In 1887, the Newberry Library was started by Newberry estate trustees E. W. Blatchford and W. H. Bradley. On April 13, 1892, the Library was organized under Illinois law with a governing board of thirteen trustees, who met April 25, 1892, and formally accepted the Charter of Incorporation. The new Board took seriously its role as delineated in the Bylaws to administer the Library and oversee book selection. Originally elected for life, the self perpetuating Board met monthly. As Trustee involvement in daily library administration decreased, the Board met less frequently (quarterly by 1936). During the 1960s and 1970s Bylaws revisions codified the transfer of administrative responsibility from the Board of Trustees to the President and Librarian, increased the number of trustees to twenty five, limited terms to five years (renewable), set retirement ages, and changed the title of the President of the Board of Trustees to Chairman. Presidents and Chairmen of the Board include E. W. Blatchford (1892-1914), E. L. Ryerson (1914-1928), Horace S. Oakley (1928-1929), Alfred E. Hamill, (1929-1953), Everett D. Graff (1953-1964), Hermon Dunlap Smith (1964-1975), Edward F. Blettner (1975-1979), Chalkey J. Hambleton (1979-1982), Harold Byron Smith (1982-1988), Charles C. Haffner, (1988-2012).