Rhode Island School of Design. Board of Trustees records (01.01)

Series I. Board of Trustees minutes
The minutes are the official record of the meetings of the Board of Trustees (Board of Directors, 1877-1901) and the annual meetings of the Corporation (1877-1906) and Governing Members (1907-1947). Previously to 1984, the Board met quarterly, 1878-1947, and semi-annually, 1948-1983. The Secretary of the Corporation, who is responsible for keeping the minutes, signed all minutes through 1983.

The minutes record the date, time and place of the meetings as well as the names of attendees, absentees and guests. The constitution, by-laws, and amendments are recorded though the actual wording of amendments to the by-laws may not be included. The minutes record motions and votes of the Board and discussions about motions may be included. The election of corporate officers and standing committee members, appointment of administrative officers, and appointment of special committees are recorded. The names of those elected or appointed may not be included. The minutes list the election, resignation and deaths of corporation members (1907-1962). Financial information, standing and special committee reports, administrative reports, and discussions about, may be described. Reports may be inserted into or included with the minutes: President, 1930s-1960s; administrative and committee, 1979-2006. Memorials, correspondence and notices of meetings may be included. Agendas for the meetings may not be included.

The minutes format consists of handwritten bound volumes, 1877-1932, and typed sheets compiled in minute books and notebooks, 1932-1983. Photocopies of unsigned minutes have been provided since 1984.

Since 1989, the minutes have included extensive supporting documents such as reports, other committee minutes, and administrative material. In 1995 Chair Barnet Fain reorganized the supporting material into an agenda notebook for each meeting. The notebook packet serves as the meeting record beginning September 1995, essentially duplicating the Trustees Meeting files (02.3.1). The Archives maintains notebooks holding just the minutes and agendas, 1989-2004, in order to facilitate the use of the records. The minutes with all supporting material comprise a new series, Agenda Notebooks, 1995-2007.

• 1877 March 5 - 1902 June 11
• 1902 Oct 8 - 1921 April 13
• 1921 June 8 - 1932 June 8
• 1932 Oct 12 - 1941 Oct 8
• 1942 Jan 14 - 1953 Oct 14
• 1954 April 14 - 1960 Nov 17
• 1961 April 18 - 1965 April 19
• 1965 Oct 19 - 1973 Nov 20
• 1974 May 14 - 1983 Nov 15
• 1984 May 15 - 1988 Oct 3
• 1989 Feb 5 - 1995 Oct 5
• 1989 Feb 6 - 1999 May 8
• 1999 Nov 4 - 2006 Oct 6

Series II. Secretary's correspondence
The series contains six letters sent to Sarah Doyle and two letters written by Howard Rice. The Doyle correspondence includes letters from Governor John W. Davis (1887 June 11), Henry H. Fay (1880 April 17), George C. Mason (1878 Nov 20), and Marshall Woods (1877 Oct 5) regarding their elections to the Board of Directors; a letter of resignation from Board member C. A. L. Richards, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church (1880 April); and a letter from Board of Directors member Rowland Hazard stating his opinions on the state of and the importance of education (1882 April 15).

The Rice correspondence contains his letter of resignation as Corporation Secretary (1914 Oct 21) and a subsequent letter acknowledging the Board's acceptance of his resignation and his thoughts about Helen Metcalf (1914 Oct 27).

For Sec. G. Alder Blumer, 1914-1931, see Office of the Executive Vice-President records, 1905-1965. For William H. Edwards, 1931-1968, see Office of the Executive Vice-President records, 1905-1965 and Office of the President. Trustees, 1943-1992.

Series III. Agenda notebooks
The Agenda Notebooks contain records collected for each Board of Trustees meeting, 1995-2007. In 1995 Chair Barnet Fain organized the meeting records into notebooks with records keyed to specific agenda items. The records may include agendas, meeting minutes, committee reports, financial reports, by-law amendments, memorandums, brochures, trustee nominations, remarks by officers, and building plans. The records may document presentations to the Board by faculty, students, staff, alumni, or consultants.

• 1995 Oct 15 - 1997 Feb 8
• 1997 April 25 - 1999 Nov 6
• 1999-2000
• 2000-2001
• 2001-2002
• 2002-2003
• 2003-2004
• 2004-2005
• 2005-2006
• 2006-2007