Edward Sanford Burgess | Hunter College Libraries

Edward Sanford Burgess, a noted botanist, came to the Normal College in 1895 as Head of the Department of Biological Sciences. Previously he had taught botany, Latin and other subjects at a number of schools on the east coast including Johns Hopkins University. He graduated from Fredonia State Normal School (1874), Hamilton College (1879), and received his Ph.D. from Columbia University (1899). Dr. Burroughs became Acting President upon the unexpected death of Dr. Gillet and served until Dr. Davis was installed as President on May 4, 1908. During his short tenure, he oversaw the approval of the resolution establishing the formal 60 credits “commonly known as the four years’ college course.”