Charter of 1875

Charter of Southwestern Presbyterian University 
1875

State of Tennessee - Charter of Incorporation

Be it known, that Thomas R. Welch, B.M. Palmer, John N. Waddel, Donald MacGregor, Evander McNair, John B. Shearer, D.N. Kennedy, W.K. Marshall, C.A. Stillman, Thomas A. Hamilton, James A. Lyon, and B.M. Estes are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the Southwestern Presbyterian University, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining in the City of Clarksville, County of Montgomery, State of Tennessee, a university with power to confer degrees. The object and scope of the institution proposed shall be to found a school of instruction in the various liberal and professional studies, and in such special and polytechnic arts and studies as may be deemed necessary, and to be under the patronage of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

This corporation is organized under and pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, enacted March 23, 1875, Chapter 142; and in compliance with the terms of said act, which is as follows: "The support of any literary or scientific institution, as a College or University with power to confer degrees, an academy, debating society, lyceum, the establishment of a library, the support of a historical society, the promotion of painting, music or the fine arts, the support of Boards of Trade, or Chambers of Commerce, or other objects of like nature."

We, the undersigned, apply to the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the laws of the land, for a charter of incorporation for the purpose and with the powers declared in the foregoing instrument.

St. Louis, May 20, 1875
Thos. R. Welch (Seal)
B.M. Palmer (Seal)

I witness these six signatures,
D.N. Kennedy
J.W. Hoyte
Evander McNair (Seal)
Jno. N. Waddel (Seal)
D. MacGregor (Seal)
Jno. B. Shearer (Seal)

Filed for registration with C.N. Gibbs, Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee, and recorded in Corporation Record Book A, pages 34 and 35, May 31, 1875.

Registered in Register's Trust Deed Book No. 2, page 575, Clarksville, Tennessee.

In 1923 the "General Law of Corporation" enacted by the Legislature of Tennessee in 1875 was amended to provide specifically for the organization and incorporation of the educational institutions such as colleges. Pursuant to the amended law, the Charter of Southwestern Presbyterian University of 1875 was amended and the name changed to Southwestern.

Amendments to this information requires approval of the Rhodes Board of Trustees