Hunter College
Milestones in Hunter College's History
Outline of Historical Milestones

Compiled: October 5, 1992 

DATES
EVENTS
November 17, 1869
 

February 14, 1870
 
 

April 26, 1870
 
 

July 26, 1870
 

September 1870
 

June 1872 
 
 

September 1873
 
 

September 1874
 

1887
 

June 1888
 
 

June 1888
 

1894

1896

1897
 

1902
 
 

1903
 
 
 
 
 

1906
 

1908
 

October 8, 1913
 

1913
 
 

April 4, 1914
 

 

New York City's Board of Education passed a resolution establishing the Female Normal  High School.

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.

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.

The first graduating class exercises were held in the Academy of Music on 14th street.

A Model Primary School l was opened at No. 17 Mark's  Place. Kindergarten methods were first introduced in this school.

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.

Faculty and students moved into a new permanent site at Park Avenue, between 68th & 69th streets. This facility was dedicated on October 28, 1873 . 

The Model Primary School was moved to the Lexington venue side of the school.

The first tuition-free public kindergarten in the U.S., instituted by President Hunter, was established at the Normal College.

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.

The Alpha Beta Gamma and Philomathean chapters of the Normal College jointly produced the first undergraduate publication titled the Echo.

The Alumnae Settlement, the Lenox Hill House was established on East 72nd street.

The Alumnae News made its first appearance,

The Bachelor of Arts degree of the Normal College obtained recognition from the Regents of the University of the State of New York.

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.

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.

Thomas Hunter retired as President of the Normal College, and Joseph A. Gillett became the Acting President from 1906-1908. 

George Samler Davis became the second President of the Normal College and served from 1908 to 1929.

The Normal College Bulletin made its first appearance. This publication was later absorbed by the Arrow and subsequently absorbed by the Envoy.

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.

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
 

February 1 - May 31, 1917
 

1920
 
 

Sept. 1921
 

Feb. 1925
 

February 1926

February 1927 
 

1929
 
 
 

1933
 
 

February 14, 1936
 

1938
 

Dec. 6, 1939

1940
 

October 8, 1940
 

October 8, 1940
 
 

1942
 
 

1943
 

February - December 1943

Feb. 12, 1945
 

March - August 1946
 

September 1946
 
 

1951

1953
 

1955
 
 

1955
 
 

1956

September 1960
 

1961
 
 
 
 
 

April 1961
 
 

1962
 

February 1967
 

October 1967
 

June 1967
 

July 1968
 

Spring 1969
 

July 1969
 
 

January 1970
 
 

September 1980
 

September 1988

Hunter College offered its first Summer Session.
 

Hunter College offered its first Evening and Extension Sessions.
 

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.

Courses leading to the degrees of A.M.  and Bachelor of Science were first offered.

The Brooklyn branch was established. This branch eventually became the nucleus for the creation of Brooklyn College.

The Queens branch was established.

Hunter College offered courses leading  to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education.

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.

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.

The old Gothic structure on Park Avenue caught fire and burned to the ground.

President Colligan introduced the present democratic organization of the faculty and of all departments.

The new building on Park Avenue was completed. 

George N. Shuster became the fifth President of Hunter College and served from 1940 to 1960.

President Shuster presided over the dedication ceremonies of the new building on Park Avenue

President Franklin D. Roosevelt paid Hunter College a visit and spoke informally to a general assembly.

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.

Hunter College established a program, of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education.

During World War II, Hunter's Bronx Campus was turned over to the NAVY as a training center for 80,000 WAVES

Hunter College celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary.
 

The United Nations set up its first temporary headquarters in the United States at the Bronx Campus of Hunter College.

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.

The Bronx Campus became a four-year division for both men and women.

The general nursing program, leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education (Nursing) became effective.

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).

The Bronx Campus became coeducational and graduates its first class. The veteran's college newspaper merges with the Bulletin to become the Arrow.

The Hunter College School of Social Work was established.

John Meng became the sixth President of Hunter College and served from 1960 to 1967.

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)

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. 

The first degree of Master of Fine Arts was awarded by Hunter College.
1964 Hunter College became coeducational in all sessions.

Mary Latimer Gambrell became the seventh President of Hunter College and served from February through July 1967.

Robert D. Gross became the eight President of Hunter College and served from October 1967 to 1969.

The Bellevue-Mills School of Nursing was  transferred to Hunter College to expand the baccalaureate nursing program.

The Bronx Campus separated from Hunter College to become Lehman College.

The Hunter College School of Social Work moved to its permanent site on 79th and Lexington Avenue.

The Department of Nursing Education was designated as the Hunter College-Bellevue School of Nursing.

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.

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.

Paul LeClerc became the eleventh President of Hunter College.