternate. A.G. Brown, Secy. (signed)