CURATOR, in Roman law the "caretaker" or guardian of a spendthrift (prodigus) or of a person of unsound mind (furiosus), and, more particularly, one who takes charge of the estate of an adolescens, i.e., of a person sui juris, above the age of a pupillus, 14 or 12 years, according to sex, and below the full age of 25. Such persons were known as "minors," i.e., minores viginti quin que annis. While the tutor, the guardian of the pupillus, was said to be appointed for the care of the person, the curator took charge of the property. The term survives in Scots law for the guardian of one in the second stage of minority, i.e., below 21, and above 14, if a male, and 12 if a female. Under the Roman empire the title of curator was given to several officials who were in charge of departments of public administration. In modern usage "curator" is applied chiefly to the keeper of a museum, art collection, public gallery, etc., but in many universities to an official or member of a board having a general control over the university, or with the power of electing to professorships. In the University of Oxford "curators" are nominated to administer certain departments, such as the University chest.