Board of Trustees Minutes

[Temple University Libraries, Special Collections, Conwellana-Templana Collection.]

The Trustees' Minutes

The first classes were organized by the Young Men's Association of Russell Conwell's church in the Fall of 1887. Conwell encouraged the students to form a corporation and to think about opening the classes to students of all denominations. The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of Temple College was held on October 4, 1887. The first book of minutes covers the meetings through June 12, 1889. Topics covered include the formal organization of the school, announcement of the school to other local Baptist churches, and the application for a corporate charter.

On October 10, 1887 the Board suggested that they (and possibly others who wished to help the college) "set apart our profits or wages of (February) 15th (Mr. Conwell's Birthday) toward the support of 'Temple College'." The tuition was originally free but by 1890, the students were also being asked for some contribution to the support of the college.

View hi-res images of the minutes