Brown University Treasurer term bills (MS-1D-T2)

Administrative History

A Brown University Treasurer was appointed in 1764. The first treasurer, John Tillinghast, served until 1767, and was followed by Job Bennett from 1767 to 1775. John Brown, one of the four Brown brothers, became treasurer in 1775, and managed the financial affairs of the university for 21 years, contributing generously from his own funds. John Brown was succeeded by his nephew, Nicholas Brown (Class of 1786) who held the office for 29 years, from 1796 to 1825. His election as Fellow in 1825 made the office of Treasurer vacant, and his nephew Moses Brown Ives (Class of 1812) was elected to fill his place. Ives died in 1857, and was succeeded by his brother, Robert Hale Ives (Class of 1816). Marshall Woods, who was named treasurer in 1866, unlike his predecessors of the last ninety years, was not a member of the Brown family, although he did marry Ann Brown Francis, whose mother was the daughter of former treasurer Nicholas Brown and whose father was the grandson of former treasurer John Brown. The remaining treasurers have been Arnold Buffum Chace (Class of 1866) from 1882 to 1900; Cornelius S. Sweetland (Class of 1866) from 1900 to 1923; Frank W. Matteson (Class of 1892) from 1923 to 1933, Edwin Aylsworth Burlingame (Class of 1914), acting treasurer from 1933 to 1934; Harold C. Field (Class of 1894) from 1934 to 1949; George Burton Hibbert from 1949 to 1950; Gordon L. Parker (Class of 1918) from 1950 to 1965; Patrick J. James (Class of 1932) from 1965 to 1970; Joseph W. Ress (Class of 1926) from 1970 to 1979; Andrew M. Hunt (Class of 1951) from 1979 to 1988; and Marie J. Langlois (Class of 1964) since 1988.

The above entry derives from the Encyclopedia Brunoniana by Martha Mitchell, copyright 1993 by the Brown University Library.