The Cooper Union Deed of Trust page 2
         
   

 

   
                    
          

1. To regular courses of instruction at night, free to all who shall attend the same, under the general regulations of the trustees, on the application of science to the useful occupations of life, on social and political science, meaning thereby not merely the science of political economy, but the science and philosophy of a just and equitable form of government, based upon the great fundamental law that nations and men should do unto each other as they would be done by, and on such other branches of knowledge as in the opinion of the Board of Trustees will tend to improve and elevate the working classes of the city of New York.

2. To the support and maintenance of a free reading-room, of galleries of art, and of scientific collections, designed, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, to improve and instruct those classes of the inhabitants of the city of New York whose occupations are such as to be calculated, in the opinion of the said Board of Trustees, to deprive them of proper recreation and instruction.

3. To provide and maintain a school for the instruction of respectable females in the arts of design, and, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees, to afford to respectable females instruction in such other art or trade as will tend to furnish them suitable employment.

4. As soon as, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, the funds which shall from time to time be at their disposal will warrant such an expenditure, such funds shall be appropriated to the establishment and maintenance of a thorough polytechnic school; the requirements to admission to which shall be left to the discretion of the said Board of Trustees, and shall be specifically determined by them from time to time; and which school shall, as far as possible, and as soon as possible, be made equal to the best technological schools now established, or hereafter to be established. Until the funds at the disposal of the Board of Trustees shall be sufficient, in the opinion of the said Board of Trustees, for the establishment of such polytechnic school, the said Board of Trustees may furnish with rooms and accommodation for such school, and may assist in the maintenance thereof, the department of public instruction of the city of New York, the trustees of any college or university, or any other body, individual or individuals.

5. To provide rooms, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, suitable for the officers of a society to be organized, as provided in the act hereinbefore specially referred to, and to be called "The Associates of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art," and to furnish to such society for its general meetings, on one evening of each week, the great hall of the building, if the council of the said society shall require it so often.

Fifth.—The above-mentioned and described premises shall be forever subject to the visitation and examination, at all reasonable hours, of the council of the said society so to be organized and to be called "The Associates of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art," the terms and conditions of membership of which shall, from time to time, be prescribed by the Board of Trustees of the party of the second part; which said society shall make all rules and regulations for its own conduct and government, subject, however, to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the party hereto of the second part, and shall pay to the said Board of Trustees for the general uses, intents and purposes of the corporation hereby created, hereby and in the said act, and any acts amendatory thereof, provided or to be provided, all fees received on the initiation into said society of the members thereof; and the said Board of Trustees shall consider such suggestions of the council of the said society as shall, from time to time, be communicated to them, and shall adopt such of them as in their judgment may be practicable and expedient, and calculated to increase the usefulness of the institution herein contemplated.

Sixth.—Upon the happening of any vacancy in the Board of Trustees above provided for, which is above provided to be filled by election, unless such vacancy shall be filled as herein provided within one year of the time when such vacancy shall occur, the same may be filled at any time before it shall be actually filled by the Board of Trustees, by the said council of the said "The Associates of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art," by election in such manner as may be provided by the by-laws of the said society.

Seventh.— Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the said Board of Trustees, to be filled by them by election as above provided, such elections shall be held at a meeting of the said Board of Trustees, on and only on previous notice given at, and entered in the minutes of at least one preceding regular meeting of such Board, stating the meeting at which such election shall be held; and at such meeting, or at any regularly adjourned meeting from that meeting, such election shall be held by ballot, and the person first receiving a number of votes equal to a majority of the trustees then in office shall be the trustee to fill such vacancy, provided that if such person so elected shall decline to act as such trustee, by so declining the vacancy filled by his election shall be deemed to be again created.

   
           
     
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  last updated January 20, 2011