AN ACT 
Turn mm 
OF THE 
IX STITUTIOX 
FOR THE 
tfie and &amd 
PASSED APRIL 15, 1819 
TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
AND THE 
Names and Residence of the Officers and Directors. 
ALSO, THE 
DIRECTORS ARRANGED INTO COMMITTEES, 
AND A 
LIST OF THE PUPILS. 
NEW-YORK : 
imotwb <c®sm 
No. 4, Frankfort-street. 
XBI9. AN ACT, &c. 
Aw «Act to l\\eov\um\le t\\e Members ot the 
lnstitution toY the l\\st\*\\c - 
tion ot the Deaf and Dumb. 
Passed April 15, 1817. 
WHEREAS by a petition presented to the 
legislature, from certain inhabitants of the city 
of New-York, it is represented that they, to- 
gether with their associates, have formed an 
institution, for the purpose of affording the ne- 
cessary means of instruction to the Deaf and 
Dumb—and also to provide for the support 
and maintenance of those in that condition, 
whose parents are unable to maintain them 
during their course of tuition—Therefore, 
Be it enacted by the people of the state of 
New- York, represented in Senate and Assembly, 
That all such persons as now are, or hereafter 
may become members of the said institution, 
shall be, and are hereby ordained, constituted, 
and appointed, a body corporate and politic, in 
fact and in name, by the name of “ The New- 
York Institution for the Instruction of the Leaf 
and Dumb” and by that name they and their successors shall and may have succession ; and 
shall be in law capable of sueing and being 
sued, pleading and being impleaded, defending 
and being defended, in all courts and places 
whatsoever ; in all manner of action and ac- 
tions, suits, matters, complaints and causes, 
whatsoever; and that they and their successors 
have and use a common seal, and may change 
and alter the same, at their pleasure; and also 
they and their successors, by the name and 
style of “ The New-Fork Institution for the In- 
struction of the Deaf and Dumbf shall be capa- 
ble in law of purchasing, holding, and convey- 
ing, any real and personal estate, for the pur- 
poses of this incorporation, and none other, 
which, at any time, shall not exceed the annual 
income of five thousand dollars. 
And he it further enacted. That for the better 
carrying into effect the objects of the said 
incorporation, there shall be a president, two 
vice-presidents, a treasurer and a secretary, 
who, with twenty other members, shall con- 
stitute a Board of Directors, and shall have 
power to manage all its affairs ; the officers 
and other directors, shall be elected by ballot, 
at an annual meeting of the members, to hold 
their office for one year, or until others be 
elected in their room ; and that such election 
shall be held at such times and places, as the 
said corporation shall, by their By-Laws, from time to time, appoint and direct: and that the 
aforesaid officers shall be elected by ballot, by 
a majority of the members present at such 
election; and in case of any vacancy or vacan- 
cies, in either of the said offices, by death, re- 
signation, or otherwise, the said board of di- 
rectors shall have power to fill such vacancy 
or vacancies, until the next annual election : 
of the directors, at least two-thirds shall be 
residents of the city and county of New-York, 
and seven shall constitute a quorum. 
And be itfurther enacted, That the follow- 
ing persons shall be the first officers and di- 
rectors :—De Witt Clinton, President—Richard 
Varick, first Vice-President,—John Ferguson, 
second Vice-President—John Slidell, Treasurer 
—John B. Scott, Secretary—and Henry Rut- 
gers, Alexander M'Leod, John Stanford, John 
Murray, jr. Henry T. Feltus, James L. Bell, 
Bishop Connolly, Henry Wheaton, Samuel Aker- 
ly, Jonas Mapes, Peter Sharpe, Silvanus Miller, 
William L. Rose, Gurdon S. Mumford, Benja- 
min A. Akerly, Silvester Hearing, Janies Thomp- 
son, Robert Troup, Solomon Southwick, and 
James Emott, Directors. 
And he it further enacted, That the said 
Board of Directors, shall have power to make 
such By-Laws, as may, from time to time, be 
necessary, relative to the management, dispo- 
sition of the estate, and concerns of the said corporation, and regulation of the persons ex- 
ercising the offices aforesaid, not contrary to 
law ; and may appoint such other agents and 
servants, as they deem necessary to transact 
the business of the said corporation, and desig- 
nate their duties. 
