345 Rules for Hollis Professorship of Mathematics

    [January 18 1726/27]

    Rules and Orders relating to a Professor of the Mathematics, of Natural and Experimental Philosophy in Harvard College in Cambridge in New England appointed by Mr. Thomas Hollis of London Merchant.

    1. 1. That the Professor be a Master of Arts and well acquainted with the several parts of the Mathematicks and of Natural and Experimental Philosophy;
    2. 2. That his Province be to Instruct the Students in a System of Natural Philosophy and a course of Experimental in which to be comprehended, Pneumaticks, Hydrostaticks, Mechanicks, Staticks, Opticks &c. in the Elements of Geometry, together with the doctrine of Proportions, the Principles of Algrebra, Conic sections, plain and spherical Trigonometry with the general principles of Mensurations, Plains and Solids, in the Principles of Astronomy and Geography, viz. the Doctrine of the Spheres, the use of the Globes, the Motions of the Heavenly Bodies according to the different Hypotheses of Ptolomy, Tycho Brahe and Copernicus with the general Principles of Dialling the Division of the world into its various Kingdoms with the use of the Maps &c.
    3. 3. That the Professor shall read once a week and whenever the Corporation with the Approbation of the Overseers shall require it twice a week (times of Vacation excepted) publickly in the Hall to all Students that will attend on such Topicks relating to the Sciences of the Mathematics, Natural or Experimental Philosophy as he shall judge most necessary and useful but always distinct or different from his private Lectures.
    4. 4. That the said Professor shall read his private Lectures on the several parts of the Mathematicks Natural and Experimental Philosophy so many times in the week as to finish each science that he begins within the compass of a year and to go through the whole in two years. But the course of Philosophical Experiments shall be repeated at least once every year.
    5. 5. That the said Professor while in that office shall not be a Tutor in any other Science no[r] take on him the Pastoral office in any Church nor be obliged to any other attendance in the College than the above mentioned publick and private Lectures.
    6. 6. That whereas I have ordered and do appoint a Salary of Eighty Pounds per Annum to be duly paid to the said Professor he shall be obliged to take no Fee or Reward from any of the Students that have been or shall be on my foundation for the Study of Divinity, but for other Students of the College that desire his instructions, he may receive a fee as the Corporation shall direct with the approbation of the Overseers not exceeding Forty shillings per Annum.
    7. 7. That the Professor shall set apart two or three Hours in every week to converse with his Pupils and endeavour to clear such difficulties as lie upon their minds relating to the several parts of the Mathematics Natural and Experimental Philosophy of which he is Professor.
    8. 8. That the said Professor shall in all times to come be chosen by the Reverend the President and Fellows of Harvard College for the time being and shall be presented to the Honourable and Reverend Overseers of the College to be approved by them and then shall be recommended by them to me for my confirmation during my life and after my decease to such Person as I shall appoint by my last Will under my hand and seal during the term of his life also.
    9. 9. That the said Professor shall at all times be under the care and inspection of the Reverend the President and Fellows of Harvard College with the Honourable and Reverend the Overseers of the College for the time being, but shall not be displaced by them during his capacity for service except for some just and valuable causes.
    10. 10. Upon the Death or removal of a Professor the Corporation shall be obliged to fill up the vacancy within Twelve months, and in case of default the Nomination and choice shall for that time be in the Overseers to be confirmed by me during my life and by my Executor after me, and in case they shall not fill up the vacancy in one year more I then Will bequeath and appoint the principal and produce of this Estate to return to my Executor.
    11. 11. On the day of Inauguration the Professor shall take the oaths to the civil Government as [a]ppointed by the Law in the Presence of the Reverend the President and Fellows of the College and the Honourable and Reverend Overseers thereof in the Public Hall.
    12. 12. At the same time and place and in the same Presence he shall declare himself to be of the Protestant reformed Religion as it is now professed and practiced by the Churches in New England commonly distinguished by the Name of Congregational, Presbyterian or Baptist and that he will comply with the same.
    13. 13. He shall promise to discharge the trust now reposed in him with diligence and fidelity and to the advantage of the Students; That he will not only endeavour the advancement of true learning but consult the good of the College in every other respect, that he will promote true piety and Godliness by his own Example and encouragement and will religiously observe the Statutes of his Founder.

    And lastly I order and appoint ten Pounds per Annum to the Treasurer for the time being for his care and pains in keeping the accounts and drawing out a balance every Audit day of the College to be sent to me and to my next and immediate successor annually, the Corporation being duly notified who the said Successor is, to all which orders and Appointments above written being designed and solemnly dedicated and devoted by me to the Glory of God by improving the minds of men in useful Knowledge, I set my Hand and Seal this eighteenth day of January one Thousand Seven Hundred and twenty six.209

    Thomas Hollis

    Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of us.210

    John Hollis

    Joshua Hollis

    Richard Solly

    John Williams

    College Papers, 1. 73 (No. 152). A parchment copy is in Professorships Papers. For alterations to Hollis’s original rules, proposed by the Corporation on June 8, 1726, see CSM Publications, xvi. 538. All the recommended changes were accepted by Hollis, except in paragraph 8, where he kept control in his appointee after his death.