Full Title:
Charter of the University of Pennsylvania by James Hamilton
Excerpt:
“Whereas the well being of a society depends on the education of their youth, as well as, in great measure, the eternal welfare of every individual, by impressing on their tender minds principles of morality and religion, instructing them in the several duties they owe to the society in which they live, and one towards another, giving them the knowledge of languages, and other parts of useful learning necessary thereto, in order to render them serviceable in the several publick stations to which they may be called. And whereas, it hath been represented to us by […] gentlemen, that for the erecting, establishing, and maintaining an academy within our said city as well to instruct youth for reward, as poor children whose indigent and helpless circumstances demand the charity of the opulent part of mankind ; several benevolent and charitable persons have generously paid, and by subscriptions promised hereafter to pay into their hands as trustees, for the use of the said academy divers sums of money ; which sums already paid, they, the said trustees, have expended in the purchase of lands well situated, and a building commodious for the uses aforesaid, within our said city in maintaining an academy – there as well for the instruction of poor children on charity, as others whose circumstances have enabled them to pay for their learning, for some time past, and in furnishing the said academy with books, maps, mathematical instruments, and other necessaries of general use therein, according to the intentions of the donors.”
Source Citation:
Thomas Penn and Richard Penn. 1753. Charter of the University of Pennsylvania by James Hamilton. Charter. University of Pennsylvania University Archives and Records Center. https://archives.upenn.edu/digitized-resources/docs-pubs/charters/1753-charter