Early Trustees

Penn's 18th Century trustees were critical to the operation of the university. They worked closely with the administration to collect funds for the university, select faculty, and bring stability to the institution. Many of the trustees were also enslavers. The information about slave owning trustees listed here was collected by undergraduates using Pennsylvania Tax & Exoneration Records, trustee wills, and other primary sources. The financial and administrative support provided by these men was one of many ways the University of Pennsylvania benefitted from the institution of slavery.