Duke University - Chanticleer Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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, -,r CHAN T I C L E E Rl 1ft iVNiM m; 9 i iNStorp of 2Crinitp College jna man, RINITY COLLEGE has developed through various changes from Union Institute, a school of academic grade established in 1838 in Randolph County, N. C ' ., and of which the late Brantley York, D. D., was the principal. In 1842, Doctor ork resigned the principalship, and Rev. B. Craven, then a ,-as chosen as his successor. During the years 1843 to 1850, the school grew under the administration of Doctor Craven until it drew patronage from a large section of North Caro- lina and from adjoining States. In consequence, the Board of Trustees realized that they had an opportunity to broaden the scope of work done by the institution, and applied to the legisla- ture for a charter to incorporate it as Normal College. The charter was granted on January 21, 1851, and by it certificates from Normal College conferred the right to teach in the common schools without examination. During the next year, the charter was amended in such a way as to authorize the institution to confer degrees. A loan of ten thousand dollars from the State Literary fund was also authorized, and the Governor of the State and the Superintendent of Common Schools became respec- tively president ex officio and Secretary ex officio of the trustees of Normal College. On July 28, 1853, the first class, numbering two students, was graduated with the degree of A. B. In 1853-54, a larger building was erected, by means of a loan from the State. In 1856, the Trustees of Normal College proposed through President Craven to the North Caro- lina Conference, then in session at Greensboro, to place the institution under the ownership and control of that ecclesiastical body. During the following two years, arrangements satisfactory to both parties to this transaction ' were made, and by an act of the legislature a new charter was secured in 1859. The North Carolina Conference was given the right to elect trustees from nominations made by the Board of Trustees, and the name of the institution was changed to Trinity College. During the period of the Civil War, Trinity College suffered along with all other Southern Colleges. In 1863, Doctor Craven resigned the presidency, and Prof. W. T. Gannaway was elected to succeed him. In 1865, however, Doctor Craven was re-elected to the presidency, which position he held until his death, on November 7, 1882. Prof. W. H. Pegram, a member of the Faculty, served as chairman of this body to the close of the academic year, June, 18S3. M. L. Wood, D.D., was then elected president, and served until December, 1884, when Prof. J. F. Heitman was elected Chairman of the Faculty. The College was without a president till April, 1887, when Dr. John F. Crowell, A. B. Yale, was elected president. In order to widen the influence of the College, and to place it in closer touch with the new movements that had begun in the South, President Crowell advised the Board of 1 rustees to move it to one of the growing cities of North Carolina. The Board accepted the suggestion, and on May 7, 1889, passed a resolution to the effect tha t the College should be moved to some prominent city within the State, provided that city would guarantee sufficient funds to justify the removal. Some time after this a monetary offer was made to the Board by the citizens of Durham, and on January 21, 1891, the Legis- lature of North Carolina again amended the charter by authorizing the 1 rustees to remove the College to I ' age ten '