And be it further enacted, That this act shall 
continue and be in force, until the first day of 
April, in the year one thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-seven. Provided always, That if 
the said corporation shall apply their, or any 
of their funds, to any other purposes than those 
contemplated by this act, that then the said 
corporation shall cease and determine, and the 
estate, real and personal thereof, shall be for- 
feited to and vested in the people of this state. 
And be it further enacted, That this act be, 
and is hereby declared a public act, and that 
the same be construed in all courts and places 
benignly and favorably, for every humane and 
benevolent purpose. 
State ot X Secretaires Office, 
/ CERTIFY, That the preceding is a true copy 
of a certain original Act of the Legislature of 
this State, on file in this Office. 
ARCH. CAMPBELL, 
April 17,1817. 
Dep. Secretary BY-LAWS 
OF THE 
KI&W-NOYtYL INSTITUTION 
ifie ffinafacccUau ifte (2JJea^>anc/ 
TITLE. 
THIS SOCIETY shall be established in the 
city of New-York, and shall be entitled the 
New-York Institution for the Instruction of the 
Deaf and Dumb. 
Of Members. 
The annual payment of three dollars to the 
Treasurer of this Society, shall constitute the 
person so paying that amount, or causing it to 
be paid, a member of this Institution; and the 
payment at one time to the Treasurer, of thirty 
dollars, shall constitute the person so paying 
it, or causing it to be paid, a perpetual or life 
member; and the members so constituted, 
shall be entitled to vote at annual elections. 
Of Meetings of the Society. 
Sect. i. There shall be an annual meeting 
of the members of this Society, on the third Tuesday in May, for the election of Officers 
and Directors, to manage the concerns of the 
Institution. 
2. The Directors shall fix the place of 
meeting for the annual election, and give pub- 
lic notice by their Secretary, of the time and 
place of such election. 
Of the Election of Officers and Directors. 
Sect. i. At the annual meeting of the mem- 
bers of this Institution, there shall be elected 
by ballot, from among the members, a Presi- 
dent, two Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a 
Secretary. 
2. At the same time, and in the same man- 
ner, there shall be elected twenty other mem- 
bers, who, together with the Officers, shall con- 
stitute a Board of Directors, and have power 
to manage all the concerns of the Institution. 
3. The Officers and Directors shall be 
elected to hold their office for one year, or 
until others be elected in their room; and no 
person shall be declared elected, unless he 
have a majority of votes of the members pre- 
sent at such election. 
4. In case of any vacancy by death, resig- 
nation or otherwise, in any Office or Direc- 
torship of this Institution, the Board of Direc- 
tors shall have power to fill such vacancy or 
vacancies, until the next annual election. Of the Meetings of the Directors. 
Sect. 1. There shall be a monthly meeting 
of the Board of Directors, on the last Tuesday 
of every month, at the boarding-house or asy- 
lum of the Institution, at such hours as the 
Board shall direct. 
2. An extra meeting shall be called by the 
Secretary, at the request of three Directors, of 
which and all other meetings, the Secretary 
shall give due notice. 
3. At all meetings of the Directors, seven 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
of business. 
4. At the first meeting of the Directors, 
after the annual election, there shall be ap- 
pointed the following Committees: 
The Auditing and Finance Committee. 
The Committee of Instruction. 
Ti\e Committee of Tnbiieation. 
Ti\e Aiovhhiy Committees. 
Tiie Tisiting Committee of Ladies. 
Of the Committees. 
Sect. 1. The Auditing or Finance Commit- 
tee shall have power to examine all bills or ac- 
counts presented for payment, and if found 
correct, to order the Treasurer to pay the 
same; but if otherwise, to report to the next 
meeting of the Board of Directors. 2. The Committee of Instruction shall in- 
quire into the manner of teaching the pupils 
of this Institution, and recommend such altera- 
tions as may appear to them proper, and ad- 
vise the Board of Directors whether any, and 
when additional assistant teachers are wanted. 
3. The Committee of publication may from 
time to time direct the publication of the list 
of donations and subscribers, and such other 
expositions in relation to the state of the Insti- 
tution, as may be expedient. 
4. The monthly Committee shall superin- 
tend the school, and direct all that may be ne- 
cessary for the comfort and advancement of 
the scholars, and the general prosperity and 
respectability of the Institution, and perform 
all other duties not otherwise provided for. 
5. The Visiting Committee of Ladies, shall 
have power to visit the School and Asylum at 
all times, and to examine into their comforts 
and accommodations. 
Of the President and Vice Presidents. 
