The first draft of the College Charter, April 22, 1823. Image credit: Trinity College Archives

Trinity's Charter, the document that allowed the college to be officially established, was approved by the Connecticut General Assembly at the Hartford Old State House on May 16, 1823. At the time, the name of the institution was Washington College. May 16th is celebrated annually as Charter Day.

The Charter was drafted to establish an Episcopal college in Connecticut, in contrast to Yale's affiliation with Congregationalism. Yale was the first and only college in Connecticut at that time, and people wanted a place of higher education they could attend within the state that was non-Congregationalist. A few Connecticut legislators pushed back, as they did not want another collegiate institution in the state to rival Yale. Thomas Church Brownell, a Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, led the push for Washington College's charter and establishment, working closely with senators, representatives, and Episcopal ministers. Brownell later became the first president of Washington College.

The original Charter stated that no student, professor, or board member would have to undergo any type of religious testing. This was different from other schools at the time, and the more progressive view on religious tolerance was most likely influenced by the turning away of Episcopalians like Brownell by Yale's exclusively-Congregationalist student body.

The Trinity Tripod, 05/25/2020.

Trinity College in the Twentieth Century (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, p. 2.

The History of Trinity College (1967) by Glenn Weaver, p. 6.

Charter of Washington College, 1824.