New York University School of Education - Education Violet Yearbook (New York, NY)

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NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Founded in +he CH'y of New York April Eigl'11'een+h, Eigl1'reen Hundred and Thir+y-one

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Nlsw Yomc UNxv1zns1'rY IN 1831 10

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Hisfory of New York Universify HE nineteenth century was rendered distinctive by the development of the individual. and with this development New York University began its career. The spirit of the time became reflected in a group of men in New York City, who conceived the idea that there should be a university to serve all the people. Such was the plan of these founders who contemplated a college, an engineering school, a school of law, school of medicine, teachers' college, and department of graduate study. The protest against existing educational institutions became a forward move toward a higher goal. The earliest records that can be found are of certain meetings of nine citizens in New York City, December 18, 1829. This work proceeded slowly, and on October 15, 1830, a council was chosen by share-holders from the members. The following were chosen: Reverend james M. Mathews, General Morgan Lewis, Honorable james Tall- madge, Honorable Albert Zallatin, Valentine Matt, M.D., Edward Delafuld, M.D., and Myndert Van Schaik. ' Meanwhile the committee had chosen a sub-committee, which included men of eminence in New York City, to attend a Convention of Education on October 20 to 23, 1830, for the purpose of obtaining views of Educational Experts in establishing the University and also to promote the motto of Education for All throughout the nation. Meetings were held in the Common Council Chamber of the City and represen- tatives of many institutions were present. Many problems were discussed and views given by leading Education authorities. New York City was selected as an ideal place for the new institution. The University secured its charter on April 21, 1831. The original plan had pro- visions for six separate divisions, but it was thought not feasible to launch all of these. In the fall of 1832 at Clinton Hall, Nassau and Beekman Streets, New York University held its first session. There were eighteen professors and one hundred and fifty-seven students. A new site was acquired at Washington Square, in 1833, and the cornerstone was laid. On july 16, 1833, work on the new building was interrupted, and classes did not open until 1835. Of the graduates, more than one-half entered ministry, and one- fourth law, which showed that the University was educating for the learned professions. In 1835, at the request of the University Council, Honorable Benjamin F. Butler, Attorney General in jacl-:son's Cabinet, published the plan for organization of the law faculty and a system of instruction in legal science. The plan provided for a three-year study course and was adopted by the faculty in 1838. Mr. Butler was elected Principal of the Faculty. There were twenty students in the department at this time. Provisions had been made for a medical college, but this did not open until 1838. Dr. Valentine and john W. Draper were put in charge. The Medical College was established at Stuyvesant Institute, 659 Broadway, on the site of the present Broadway Central Hotel. It was semi-proprietary in nature. There were two hundred and thirty- nine students the first year, from twenty-seven states, in 1850 there were four hundred students. In 1851 Stuyvesant Institute was sold and a lot was bought on Fourteenth Street, the present site of Tammany Hall. In 1866 the Medical College moved to New York Hospital and in 1869 moved to premises near Bellevue Hospital, where it now stands. The faculty made a great contribution in 1853, by securing an act legalizing dissecting. For the first fifty years, only the law and the medical colleges were developed. The College never numbered more than two hundred and was far from modern. The instruction was good and the standard of scholarship was high, but there was little spirit. There was no college community and no dormitories. The Eucleian Society 12