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The University's current charter, bylaws, and mission statement can be found on the "Governing Documents" page at the Duke University Board of Trustees website. The page links also include sections of James B. Duke's Indenture of Trust that concern the University. These documents may also found in Appendix A of the Duke University Faculty Handbook, which is distributed by the Office of the Provost.

Charters

Our first governing document, and the oldest official record in the Duke University Archives, is the Constitution of the Union Institute Society, dated February 1839. See below for a digitized copy of the constitution.

Texts of the original state-issued charter of 1841 and amendments are available on paper at the University Archives. These texts are also available electronically on the website of the North Carolina Secretary of State. To find them:

  1. Search by corporation name "Duke University".
  2. On the results page, select the "Document filings" link.

Aims and Mission Statement

On May 9, 2014, the Board of Trustees issued a new statement of the aims of Duke University, which are presented as the first article of the University's bylaws. The text reads:

The aims of Duke University (the "University") were originally set forth in a statement that President John C. Kilgo wrote for Trinity College in 1903. Kilgo's statement, which grounded the University's purposes in the Christian tradition of intellectual inquiry and service to the world, was adapted for Duke University upon its establishment in 1924. Recognizing its origin in this tradition, its continuing relationship to The United Methodist Church, and the diverse constituency that has developed since its founding, the University is committed to creating a rigorous scholarly community characterized by generous hospitality towards diverse religious and cultural traditions.  The University therefore pursues the following aims: to foster a lively relationship between knowledge and faith; to advance learning in all lines of truth; to defend scholarship against all false notions and ideals; to develop a love of freedom and truth; to promote a respectful spirit of dialogue and understanding; to discourage all partisan and sectarian strife; and to further the advancement of knowledge in service to society. The affairs of the university will always be guided by these ends.

As the new statement notes, John C. Kilgo, our president from 1894 to 1910, is the likely author of the original 1903 aims. In 1902, Trinity's Board of Trustees asked him to prepare a major revision of the College's bylaws. Of course, the statement then started out "The aims of Trinity College..." The wording was changed in 1924 when the University was organized. Here is the text:

The aims of Duke University are to assert a faith in the eternal union of knowledge and religion set forth in the teachings and character of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; to advance learning in all lines of truth; to defend scholarship against all false notions and ideals; to develop a Christian love of freedom and truth; to promote a sincere spirit of tolerance; to discourage all partisan and sectarian strife; and to render the largest permanent service to the individual, the state, the nation, and the church. Unto these ends shall the affairs of this University always be administered.

The University's mission statement is different. See the paragraphs above for links to the current mission statement. Previous mission statements will be found in the Duke University Archives' Subject Files Reference Collection.

Constitution of the Union Institute Society

Union Institute Academy Constitution, page 1
Union Institute Academy Constitution, page 2
Union Institute Academy Constitution, page 3
Union Institute Academy Constitution, page 4

Click page thumbnails to enlarge.

View a transcript of the Constitution of the Union Institute Society.