This Day in the History of the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Site-selection commissioners unanimously chose New Hope Chapel Hill in Orange County for the new university. They recommended the location to the Board of Trustees at a meeting in New Bern.

The University acquired its first book, "The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Wilson, Fifty-eight Years Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man: With His Life," which was presented to the Board of Trustees by John Sitgreaves.

A notice in the "North Carolina Journal," a newspaper printed in Halifax, North Carolina, listed these proposed courses for the new university: "The study of languages, particularly the English; History, ancient and modern; the Belle Lettres, Logic and Moral Philosophy; the Knowledge of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, Agriculture and Botany, with the principles of Architecture...Gentleman conversant in these branches of Science and Literature, and who can be well recommended, will receive very handsome encouragement by the Board. The exercises of the institution will commence as early as possible after the completion of the buildings of the university which are to be contracted for immediately."