On December 3, 
1975, at 4:06 p.m., N.C. Secretary of State Thad Eure (UNC Class of 1921) signed, in his trademark green ink, the Articles of Incorporation for the “University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Arts and Sciences Foundation, Inc.”
Over the next 40 days, we will recognize the work of the Arts and Sciences Foundation and celebrate its 40th anniversary through stories and photos on this website. You’ll even see some “Where Are They Now?” features from past recipients of private funding.
Click here to read the Articles of Incorporation.
Some fun facts:
- The idea for a foundation for arts and sciences began in 1956, when Robert House was chancellor and J. Carlyle Sitterson was dean of the College. Chancellor House appointed a committee to discuss the University’s need for private funding for the liberal arts, but it disbanded before reaching a consensus on what form the fundraising should take.
- By 1975, the schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, business administration, law and journalism had established organizations to raise private support, but the College of Arts and Sciences—the University’s oldest and largest academic unit—had not taken that step.
- On October 16, 1975, Frank Borden Hanes Sr. oversaw a resolution recommending the creation of the Arts and Sciences Foundation.
- Margaret T. Harper, former publisher of the Southport State Port Pilot and member of the Foundation’s first board of directors, was the Foundation’s first donor with a gift of $1,000.
