University Documents
King's College, July 17, 1754.
This selection of websites and documents are available online to help you learn about the history of the University.
Original paper copies and additional resources can be found in CLIO, the Library's online catalog.
- The matricula or Register of admissions & graduations, & of officers employed in King's College at New-York (1754-1777)
- Book of misdemeanours in King's College (a.ka. The Black Book), 1771-[1775]
- Charters, acts and official documents together with the lease and re-lease by Trinity church of a portion of the King's farm, 1895. Compiled by John B. Pine, Clerk of the Trustees. New York: Printed for the College, June 1895.
- Charters, acts of the legislature, official documents and records. Compiled by John B. Pine, Clerk of the Trustrees, Attorney for the University. New York: Printed for the University, 1920.
- Volume 1(1920): Available online
- Volume 2 (1933) and Volume 3 (1952): Viewable by appointment in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
- Original charter of Columbia College, in the city of New-York, October 31st, 1754; with the acts of the Legislature, altering and amending the same.
- Columbia University in the City of New York Charters and statutes:
- With amendments to June 5, 1911. New York: Printed for the University, 1911.
- With amendments to April 3, 1916. New York: Printed for the University, 1916.
- Columbia University in the City of New York Charters and statutes: with amendments to December 5, 1921. New York: Printed for the University, 1922.
- Minutes of the Governors of the College of the Province of New York in the City of New York in America 1755-1768 and of the Corporation of King’s College in the City of New York 1768-1770. New York, 1932.
- Minutes of the Board of Trustees, 1755 to the present
The University Archives maintains copies of all of the Minutes of the Board of Trustees from 1755 onward. These are a particularly useful tool for tracing the history of a department, a specific school's development, or university governance. The Minutes provide official information about numerous topics in the history of Columbia including university governance (e.g., changes to the University statutes), teaching appointments, awards of honorary degrees and certain prizes, endowments, donations of money and materials, real estate purchases, appointments to the Board of Trustees and its various committees, and construction projects. The minutes also often comment (both directly and indirectly) on major national events (e.g. Abraham Lincoln's assassination) and include resolutions of appreciation for significant individuals, usually associated with the Board. Minutes created since 2005-2006 are in electronic format only. Due to the nature of these records, Trustee Minutes are closed for 50 years after their creation.
- Gifts and bequests: land, buildings and equipment, 1754-1928 (1929). Compiled in the office of the Treasurer.
The Annual Reports of the President to the Trustees offer a yearly "state of the University" from 1865 to 1948. The tradition of a printed "Annual report of the President of Columbia College made to the Board of Trustees" started with University President Frederick A.P. Barnard. The reports include current events, facts and figures of students enrolled and degrees conferred, and as well as trends in each school. In addition to the President's remarks, the later reports include the Treasurer's financial reports and also each Dean reports to the President on the previous academic year at their school or division (Columbia College, Law, Business, Journalism, Barnard, Teachers College, etc.) as well as reports from the Librarian, the Registrar, the Secretary and other senior administrators.
CLIO record - Access online reports, 1891-1946
Finding Aid - Access online reports and request access to print copies, 1801-2007
The Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Columbia College, also known as the Handbook of Information and sometimes, the Catalogue and General Announcement, is essentially a "snapshot" of the University in a given year.
These publications usually include the list of trustees, officers of instruction, and administrators. They also contain information about the curriculum in the various programs, detail admission policies and requirements, explain degree and certificate programs, note tuition fees, list prizes and scholarships, provide a copy of the academic calendar, and describe general regulations of the university.
Handbooks from the 19th century often list students and sometimes alumni. From 1893-94 to 1918-19 regularized registers of students are listed for each school. In addition to the register of students, the Catalogue also includes a list of the degrees conferred at the last commencement. For each year starting in 1893-94, the staff and student directories can found at the back of each volume. Full names of students appear beginning in the 1919-20 volume. Between 1893-94 and 1918-19 the student directories only list the first initial and the full last name since full name information is found in the school specific student registers.