The President shall preside at all meetings 
of the Board of Directors, and in case of his 
absence, the next officer in gradation shall take 
the chair; but if no officer be present when a 
a quorum is declared, then a presiding officer 
shall be elected pro tempore. 11 
Of the Treasurer. 
Sect. 1. The Treasurer shall preserve in 
his safe keeping, all the funds of the Institu- 
tion, and account for the same to the Directors. 
8. He shall make an annual statement of the 
funds of the Institution, on the first of January, 
and as often as the Board of Directors may re- 
quire. 
3. He shall have the care of all bonds, 
deeds and other documents relating to the pro- 
perty of the Institution, and shall furnish a list 
of donations and subscriptions every two 
months. 
4. He shall pay all bills when regularly 
passed by the Board of Directors, or by the 
Auditing Committee, and ordered to be paid. 
5. He shall give security by bond or other- 
wise, for the faithful performance of the trust 
reposed in him. 
Of the Secretary. 
Sect. 1. The Secretary shall attend the 
meetings of the Board of Directors, and take 
minutes of the proceedings of each meeting, 
and have them regularly entered in a book 
provided for the purpose. 
2. He shall notify the persons elected as 
Directors, and also inform them of the time 
and place of the regular or extra meetings of 
the Board, s. He shall give notice to the persons com- 
posing the monthly committees, when their 
lime of service commences. 
4. He shall furnish the chairman of all com- 
mittees with the papers referred, or the subject 
matter thereof. 
5. He shall cause the annual reports to be 
entered at large upon the minutes, and make 
a record of the donations and annual subscrip- 
tions, in a book to be provided for the purpose. 
6. He shall perform such other necessary 
writing and correspondence as the Directors 
may require, and enter in a letter book, the 
answers to all applications for the admission 
of pupils. 
Of the Asylum. 
The boarding-house of the Institution shall 
be called the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, 
and shall be under the care and direction of the 
Superintendant and Teacher, and of a Matron 
who shall provide for the comfort and accom- 
modation of the pupils, and admit at all times, 
such Visiting Committee of Ladies, as the Di- 
rectors may appoint. 
Of the School. 
Sect. i. The School of this Institution shall 
be kept in the apartments furnished by the 
Honorable the Corporation of this city, or in 13 
such other place as the Directors may from 
time to time provide. 
3. The School shall be opened at nine 
o’clock in the morning of every week-day, and 
be kept open until one o’clock of the same 
day, or such other hours as the Directors may 
from time to time determine. 
Of the Superintendant and Teacher. 
Sect. 1. The Superintendant and Teacher 
.shall give his personal and particular attend- 
ance at the School, during the hours of tuition. 
3. It shall be his duty to furnish a list of 
the scholars to the monthly committee of each 
month, with such annotations and remarks as 
may be interesting. 
Of Assistant Teachers. 
Sect 1. An Assistant Teacher or Teachers, 
shall be provided at the expense of the Institu- 
tion, as the number of pupils shall from time to 
time require, and the board may determine. 
3. It shall be their duty to attend the School 
during the hours of tuition, under the direction 
of the Superintendant and Teacher. 
Of the Pupils. 
Sect. 1. Application for admission shall be 
made to the Superintendant and Teacher, or 
one of the Directors, in writing, stating the 14 
name, age and circumstances of the pupil, toge- 
ther with the names, residence and occupation 
of the parents or guardians, which information 
shall be laid before the Board for their decision 
before they shall be permanently admitted. 
2. If a scholar persist in playing truant, or 
is detained from School without a proper ex- 
cuse, the Superintendant and Teacher shall 
report the same to the monthly committee, who 
shall act thereon at their own discretion. 
3. No parent or guardian shall interfere 
with the government of a pupil in the School; 
but in case of dissatisfaction, reference may be 
had in writing, to the monthly Committee, who 
shall act thereon, as the case may require. 
4. A parent or guardian, intending to place 
a child in this Institution, shall consent in writ- 
ing to its rules, to be presented for their peru- 
sal by the Teacher, or one of the Directors, 
before such pupil can be admitted. 
5. Every pupil who shall be admitted into 
this Institution, shall be initiated, under the di- 
rection of the monthly Committee; and no 
pupil shall be considered as regularly entered, 
until he or she shall have been for a time not 
exceeding 20 days, in the Institution, on trial, 
and shall also have given a bond, with compe- 
tent security, if required, for the payment of 
the tuition and expenses, according to the rules 
and regulations of the Institution. 6. The mode of treatment of the pupils of 
this Institution, and of their instruction, requir- 
ing lenity and kindness of an exemplary nature, 
no corporal punishment shall be resorted to, 
but in extraordinary cases, and then only by 
the consent of the monthly Committee. This 
rule shall apply to their treatment both in the 
School and at the Asylum. 
