Milestones in Hunter College's History
 

Compiled: October 5, 1992 
DATES
EVENTS
November 17, 1869 New York City's Board of Education passed a resolution establishing the Female Normal  High School.
February 14, 1870 The Female & Normal High School initially opened its doors to students at 694 Broadway between Broadway and Fourth Street.  Thomas Hunter became the first President of the school and served from 1870 to 1906.
April 26, 1870 The name of the institution was changed from  the Female & Normal High School to the Normal College of the City of New York by the State legislature of New York.
July 26, 1870 The first graduating class exercises were held in the Academy of Music on 14th Street.
September 1870 A Model Primary School l was opened at No. 17 Mark's  Place. Kindergarten methods were first introduced in this school.
June 1872  The Associate  Alumnae was founded and held its first meeting June 29, 1872. Through creative fund raising, the Associate Alumnae was instrumental in founding he college library in 1873.
September 1873 Faculty and students moved into a new permanent site at Park Avenue, between 68th & 69th streets. This facility was dedicated on October 28, 1873. 
September 1874 The Model Primary School was moved to the Lexington venue side of the school.
1887 The first tuition-free public kindergarten in the U.S., instituted by President Hunter, was established at the Normal College.
June 1888 The Normal College of the City of New York was incorporated under the statutes of New York and was authorized to grant the usual degrees and diplomas in the arts.
April 1889 The Alpha Beta Gamma and Philomathean chapters of the Normal College jointly produced the first undergraduate publication titled the Echo.
1894 The Alumnae Settlement, the Lenox Hill House was established on East 72nd street.
1896 The Alumnae News made its first appearance.
1897 The Bachelor of Arts degree of the Normal College obtained recognition from the Regents of the University of the State of New York.
1902 Degrees offered by the Normal College and City College were registered by the State Board of Regents. Normal College graduates were the first to be clad in academic caps and gowns.
1903 A separate four-year high school, now named The Normal College High School was accredited by the State Board of Regents, together with a separate and additional three-year college course for teacher candidates. Qualified graduates of high school were shortly offered a four-year academic course in the college with a fully accredited degree of Bachelor of Arts.
1906 Thomas Hunter retired as President of the Normal College, and Joseph A. Gillett became the Acting President form 1906-1908.
1908 George Samler Davis became the second President of the Normal College and served from 1908 to 1929.
October 8, 1913 The Normal College Bulletin made its first appearance. This publication was later absorbed by the Arrow and subsequently absorbed by the Envoy.
1913 Increasing numbers of undergraduates spurred the construction of annexes in various parts of the city. A new six-story structure was built on Lexington Avenue.
April 4, 1914 The Normal College of the City of New York changed its name to Hunter College of the City of New York.
July 6 - August 23, 1916 Hunter College offered its first Summer Session.
February 1 - May 31, 1917 Hunter College offered its first Evening and Extension Sessions.
1920 Hunter College celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The Nu chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established at the college. The Master of Science was granted for the first time in the field of Education.  The Bronx and State Island centers were established.
Sept. 1921 Courses leading to the degrees of A.M.  and Bachelor of Science were first offered.
Feb. 1925 The Brooklyn branch was established. This branch eventually became the nucleus for the creation of Brooklyn College.
February 1926 The Queens branch was established.
February 1927 Hunter College offered courses leading  to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education.
 1929 James Michael Kieran became the third President of Hunter College and served  from 1929 to 1933. During Dr. Kieran's  tenure, the Bronx Campus buildings were  constructed, where freshman and sophomore courses were offered.
1933 Eugene A. Colligan became the fourth President of Hunter College and served from 1933 to 1940. Dr. Colligan extensive  revised the college curriculum and the administrative structure of the school.
February 14, 1936 The old Gothic structure on Park Avenue caught fire and burned to the ground.
1938 President Colligan introduced the present democratic organization of the faculty and of all departments.
Dec. 6, 1939 The new building on Park Avenue was completed. 
1940 George N. Shuster became the fifth President of Hunter College and served from 1940 to 1960.
October 8, 1940 President Shuster presided over the dedication ceremonies of the new building on Park Avenue.
October 28, 1940 President Franklin D. Roosevelt paid Hunter College a visit and spoke informally to a general assembly.
1942 The Roosevelt House was purchased from the estate of Mrs. Sarah Delano Roosevelt. This housed served as a social and religious center to foster world friendship and understanding.
1943 Hunter College established a program, of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education.
February - December 1943 During World War II, Hunter's Bronx Campus was turned over to the NAVY as a training center for 80,000 WAVES
February 12, 1945 Hunter College celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary.
March - August 1946 The United Nations set up its first temporary headquarters in the United States at the Bronx Campus of Hunter College.
September  A special two-year course was offered in the  Bronx Campus to returning World War II veterans Hunter College establishes the fifth year program of graduate studies for a Master of Arts in Education.
1948 Hunter College establishes the fifth year program of graduate studies for a Master of Arts in Education.
1951 The Bronx Campus became a four-year division for both men and women.
1953 The general nursing program, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education (Nursing) became effective.
1955 The first class was admitted to the Basic Collegiate Nursing Program, a four-year integrated program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science (Nursing).
1955 The Bronx Campus became coeducational and graduates its first class. The veteran's college newspaper merges with the Bulletin to become the Arrow.
1956 The Hunter College School of Social Work was established.
September 1960 John Meng became the sixth President of Hunter College and served from 1960 to 1967.
1961 The Department of Nursing Education was established at Hunter College offering:
             Bachelor of Science (Nursing) 
             Bachelor of Science in Education (Nursing)
             Master of Science (Nursing)
April 1961 Hunter College of the City of New York, together with City College, Brooklyn College, Queens College, along with the community colleges of the City, merged to become the City University of New York. 
1962 The first degree of Master of Fine Arts was awarded by Hunter College.
1964 Hunter College became coeducational in all sessions.
1964 Hunter College became coeducaional in all sessions.
February 1967 Mary Latimer Gambrell became the seventh President of Hunter College and served from February through July 1967.
October 1967 Robert D. Gross became the eight President of Hunter College and served from October 1967 to 1969.
June 1967 The Bellevue-Mills School of Nursing was  transferred to Hunter College to expand the baccalaureate nursing program.
July 1968 The Bronx Campus separated from Hunter College to become Lehman College.
Spring 1969 The Hunter College School of Social Work moved to its permanent site on 79th and Lexington Avenue.
July 1969 The Department of Nursing Education was designated as the Hunter College-Bellevue School of Nursing.
January 1970 Jacqueline Grennan Wexler became the ninth President of Hunter College and served from 1970 to 1979. During Dr. Wexler's tenure, Hunter College celebrated its 100th  anniversary as an educational institution.
September 1980 Donna E. Shalala became the tenth President  of Hunter College and served from 1980 to  1988. During Dr. Shalala's tenure, Hunter College celebrated the construction of the East and West Buildings.
September 1988 Paul LeClerc became the eleventh President of Hunter College.