Columbia University Opens
Columbia University, originally founded as King's College, opened its doors on July 17, 1754, in New York City amidst a backdrop of religious and political controversy. Funded through public lotteries by the New York colonial legislature, the institution faced challenges, particularly from dissenting Protestants who were concerned about the Anglican influence among its trustees. Prominent figures like William Livingston advocated for a nonsectarian college to ensure diverse representation and reduce sectarian tensions within the colony. The college's charter aimed to unify various factions, resulting in an institution that was notably nonsectarian compared to its contemporaries. Although officially established with its charter in October 1754, the college had already begun operations earlier that year. During the American Revolution, Columbia temporarily closed due to British occupation, but it reopened in 1784 with a new charter and the name Columbia College, which eliminated previous religious restrictions. Over time, Columbia evolved into a university, officially adopting that status in 1896, reflecting significant growth and expansion, including the establishment of various professional schools.
Columbia University Opens
Columbia University Opens
King's College, later known as Columbia University, opened on July 17, 1754, in New York City after several years of controversy. The New York colonial legislature in 1746 made provisions to raise money for the school through public lotteries. The colony amassed 17,000 British pounds within five years and gave it to the trustees, but disagreements threatened the future of the project. Dissenting Protestants felt uneasy about the role of the Church of England in the administration of the institution: two -thirds of the trustees were Anglicans and some were even vestrymen of Trinity Church. William Livingston, a lawyer, Presbyterian, and member of the leading family in the colony, argued for a liberal nonsectarian college in a series of articles in the newspaper known as the Independent Reflector. In reality, Livingston merely wanted to prevent the establishment of an Anglican college, but he argued in libertarian terms. He stated that a sectarian institution would intensify animosities in the religiously heterogeneous province and perhaps enable the faction that controlled higher education to dominate the colony. Livingston envisioned a college established by the colonial assembly as the most desirable solution since it would make it possible for all factions to have a voice in educational matters.
The charter of King's College was a conciliatory document designed to resolve the dispute and unify all factions in the support of the school. The result was to make the college almost nonsectarian. Indeed, of all the institutions of higher learning established in the colonies prior to the American Revolution, only King's College never had a theology faculty associated with it.
Although the college officially dates its existence from October 31, 1754, namely the day on which its charter from King George II was granted, by that time it had already been in operation for a few months. The Reverend Samuel Johnson of Stratford, Connecticut, assumed the office of president on July 17, 1754, and greeted the first class of eight students.
The capture of New York City by the British in 1776 closed the college for the duration of the American Revolution and its buildings served as a military hospital. The institution reopened after the New York state legislature granted it another charter and a new name, namely Columbia College, on May 1, 1784. This revised document ended the former requirement that the institution's president be an Episcopalian and that selections from the liturgy of the Church of England be used at the school's religious services. In 1787 title to Columbia was transferred from the state to the trustees.
Columbia officially became a university in 1896, the change in terminology reflecting almost a century and a half of growth. The law school opened in 1858, a school of engineering in 1864, and a school of architecture in 1896.