Faculty Meeting Minutes, November 1854 - December 1854
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 4:14:42 PM
Added description
Description
Faculty Meeting Minutes, November 1854 – December 1854
Overview
This item is a digital collection of the minutes of faculty meetings held at a Philadelphia‑area college between 3 November 1854 and 29 December 1854. The material is presented as scanned images (JPEG and TIFF) of the original hand‑written minutes, accompanied by OCR‑extracted text. The minutes were prepared by faculty members and record the proceedings of four meetings: 3 Nov, 18 Dec, 21 Dec, and 29 Dec.Background
The meetings were convened by the college’s faculty, including Dr. David J. Johnson M.D. (Dean), Dr. T. Fussell, Dr. A. Preston, Dr. Thomas, Dr. Kerr, and Dr. Harvey. The 29 Dec meeting took place at Dr. Fussell’s house. The minutes were produced for the final‑Drexel‑University archive and reflect the governance practices of a mid‑19th‑century educational institution.Contents
Key resolutions and actions recorded include:- A holiday resolution suspending lectures on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
- A $10 assessment per faculty chair to support the college’s finances.
- The sale of scholarship certificates at $100 each, with detailed redemption and interest provisions.
- Appointment of agents for scholarship sales and solicitation of donations.
- Formation of committees to present scholarship resolutions to the college’s corporators and to fill the vacant chair of Obstetrics.
- Designation of Dr. Fussell and Dr. Preston as Secretary Pro Tem during the Dean’s absence.
- A memorial resolution honoring the late Dr. David J. Johnson, expressing condolences to his family and acknowledging his contributions.
The OCR text provides the full wording of each resolution, including financial calculations and procedural details.
Scope
The collection covers the period from 3 November 1854 to 29 December 1854, focusing on college administration, financial management, scholarship policy, faculty appointments, and memorial observances. It includes only the minutes of the four meetings listed above and does not extend to subsequent years or other institutional documents.Entities
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Entity Relationships
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Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax -> documents -> @faculty_meeting_minutes:document {title: "Faculty Meeting Minutes, November 1854 - December 1854", creator: ["David J. Johnson M.D.", "T. Fussell", "A. Preston"], created_range: {start: @date_1854_11_03, end: @date_1854_12_29}, subjects: ["Faculty meetings", "College administration", "Scholarships", "College finances", "Faculty appointments", "Memorial resolutions"]}
@college:place {description: "College location (unspecified in content)"}
@fussell_house:place {owner: @t_fussell, description: "Residence of Dr. T. Fussell where the Dec 29 1854 meeting was held"}
@david_johnson:person {full_name: "David J. Johnson, M.D.", role: "Dean", status: "deceased 1854"}
@thomas:person {full_name: "Dr. Thomas", role: "Faculty member"}
@t_fussell:person {full_name: "Dr. T. Fussell", role: "Faculty member"}
@a_preston:person {full_name: "Dr. A. Preston", role: "Faculty member"}
@kerr:person {full_name: "Dr. Kerr", role: "Faculty member"}
@harvey:person {full_name: "Dr. Harvey", role: "Faculty member"}
@meeting_nov_3_1854:event {when: @date_1854_11_03, where: @college}
@meeting_dec_18_1854:event {when: @date_1854_12_18, where: @college}
@meeting_dec_21_1854:event {when: @date_1854_12_21, where: @college}
@meeting_dec_29_1854:event {when: @date_1854_12_29, where: @fussell_house}
@file_a092_001_066_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_nov_3_1854:event {type: "Image with OCR"}
@file_a092_001_067_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_18_1854:event {type: "Image with OCR"}
@file_a092_001_068_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_21_1854:event {type: "Image with OCR"}
@file_a092_001_069_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_29_1854:event {type: "Image with OCR"}
@file_a092_001_070_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_29_1854:event {type: "Image with OCR"}
@holiday_resolution:document {description: "No lectures to be given on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days"}
@meeting_nov_3_1854:event -> resolved -> @holiday_resolution
@chair_assessment_resolution:document {assessment_per_chair: 10, currency: "dollars", purpose: "Support of the College"}
@meeting_nov_3_1854:event -> resolved -> @chair_assessment_resolution
@scholarship_resolution:document {
certificate_price: 100,
certificate_currency: "dollars",
entitlement: "Professors' tickets to two or more courses of lectures",
issuance_cutoff: {date: @date_1855_08_01, condition: "no certificates issued after"},
redemption_deadline: @date_1860_01_01,
interest_use: "payment of current expenses",
principal_payment_to_faculty: 100,
remainder_distribution: "equally among occupants of the seven professional chairs"
}
@meeting_nov_3_1854:event -> resolved -> @scholarship_resolution
@agents_appointment_resolution:document {appointed_by: @kerr, purpose: "Agents for sale of scholarships and solicitation of donations"}
@meeting_nov_3_1854:event -> resolved -> @agents_appointment_resolution
@committee_appointment_resolution:document {
committee_members: [@thomas, @harvey, @david_johnson],
purpose: "Present scholarship resolutions to the Corporators"
}
@meeting_dec_18_1854:event -> resolved -> @committee_appointment_resolution
@agents_committee_appointment:document {appointed_by: [@t_fussell, @harvey, @david_johnson], purpose: "Appointment of agents"}
@meeting_dec_18_1854:event -> resolved -> @agents_committee_appointment
@obstetrics_committee:organization {purpose: "Obtain a suitable person to fill the vacant chair of Obstetrics"}
@meeting_dec_21_1854:event -> appointed -> @obstetrics_committee {members: [@kerr, @a_preston, @thomas, @t_fussell]}
@t_fussell -> role -> @secretary_pro_tem:role {context: @meeting_dec_21_1854:event}
@a_preston -> role -> @secretary_pro_tem:role {context: @meeting_dec_29_1854:event}
@memorial_resolution:document {
honoree: @david_johnson,
statements: [
"Express high appreciation of his worth and deep sense of calamity to his family, institution, and community.",
"Recognize his qualifications as a teacher of a noble science by intellect, learning, industry, zeal, perseverance, and instructional ability.",
"Acknowledge admiration for his intellectual powers and personal friendship."
