http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu/botpdf/BOTM18811207.pdfWednesday December 7, 1881 at LafayetteThe Board met pursuant to a call of President J.C. Ratliff. The Trustees of Purdue University met this day at the office of John A. Stein, Secretary, in Lafayette Indiana, Present. President J.C. Ratliff and Trustees, W.H. Ragan, Jacob Mutz, and C.F. Peddle. Also present John S. Williams and Alfred P. Edgerton, newly appointed Trustees, who now present their Commission as such, as also their oaths of office, duly executed and sworn to by them, which latter are ordered to be placed on file by the Secretary—The same reading as follows to wit: The State of IndianaTippecanoe County s.s. [sub-state]John S. Williams and Alfred P. Edgerton being duly sworn on their oaths say that they will obey the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of Indiana and that they will faithfully and to the best of their ability, perform severally their duties as Trustees of Purdue University. Alfred P. Edgerton Jno. S. WilliamsSubscribed and sworn to on this 7th day of December 1881 before me, John A. Stein, Notary Public. [drawing of seal] Whereupon the said John S. Williams and Alfred P. Edgerton, assume their seats at this meeting as Trustees of Purdue University. President E.E. White being also present, now on the request of the Trustees, reads to them his Annual Report as President of Purdue University for the College year ending June 30, 1881, dated December 6, 1881. In this Report, President White drew the attention of the Trustees to a suit pending in the Tippecanoe Circuit Court, wherein Thomas P. Hawley by Samuel T. Stallard his guardian and [illegible] friend is plaintiff and President White and the members composing the Faculty of Purdue University are defendants. The advisability of excluding secret societies and fraternities from Purdue University is exhaustibly discussed in the Report and the concurrent opinion of many eminent educators of the country cited in confirmation of the wisdom and propriety of the regulations adopted by the Trustees and Faculty of Purdue University in reference to such secret societies, The said Report of President White was approved by