Oberlin College. Board of Trustees

The Oberlin College Board of Trustees first met on March 10, 1834. Membership included twelve trustees and increased in 1874 to 18, in 1878 to 24, and in 1970 to 28. The President of the College has always been a member ex officio of the Board. The Prudential Committee was formed in 1834. Its purpose was the management of day-to-day affairs of the institution not specifically entrusted to the Trustees. Prudential Committee business came to be transacted by numerous subcommittees. Eventually, the Prudential Committee went out of existence (1962), as it lost influence to the Executive Committee, formed in 1928 for the purpose of convening the full power of the Board during intervals between board meetings.