7. Cases of misconduct requiring corporal 
punishment, in the opinion of the Superintend- 
ant, shall be by him reported to the monthly 
Committee, for their consideration and deter- 
mination. 
8. The pupils who are received into the 
Asylum, shall be decently cloathed, and as 
much after a uniform dress, as the nature of 
the case will admit. 
9. Every pupil of the Institution, who has 
not had the small-pox, nor the kine-pock, shall 
be vaccinated as soon as may be, after being 
received. 
Of Visitors, 
Sect. 1. Visitors may be admitted to the 
School, at all times, during the hours of tui- 
tion ; but no visitor is to interrupt the Teacher, 
by calling off the attention of the pupils. 
2. All proper inquiries may be directed to 
the Teachers, or the monthly Committee, or 
any other of the Directors, if present; provid- Ed they do not interrupt the exercises of the 
School. 
8. Mondays and Wednesdays in each week, 
are particularly set apart for visitors, between 
the hours of eleven and one, when the Teach- 
ers may, at the request of any respectable 
stranger, or other visitor, deviate from his re- 
gular lessons, and show what progress the pu- 
pils have made. 
Of Examinations. 
There shall be a public examination of the 
pupils quarterly, to show the state and pro- 
gress of their improvements, at such place as 
may be found convenient. 
Of the Clerk. 
Sect. 1. The Clerk shall open an account 
with each pupil, in books provided for the pur- 
pose, and collect all annual subscriptions, and 
other'dues of the Institution. 
%. He shall perform the duties of an Assist- 
ant Teacher, during the school hours, under the 
direction of the Superintendant and Teacher, 
Alterations and Amendments. 
Alterations and amendments in the By- 
Laws, may from time to time be made, by a 
majority of the Directors present at any meet- 
ing, provided notice thereof be given at a pre- 
ceding meeting. XAJSIES AKD TAESIIVEKO^ 
OF THE 
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 
Of the New-York Institution for the Instruction of 
TWM WMAW AWm BWffi®. 
ELECTED 22d MAY, 1819. 
Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill, President, 47 Whitest. 
Rev. John B. Romayne, Ist V. President, 69 Do. 
Hon. C. D. Golden, 2d V. President, Mayor's 
Office, City Hall. 
John Slidell, Treasurer, 189 Elisabeth-street, 
near St. Patrick's Church. 
Dr. Samuel Akerly, Secretary, 68 Rutger-street. 
De Witt Clinton, Albany. 
Rev. John Stanford, 18 Lispenard-street. 
James L. Bell, Sheriff's Office, City-Hall. 
Rev. Henry T. Feltus, cor. Hesterst, & Bowery. 
Peter Sharpe, 43 Nassau-street. 
Silvanus Miller, 44 Cherry-street. 
Stephen Allen, 71 Bowery. 
Rev. Alex. M‘Leod, 555 Pearl-street. 
Jonas Mapes, Wall, corner William-st. Dr. Valentine Mott, 28 Cliff-street 
Daniel E. Tylee, Chatham, cor. Roosevelt-st 
Garrit Hyer, Hester-st. near Broadway, 
James Palmer, Suffolk-street. 
Rev. James Milnor, 27 Beekman-street. 
John B. Scott, 152 Broadway, 
Richard Hatfield, 16 Vandewater-street. 
William L. Rose, 6 Frankfort-street. 
Thomas Franklin, 49 Franklin-street. 
Alexander H. Stevens, 109 Fidton-street. 
Rev. Philip Milledoler, 12 i Fulton-street.  
Arranged into Committees. 
Auditing and Finance. Committee, 
Stephen Allen, Silvanus Miller, and Jonas Mapes. 
Committee of instruction, 
Samuel L. Mil chill. Samuel Akerly, M’Leod. 
Committee oA Putd\cation, 
James L. Bell, John B. Scott, John Slidell. 
AiontVtVy Committees. 
For June 1819—Stephen Allen, Johnß. Romayne, 
Valentine Mott, James L. Bell. 
July—James L. Bell, C. D. Golden, D. W. Clinton. 
