Guide to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. College Board Records

In 1883 the General Assembly organized the Presbyterian Board of Aid for Colleges and Academies to direct "the interests of higher education as connected with the Presbyterian Church." Its headquarters were located in Chicago. In 1904 the name of the Board was changed to "The College Board" and its headquarters was moved from Chicago to New York. The Assembly both enlarged and curtailed the Board's duties. It was to promote more directly and efficiently college interests and objects, especially in the area of endowments. It was also directed to "aid academies in its discretion in the matter of current support, but not to seek endowment for them."

In 1915 the General Assembly merged the Board of Education and the College Board. The following year a plan was adopted for carrying out this mandate by organizing the "General Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A." Its headquarters were in New York.

The scope of the work of the new Board was indicated: In order to continue promote and enlarge the work of the two existing Boards, the new Board shall posses and perform the following functions. First, the enlistment and support of candidates for the ministry and for such other forms of Christian service as are or may be approved by the General Assembly; second, the establishment, encouragement, and assistance of educational institutions related to the Presbyterian Church so as to afford our young people a Christian education and, third, appropriate provision for religious services and for the promotion of religious life of students in independent or state educational institutions, and also such other educational work as the General Assembly may assign to it from time to time.

The consolidation was finalized on November 1, 1918 in the Presbyterian Building, New York, when the Board of Education and the College Board transferred their assets to the General Board of Education.