Online Access
- 1848
- 1849
- 1850
- 1851
- 1852-1853
- 1853-1854
- 1854-1855
- 1855-1856
- 1856-1857
- 1857-1858
- 1858-1859
- 1859-1860
- 1860-1861
- 1861-1862
- 1862-1863
- 1863-1864
- 1864-1865
- 1865-1866
- 1866-1867
- 1867-1868
- 1868-1869
- 1869-1870
- 1870-1871
- 1871-1872
- 1872-1873
- 1873-1874
- 1874-1875
- 1875-1876
- 1876-1877
- 1877-1878
- 1878 Handbook
- 1878-1879 Register
- 1879 Handbook
- 1879-1880 Register
- 1880 Handbook
- 1880-1881 Register
- 1881 Handbook
- 1881-1882 Register
- 1882 Handbook
- 1882-1883 Register
- 1883 Handbook
- 1883-1884 Register
- 1884 Handbook
- 1884-1885 Register
- 1885 Handbook
- 1885-1886 Register
- 1886-1887 Handbook
- 1886-1887 Register
- 1887-1888 Handbook
- 1887-1888 Register
- 1888-1889 Handbook
- 1888-1889 Register
- 1889-1890 Handbook
- 1889-1890 Register
- 1890-1891 Handbook
- 1891-1892
- 1892-1893
- 1893-1894
- 1894-1895
- 1895-1896
- 1896-1897
- 1897-1898
- 1898-1899
- 1899-1900
- 1900-1901
- 1901-1902
- 1902-1903
- 1903-1904
- 1904-1905
- 1905-1906
- 1906-1907
- 1907-1908
- 1908-1909
- 1909-1910
- 1910-1911
- 1911-1912
- 1912-1913
- 1913-1914
- 1914-1915
- 1915-1916
- 1916-1917
- 1917-1918
- 1918-1919
- 1919-1920
- 1920-1921
- 1921-1922
- 1922-1923
- 1923-1924
- 1924-1925
- 1925-1926
- 1926-1927
- 1927-1928
- 1928-1929
- 1929-1930
- 1930-1931
- 1931-1932
- 1932-1933
- 1933-1934
- 1934-1935
- 1935-1936
- 1936-1937
- 1937-1938
- 1938-1939
- 1939-1940
- 1940-1941
- 1941-1942 and 1942-1943
- 1943-1944 and 1944-1945
* Between 1878 and 1890, Columbia published two separate volumes: one was a Handbook of Information as to the Course of Instruction (course catalogue) and the other was an Annual Register (trustee, faculty and student directory). The volumes were merged again for 1891-1892 Handbook of Information, which included the Register of Students for 1890-1891.
King's College building with some notes on its later tenants
By Milton Halsey Thomas. New York 1955.
A history of the first building for the College of the Province of New-York or King's College, which was in use from 1759 to 1857. The booklet also includes drawings, diagrams, area maps and a photograph of the site after demolition had commenced in 1857.
Views of Columbia College: Madison and Park Avenues, 49th and 50th Streets
New York: Library Bureau, 1886
This booklet contains photographs of the Columbia College buildings on Madison and Park Avenues between 49th and 50th Street. This was Columbia's second of its three homes. The photos include the exteriors of the buildings (Hamilton Hall, School of Mines) and some of the interiors (Library, Collections Building).
An official guide to Columbia University
New York: Columbia University Press, Lemcke and Buechner, Agents, 1912.
Prepared as a guide to visitors, this booklet includes a history of the University, facts and figures, and a walking tour guide to the campus on Morningside Heights. It includes photographs of the buildings on campus and information about the curriculum and student organizations. It also includes information on Barnard College, Teachers College, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, College of Pharmacy and Camp Columbia.
Columbia University: Kings College founded in the province of New York by royal charter in the reign of George II perpetuated as Columbia College, 1901
This brochure is mostly comprised of photographs of the buildings on the Morningside Heights campus, but also includes some artistic renderings of buildings not yet built and a floor plan of one level of Low Memorial Library. It includes some brief information on degrees offered and the various schools for prospective students.
Columbia University 1897
A detailed guide to the buildings on the new Morningside Heights campus. This brochure includes drawings of the new buildings, floor plans and directories for each of the floors.
Dedication of the New Site. Morningside Heights
Columbia University. Saturday, the second of May, 1896.
A commemorative program for the dedication of the new campus on Morningside Heights. It includes the morning and afternoon exercise programs as well as a history of the two previous University sites and information about the new site in Morningside Heights.
Columbia University photo-gravures
Columbia University Press Book Store. Brooklyn: The Albertype Co., 1920.
A collection of photographs of the buildings and features of the Morningside Heights campus ca. 1920. The booklet also includes views of Broadway, Barnard College and Teachers College.
Columbia University in the City of New York: Photographic Studies
Columbia University, 1920.
A collection of photographic views of the campus taken at different times of the day, capturing different moods and perspectives by a number of photographers.
South Hall, Columbia University, New York
Columbia University, 1935.
Prepared after the dedication of South Hall (now known as Butler Library), this booklet details the features and equipment of the new Library, including information on the artificial illumination, ventilation/heating and the stacks. It also details the moving process from Low Library. Contains images of the Library's exterior and interior spaces as well as detailed floor plans.
Columbia's War Work
Alumni Federation of Columbia University of New York. New York, Sherwood Printing Co., 1918.
This booklet documents Columbia's contribution to the WWI efforts: from faculty participation to the Students' Army Training Corps (SATC). It includes photographs of the student training on campus.
Columbia University. School of Architecture
Columbia University Press, 1954.
A brochure for prospective architecture students. This booklet includes photographs of the classroom and work spaces as well as samples of student work.
Columbia University in Pictures
Edited by Fon W. Boardman. Columbia University Press, 1954.
A collection of photographs of Columbia "as it is today" in 1953.