http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu/botpdf/BOTM18701201.pdfRecord of the Trustees of the Purdue University. [Dec. 1, 1870]The Board of Trustees met in pursuance of a call of Gov. Baker Ex-Officio President of the Board, at the Lahr House in the City of Lafayette on Thursday evening December 1, 1870. Present, John Purdue, Rev. Thomas Bowman, John R. Coffroth and Martin L. Peirce and John A. Stein. Whereupon the last named four Thomas Bowman, John R. Coffroth, John A. Stein and Martin L. Peirce were duly and legally sworn by H.W. Chase, Notary Public, faithfully and to the best of their abilities to discharge the duties of such Trustees, and filed the following Certificate, to wit:State of IndianaTippecanoe CountyMartin L. Peirce, Thomas Bowman, John R. Coffroth and John A. Stein on their oaths severally say that they and each of them, will faithfully and to the best of their abilities, discharge their duties as Trustees of the Purdue University.“M.L. Peirce”“Thos. [Thomas] Bowman”“J.R. Coffroth”“John A. Stein”Subscribed and Sworn to on this 1st of December A.D. 1870 before me a Notary Public for Tippecanoe County, Indiana as witness my hand and Notorial Seal. H.W. Chase, Notary Public[drawing of notorial seal] And thereupon the Board was fully organized, and John Purdue was appointed President Pro Tem and proceeded to business. On motion the minutes of last meeting was [sic] read and approved, and after some time spent in Consultation on the interests of the University, on motion of M.L. Peirce it was Resolved, that in the Judgment of this Board the Legitimate and proper Work of Purdue University, is to furnish instruction of the highest order in those branches of Science, which pertain to any Profession, or Industrial pursuit in Life, in preference to the Study of those branches pursued in the High School, academy or College. On motion of John R. Coffroth, Resolved, that Mesrs. [Messieurs] Bowman and Purdue the committe [committee] heretofore appointed to procure plans and Specifications for the University Buildings are requested to report such plan or plansof page 83}