],
actions: [
"Increase efforts to sustain and ennoble the college he loved.",
"Offer heartfelt condolence to Mrs. Rebecca Johnson and her family."
],
disposition: "Signed by each professor individually and sent to Mrs. Rebecca Johnson; published in the public ledger."
}
@meeting_dec_29_1854:event -> resolved -> @memorial_resolution
@david_johnson -> honored_by -> @memorial_resolution
@t_fussell -> edited -> @memorial_resolution {role: "Secretary Pro Tem"}Metadata
Files (10)
OCR Text
No. 35. Friday Nov. 3rd 1854. Minutes of last meeting read and adopted. On motion, it was resolved that no lectures be given in this College on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. On motion, the sum of ten dollars was assessed on each chair for the support of the College. The subject of selling scholarships was resumed. On motion of Dr. Thomas, it was resolved that certificates of scholarship be sold for $100, entitling the holder to the Professors' tickets to two or more courses of lectures in this College. On motion of Dr. Johnson, it was resolved that no certificates be issued after the 1st of Aug. 1855; and that the time for redeeming them be limited to 1st of January 1860; and, moreover, that the debts of the College be paid out of the sums thus obtained: that the balance be put at interest: that the interest be devoted to payment of the current expenses of the College: that $100 of the principal be paid to the Faculty, whenever a certificate is redeemed by them: and that the balance of the fund remaining on the 1st of January 1860 be divided equally and proportionally among the occupants of the seven professional chairs during the interval above specified, and shall belong to them in fee simple: and that in case of the death, resignation, or removal of any Professor before the expiration of the time above specified, then he or she, his or her heirs or legal representatives shall receive his or her share in proportion to the time for which he or she shall have served. Resolved, on motion of Dr. Kerr, that agents for the sale of scholarships be appointed by the Faculty: and that agents be also appointed to solicit donations in aid of the College, the sums
OCR Text
thus obtained to be appropriated towards liquefying the debts of the College, and to the establishment of a permanent fund for the exclusive benefit of the Institution. On motion of Dr. Thomas, it was resolved, "That a committee of three be appointed to meet the Corporators at their next meeting to lay before them the above resolutions or the spirit of them and to vindicate them." Dr. Thomas, Harvey and Johnson were appointed the said committee. Resolved, that Drs. Fussell, Harvey and Johnson be a committee on the appointment of agents. Then adjourned: - Present, Drs. Fussell, Harvey, Johnson, Kerr, Preston and Thomas. David J. Johnson M.D., Dean. No. 36. Monday Dec. 18th 1854. Minutes of last meeting read and adopted. Dr. Thomas reported that the Committee, of which he was Chairman, had laid the subject of selling scholarships, together with the Resolutions of the Faculty, before the Corporators at a meeting held Dec. 16th; and that they had declined cooperating with the Faculty in the premises, on the ground that they would thereby personally pledge themselves for the redemption of the said Certificates of Scholarship. Dr. T. further stated that the Corporators had appointed agents to solicit donations in aid of the College.
OCR Text
Thursday Dec. 21st 1854 Present Dr. Kerr, Preston Thomas T. Fussell Dr. Fussell was appointed Secretary Pro Tem for the Dean being absent on account of indisposition. The minutes of last meeting read & adopted. On motion Dr. Kerr, Fussell & Harvey were appointed a committee to obtain some suitable person to fill the chair of Obstetrics now vacant. Adjourned to meet on Friday the 29th inst. T. Fussell Sec'y Pro Tem.
OCR Text
Friday, Dec 29th 1854 A meeting of the Faculty was held at the house of Dr Fussell. A Preston was appointed Sec Pro Tem. The Secretary offered a preamble & resolutions in reference to the decease of our colleague Dr David J Johnson, which after some amendment by Dr Fussell was adopted as follows. Whereas our valued friend & coadjutor David J Johnson M.D. Suddenly, in the midst of his activity & usefulness, has been removed from us by death, therefore Resolved, that we deem it incumbent upon us to express our high appreciation of his worth, & our deep sense of the calamity sustained by his family, this Institution, & the community, in his removal. Resolved, that by clearness of intellect, by learning & research, by industry, zeal & perseverance as well as by facility in imparting instruction he was preeminently qualified to be the teacher of a noble science. Resolved, that while we admired his rich & varied intellectual powers & attainments we also loved him as a man & a friend.
OCR Text
—as one distinguished by his unpretending modesty, his high sense of honor, his love of truth, & the unspotted purity of his character. Resolved that we, his survivors, while sorrowing for his departure, can best do honor to his memory by increased efforts to sustain & ennoble the college he loved, & to which he devoted his life. Resolved, that we offer our heart-felt condolence to his afflicted widow & family, & mourn with them as fellow-sufferers in their irreparable loss. It was voted that the above resolutions be signed by each professor individually & sent to Mrs. Rebecca Johnson, & that they also be published in the public ledger. Present—Srs Harvey, Fussell, Thomas & Preston. A. Preston, Sec. Pro. Tem.
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 4:14:42 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 11/14/2025, 4:05:10 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 11/14/2025, 3:58:39 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 11/14/2025, 3:56:47 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Faculty_Meetings_1854-1855"
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