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

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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

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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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was founded the first year of College, and various fraternities and a Lacrosse team were formed in the seventies. Financially, the first fifty years were disappointing and the University was not paid for until 1853. The founders had looked for benefactions, but these did not come, and though there was some endowment, the income from this was not sufficient. Tuition fees were abolished in 1872, but the income was so low that it was necessary to ask for it in 1876, when the situation became serious. The University was forced to mortgage the Washington Square Building, and in 1877 it had to suspend session. The history of New York University centers from some centennial centers, and it owes it to Henry Mitchel MacCraken. He entered as Vice-Chancellor in 1885, with a keen sense for the University and saw clearly that in order to maintain true develop- ment, three things must be done. 1. A new site for the college, where dormitories could be built. 2. Reorganization of school where semi-propriety could be brought under university control. 3. Raising of endowment to send college on. He also went ahead with the movement of the acquiring of University Heights, the present home of the college. This was begun in 1890. At first he contemplated five or six acres on uptown section. In July, 1891, after becoming Chancellor, he secured option on Mali Estate, East 179th Street. Numerous citizens began to contribute, and by May, 1892, two hundred thousand dollars had been promised by citizens of New York. Ohio Society of New York City appointed a committee to help the Chancellor for securing funds for an athletic field. The efforts brought about the establishment of Ohio Field. Work was begun in 1893, and Founders Day was celebrated in the fall of 1894, contrary to expectations of many. The Elective system was adopted after the freshman year. In May, 1895, came the gift of the Memorial Library trust, a known library at University Heights. The ofiicial occurring of University Heights occurred on October 10, 1896. Gould Hall was presented in 1896. In March, 1900, the University received the gift of establishing the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. Kennedy Bequess, in 1910 made possible the establishment of extinguishment of mortgage. The College moved to University Heights. In 1894, Washington Square was torn down and the first eight fioors were rented to a publishing Company. The ninth, tenth and eleventh floors were occupied by the Law School, and the tenth floor was also occupied by the School of Pedagogy. The problem of reorganization came about and the basis for the question of a new site. First to be organized was the college. The Graduate School was opened at Washington Square. In 1866 a statute forbidding bestowal of degrees of M.A., M.S., Ph.D., Sc.D., except upon examination courses, given by the Professors of the University. There was no endowment for this work. Classes were small, thus giving Professors time for degrees. In 1889, the Law School was taken from the University Council, and Dean Austin Abbott was appointed, and in 1891 under his great leadership the school became of high standard. In 1895 it merged an evening division enrollment of the school. In the first year, five hundred and twenty-seven students were in the three-year evening course, The day division was a two-year course. School of Pedagogy was opened in 1870, and many students wanted to enter, and were allowed to attend as auditors or non-matriculators, but were not given credit. 13