UTGERS COLLEGE was founded

R by a royal charter of November

10th, 1766, granted by Gov. Franklin of New Jersey, and is thus the ninth of the colleges in this country in order of chronological establishment. "The original name, 'Queen's College,' was continued from the second more carefully drawn charter of 1770, under which the College went into operation at New Brunswick, N. J., and was borne by the institution until 1825, when the name was changed to Rutgers College, in consideration of the services of Colonel Henry Rutgers of the City of New York."

The struggle for existence during its earlier years was at times severe. During the American Revolution, New Brunswick was itself the scene of many military operations and the exercises of the College were greatly interfered with and at times suspended. "Good men were graduated in the earlier years, such as Jeremiah Smith, the great New Hampshire jurist, and Simeon De Witt, who, it is held, contributed in largest measure to establishing the very perfect system of land surveys of the United States."

In the year 1809 a fine site was acquired, and the trustees voted "that the outer walls of the College shall be of stone," and the building was erected which is now known on the college campus as "Queen's," and which is an excellent example of Colonial architecture.

The early presidents were clergymen : Hardenbergh, Linn, Condict and Livingston.

At the first general association, Philip Milledoler, D. D., LL.D., became president and served in that capacity from 1825 to the year 1840. Under him were graduated in the famous class of 1836, Joseph P. Bradley, late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; George W. Coakley, LL.D., Professor of Mathematics in the New York University; the late Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, United States Senator from New Jersey and Secretary of State under the late President Arthur; Willian A. Newell, Member of Congress and Governor of New Jersey, and later of

Washington Territory; and the Hon. Cortlandt Parker, one of the most eminent and successful lawyers in New Jersey.

The Hon. Abraham B. Hasbrouck continued as president from the year 1840 to the year 1850. The Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, who was the Whig candidate with Clay for the office of VicePresident of the United States, succeeded him, and continued as president until the year 1863, when the Rev. William H. Campbell, D. D., LL.D., was selected as president. He served from that time to the year 1882, when he resigned.

Austin Scott, Ph.D., LL.D.,
President of Rutgers College.

His administration was a most successful one. Several hundreds of thousands of dollars were added to the endowment fund of the institution; new professorships were established; the attendance of the students largely increased, and additional buildings for the use of the College erected. During his administration a scientific department was organized, and it became the State College of New Jersey, for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts. George H. Cook, the State Geologist of the State of New Jersey for twenty-five years, and vice-president of the College, was largely instrumental in bringing about this result.

Upon the resignation of Dr. Campbell,

Merrill E. Gates, D. D., LL. D., succeeded him, and was for a period of eight years engaged in promoting the interests and welfare of the College. Upon his resignation, in 1890, he assumed the presidency of Amherst College.

In February, 1891, the successful administration of President Austin Scott, Ph. D., LL.D., began

For a long time prior to the year 1876 it had been the universal desire of the alumni residing in New York and vicinity to form an association and to have an annual banquet, at which once a year

elected president; Hon. Garret D. W. Vroom, 62, of Trenton, N. J., vicepresident, and William H. Van Steenbergh, '77, of New York City, secretary and treasurer. Members of the executive committee: L. Laflin Kellogg, '70; Hon. Henry W. Bookstaver, '59; Charles A. Runk, '74; Frederick Deshler, '83, and John W. Searing, '74.

Two hundred of Rutgers' sons attended this meeting, and the enthusiasm was unbounded. The meetings of the asssociation have been held each year, and have been the means of drawing the alumn;

the sons of Rutgers might gather and hold a reunion. Accordingly, in the month of January in the year 1876, a banquet was held at Delmonico's in that city and was a pronounced success, a large number of alumni being present. Annual banquets were held thereafter, but it was not until February 13, 1892, when the alumni of New York and vicinity met for their annual reunion, that an alumni association was formed, the object being to "promote the welfare of the College and to cultivate social relations." At this meeting Hon. Cortlandt Parker, '36, of Newark, N. J., was

closer together and of bringing them in touch with the work of their alma mater. President Scott and various members of the faculty have always been in attendance and have responded to the postprandial toasts assigned to them. Music has been furnished by either the College Glee Club or an orchestra. The Alumni of Rutgers in the city of New York and vicinity, although not as numerous as those of some of the larger institutions, have always exhibited their loyalty to their alma mater, and have made Rutgers' name to be honored among the educational institutions of the land.