Sec. [Section]1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Cyrus Avery, William Ames, Dea May, Peter Payne, S. P. Hyde, Albert Stone, John W. Lawrence, Geo. T. Kasson, James Shinn, Alfred E. Ames, and their successors, be, and they are hereby, constituted a body politic and corporate, to be known by the name of “The trustees of the Jefferson Institute,” and by that name have perpetual succession, and have a common seal, with power to change the same at pleasure; and may make by-laws for the regulation of the said institute, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States or of the State of Illinois; and may confer, on such persons as may be considered worthy, such collegiate or honorary degrees as are usually conferred by similar institutions.

Sec. 2. That the said trustees shall be authorized to exercise all powers and privileges that are enjoyed by the trustees of any seminary, college, or university in this State, not herein limited or otherwise directed.

Sec. 3. That the said trustees shall hold their first stated meeting at the town of Amesville, in the county of Boone, on the first Monday of June next, or so soon thereafter as may be convenient, and they, or a majority of them, shall, as soon as they think proper, fix upon a place, in township 44 north, range 4 east, of the third principal meridian, for a permanent seat for said institution, and proceed to erect buildings thereon as soon as convenient, and the interest of the said institution may require.

Sec. 4. The said trustees, or their successors, by the name aforesaid, may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any court of law or equity in this State; and shall be capable, in law, to purchase, receive, and hold, to themselves and their successors, for the use and benefit of said institution, any lands, tenements, or rents, goods and chattels, of what kind soever, which shall be given or devised to, or purchased by, them for the use of the Jefferson Institutue.

Sec. 5. Eight members shall be sufficient to constitute a board for the transaction of all business respecting the said institution, excepting those cases particularly excepted: Provided, in case a sufficient number of members do not attend to constitute a board at any meeting, those who do attend may adjourn sine die, or to any day thereafter, or next stated meeting.

Sec. 6. The assent of the majority of the whole number of the trustees shall be necessary to perform the following business: To elect and fix the salary of the president; to fix upon the permanent seat of the institute; to alienate, sell, or convey any lands, tenements, or rents belonging to said institute.

Sec. 7. The trustees shall elect a president, treasurer, and clerk to their own body, and so many professors, trustees, or masters as may be necessary; and upon the death, resignation, or legal disability of any of the trustees, president, or other officers of said institute, the board of trustees shall supply the vacancy by ballot.

Sec. 8. The president and other officers of the said institute shall be subject to the direction of the board of trustees, and continue in office during good behaviour. The treasurer of said institution always, and all other agents when required by the trustees, before entering upon the duties of their appointments, shall give bonds for the security of the corporation, in such penal sum and with such security as the board of trustees shall approve; and all process against the said corporation shall be by summons, and service of the same shall be by leaving one attested copy with the treasurer of the institute at least thirty days before the return day thereof.

Sec. 9. The said institution and their preparatory department shall be open to all denominations of christians, and the profession of any religious faith shall not be required of those who become students; all persons, however, may be expelled, or suspended, from said institution, whose habits are idle or vicious, or whose moral character is bad.

Sec. 10. The president of the board of trustees shall have full power to call special meetings of the said trustees, and it shall be his duty, upon the request of three of them, to do the same; but upon any called meeting, ten days’ general notice shall be given by the president previous to the meeting.

Sec. 11. The trustees of the corporation shall have authority from time to time to prescribe and regulate the course of studies to be pursued in said institute, and in the preparatory department attached thereto; to fix the rate of tuition, room-rent, and other, expenses; to appoint instructors and such other officers and agents as shall or may be needed in managing the concerns of the institution; to define their powers, duties, and employments; to fix their compensation; to displace and remove either of the instructors, officers, and agents; to erect the necessary buildings; to purchase books and chemical and

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philosophical apparatus, and other suitable means of instruction; to put in operation a system of manual labor for the purpose of lessening the expenses of education, and promoting the health of the students; to make rules for the general management of the affairs of the institution, and for the regulation of the conduct of the students; and to add, as the ability of the said corporation shall increase, and the interest of the community shall require, additional departments for the study of any or all the liberal professions: Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the establishment of a theological department in said institution.2

Sec. 12. The number of said trustees shall not exceed thirteen, eight of whom shall reside in the township aforesaid.

Sec. 13. The trustees shall have power to supply any vacancies which may occur in their body, and remove any member from the same for dishonorable or criminal conduct: Provided the member implicated shall have opportunity to defend himself before the board, and two-thirds of the whole number of the trustees concur in the removal.

Sec. 14, The lands and tenements to be held in perpetuity, by virtue of this act, shall not exceed six hundred and forty acres: Provided, however, That, if any donation, grant, or devise in land shall, from time to time, be made to said corporation, over and above the six hundred and forty acres held in perpetuity as aforesaid, the same may be received and held by said corporation for the period of six years from the date of any such donation, grant, or devise; at the expiration of which time, if the said lands be not sold by the said corporation, then the said lands so donated, granted, or devised, shall revert to the original donor or grantor, or to the heirs of said devisor of the same.3

Sec. 15. This act shall be in force from and after its passage.4

Approved, February 21, 1839.