his friendly and conciliatory nature, his thorough knowledge of the institution and its history, his wide acquaintance with the alumni, all contributed to make him a sagacious and acceptable leader.”
Other changes included: printing the Minutes of Trustees’ Meetings so that each member might have copy; holding two Trustees’ Meetings each year, instead of one, the second to be in New York in December; and electing members of the Board for five-year terms. This modern and efficient approach it was hoped would stimulate genuine Trustee interest in University affairs.
For five years the Trustees searched without success for a president. Various prominent Baptists turned them down because they disliked the poorly defined joint operations of the University and the Baptist Education Society and sensed trouble because the president’s authority over the Seminary was not spelled out. Their objections were especially pertinent in a period in which there was considerable unrest and turmoil in theological circles.
At the outset of the search for a president, the faculty urged the twenty-seven-year old James C. Colgate to accept the office. No doubt flattered, he modestly declined to follow in the footsteps of his demi-god, Ebenezer Dodge. He felt he could be of greater service as a Trustee and time proved him correct. In many ways he was President pro tem and, as such, kept in close touch with Dean Andrews and the faculty committee and with the students. As a means, rather unusual in the 1890’s, of enlisting undergraduate support he furnished the Madisonensis with lengthy accounts of Trustee meetings. Furthermore, he came to the campus as often as he could and talked to the students about his responsibilities and his hopes for the University while, at the same time, frankly admitting he was not much older than they and would like to join in their fun. Under his prodding the Executive Committee made a thorough investigation of the University’s daily operations and called for detailed reports from its officers. In 1892 the office of Registrar was established to consolidate and maintain efficient and complete records of student grades and absences; the duties of the Registrar were combined with those of the Librarian until 1898. James C. Colgate’s influence can be detected also in the reorganization of procedures in the Treasurer’s Office and in forming in 1892 a Trustees’ Finance Committee to have custody of the University’s securities and to direct the investment of its funds. Mr.