Alexander M’Leod. 
August—Alexander M’Leod, Peter Sharpe, James 
Palmer, Thomas Franklin. 
September—Thomas Franklin, William L. Rose, 
Philip Milledoler, Jonas Mapes. 
October—J. Mapes, Dan. E. Tylee, James Milnor, 
Garrit Hyer. 
November—Garrit Hyer, Alexander H. Stevens, 
John B. Scott, Silvanus Miller. 
December—Silvanus Miller, John Stanford, Rich. 
Hatfield, Samuel Akerly. January 1830—Samuel Akerly, James Milnor, 
Henry T. Feltus, Samuel L. Mitchill. 
February—S. L. Mitchill, Valentine Mott, J. B. 
Romayne, Stephen Allen. 
March—S. Allen, C. D. Golden, Alex. M’Leod, 
James L. Bell. 
April—James L. Bell, J. Palmer, Philip Milledoler, 
John Slidell. 
May—John Slidell, D. E. Tylee, John B. Scott, 
Jonas Mapes. 
YISITIKG 
©©msmmrißa ©if 
Mrs. Dr. Mitchill, Mrs. C. D. Golden 
Mrs. William Few, Mrs. Thomas Storm, 
Mrs. James Milnor, Mrs. William Johnson, 
Mrs. Ellen Gallatian, Mrs. Rich. Cunningham 
Mrs. George Warner, Mrs. William Warner, 
Mrs. Thos. Carpenter, Mrs. James Walsh, 
Mrs. Elisabeth Walker, Miss Niobe Minturn. 
Samuel Akerly, Physician to the Institution. 
Rev. A. O. Stansbury, Superintendant and Teacher. 
Mrs. Martha Stansbury, Matron to the Asylum, 
Miss Mary Stansbury, Assistant Teacher. 
School-room, in apart of the Kew-York In- 
stitution. Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, JVb. 41 
Warren-street. misnr ®wipnipaab^ 
or THE 
NEW-YORK INSTITUTION 
(21)6a^1 anc/*2l)U7nd* 
1 Eyeline Hulse, Mew- York City. 
2 Cornelia Ann Frere, do. 
3 Alanson McDonald, do. 
4 Mary Rose, do. ■ 
5 John Vermilyea, do. 
6 John Hauptman, do. 
7 Horace Crawford, do. 
8 William L. Wilkeyson, do. 
9 John Bates, do. 10 Richar d Sip, New-Jersey. 
11 John R. Boyle, New-York City. 
13 Jonathan Wardline, do. 
13 William Williams, do. 
44 Sarah Parker, do. 
4 5 Nathaniel Ward, do. 
16 Cornelius Cunningham, do. 
17 George Mills, do. 
18 James M. Nack, do. 
10 Catharine Banks, do. 
30 William Oakley, do. 
21 George D Holkins, Albany. 
22 Phebe M. Clarke, New-Jersey. 
23 William Wake, New-York. 
34 Mary Postly, do. 
35 John H. Gazlay, Otsego Co. New-York. 
36 Harriet Sherwood, Ulster Co. do. 
27 Jemima Way, New-York City. 
38 Aaron Day, Montgomery Co. N. Y. 
39 Charles Dickenson, Dutchess Co. N. Y. 
30 Elizabeth Thomson, New-Jersey. 
31 John White, jr. Albany, N. Y. 
33 Cortlandt Millspaugh, Orange Co. N. Y. 
33 John Kelly, New-York City. 
34 John Healy, do. 
35 Margaret Paltzgraff. do. 23 
36 Cornelia Green, New-Jersey. 
37 Benjamin Barton, Queens Co. N. Y. 
38 James Plum, Schuyler's Lake, do. 
39 James Maddock, Madison Co. do. 
40 Denison Fowler, do. do. 
41 Richard C. Springs, South Carolina. 
43 William M. Genet, Albany. 
43 Rebecca Minard, Ulster Co. N. Y. 
44 Julia Sandford, Chenango Co. N. Y. 
45 Sally Robinson, New-York City. 
46 Isabella Anderson, do. 
47 Isaac Stanton, Dutchess Co. N. Y, 
48 John Mandeville, South Carolina. 
49 Eliza Briare, Albany. 
50 Joshua Husk, Nexv-York. 
51 Sally Callender, Troy. 
52 Maria Sherwood, Woodstock, Ulster Co. 
53 Sally Sherwood, do. do. 
54 William Hocknell, Albany.