Columbia University College of Pharmacy - Apothekan Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 17 text:

1927 poti)ekan History of the College of Pharmacy It gives one a thrilling sensation to let one ' s imagination travel back almost a hundred years and find oneself a part of one of those interesting groups of men who gathered at the old Shakespeare Hotel. They met to dis- cuss the past, and look forward toward a successful future. They were a group of wholesale druggists. They spoke about conditions in their field and of the increasing difficulty encountered in securing trained men. Druggists were few. The younger men were not inclined toward following the pro- fession. John Keese, a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, which had been established in 1821. and a member of the firm of Lawrence. Keese and Company, suggested founding a college. Mr. Keese was of a scientific turn of mind. At this proposal a preliminary meeting of wholesalers was called and plans were made for organizing all the druggists. Following this, a general meeting was held March 25th. 1829, at the Shakespeare Hotel, with John Keese presiding and his brother Theodore, acting as Secretary. At this meet- ing, about thirty pharmacists formed an association to supervise the new institu- tion — the College of Pharmacy of the City and County of New York. At this meeting the following men were elected to office: John D. Keese, President: Henry H. Schieffelin. John L. Embree and Waldron B. Post, First, Second and Third Vice-Presidents, respectively: Theodore Keese, Treasurer: and Oliver Hull. Secretary. The Trustees were Henry T. Kiersted. Patrick Dickie, Constantine Adamson, P. H. Dalenette, J. C. Havilono and Lindley Murray. Committees were appointed to draw up the Constitution and make the By-laws. The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held April 2nd, 1829, at the Shakespeare Hotel. The purpose of the College as set forth in the Constitution was to spread the knowledge of Pharmacy. They were to issue circulars and pamphlets, to act as a forum to discuss charges made against unethical druggists, and to prosecute or expel them, if necessary. The qualifications for membership were good moral character and an aptitude for the profession. At the first meeting of the Board the following committees and appointments were made: The Lecture Committee included Messrs. SchiefFelin, Embree, and Harte. It was their business to secure lecturers in Chemistry and Materia Medica. The Library Committee was to obtain books and specimens. The Standing Committee was to decide any dispute that might arise among the members. The first lecturers to be cho.sen were Dr. John Torrey and Dr. J. Smith Rogers. The former was Professor of- Chemistry in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He delivered lectures in Chemistry and Physics to our students. Dr. J. Smith Rogers delivered lec- tures in Materia Medica. The lectures were advertised in the then existing newspapers and notices were left at the drug stores. On the first Monday of December. 1829, the College officially opened. Lectures were given three times a week for three months, the fee being three dollars. The pharmacy students shared their lectures with those of the med- ical students in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Torrey was a very pleasing lecturer and made a lasting impression upon his students. His lectures in Physics and in Chemistry were illustrated. Page 9

Page 16 text:

OUR PRESENT BUILDING

Page 18 text:

1927 lapotfjefean Among the experiments shown were the decomposition of water, burning of metals, Leyden jars and powerful galvanic batteries. Hydrogen and oxygen were exploded in bladders and many other striking and amusing experiments were carried out. Dr. Rogers was a very earnest man. He had a slight pro- tuberance on his cheek. Students could never settle the question whether the bulging was due to a tumor or a quid of tobacco. The first year, the Board of Trustees held their meetings at the Shake- speare Hotel, with the exception of one or two meetings which were held at the home of some board member. In 1830 a room for meeting purposes was rented in the New Dispensary at White and Center Streets. Here the Col- lege held quarterly meetings for a number of years. On March 1 1th, 1831, the first graduation was held. The members of the graduating class were William W. Lake. Jr.. Washington M. Thurman. and George C. Close. The same year. 1831, H. H. Schieffelin was elected President of the College. Through the agitation of members of the College a bill was passed by the City which made it im- possible for indi- viduals to practice unless they were graduates with four years of prac- t i c a 1 experience. Violators were fined $50.00 and the money was to be used to pur- chase books for the Library. The act was later modified. The fine was to be used for the sup- port of the Dis- pensary. Efforts to enforce the act were often vain. In 1832 lectures were given by Dr. Ellct and Dr. Rog- ers in rooms of the Lyceum of Na- t i o n a 1 History. During this year the College was chartered and em- powered to hold property up to the value of twenty thousand dollars. The name of the college was changed to the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York. The name is retained till the present day. It was difiicult COLLEGE BUILDING AT 23RD STREET Page 10