HAMILTON COLLEGE, an institution located at Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y.; founded by Samuel Kirkland, a Congregational missionary in 1793, as an academy for both white and Indian children. The school was not opened until 1798, although Gen. Frederick William von Steuben laid the cornerstone in 1794. Lack of funds prevented the completion sooner, and to the untiring efforts of its founder was due, in a great measure, the success of the undertaking. It was first called Hamilton Oneida Academy, so named in honor of Alex ander Hamilton, one of its original trustees, who was also a benefactor. In 1812 it was chartered by the board of regents of the Uni versity of the State of New York as Hamilton College. The school has grown steadily in facilities, keeping well abreast of the times. Two courses are offered: the Latin-Scientific and the Classical. It has fine scientific collec tions, the Litchfield astronomical observatory and well-equipped laboratories, but has never attempted to give any highly specialized instruc tion. However, it is one of the most repre sentative of the smaller colleges in the United States and counts many prominent men amongst its alumni. The college has at its disposal 2 fellowships, 90 scholarships, 4 prize scholar ships and a number of valuable prizes. The campus, nearly 100 acres, has many notable improvements, gifts from graduates. In 1917 18 there were connected with the school 20 professors and instructors, and 220 students. The library contained over 70,000 volumes. Its
productive funds amounted to $1,200,000 and its total income was $86,625. Its presidents include Azel Backus 1812-16; Henry Davis 1817-33; S. E. Dwight 1833-35; Joseph Penney 1835-39; Simeon North 1839-57; S. W. Fisher 1858-66; S. G. Brown Henry Darling 1881-91; M. W. Stryker 1892-1917; F. C. Ferry 1918- .
A history of Hamilton College is given in the consecutive biographies of its presidents in 'National Cyclopmdia of American Biography' (Vol. VII, p. New York 1897). Consult Allison, C. E., 'A Historical Sketch of Hamil ton College' (Yonkers 1889) ; Davis, H., 'A Narrative of the Embarrassments and Decline of Hamilton College' (Clinton 1833); Hamilton College, 'A Memorial of the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Founding of Hamilton Col lege) (Utica 1862) ; id., Catalogue) (Clinton); Powell, E. P., 'New England's First College out of New England' (in New England Magazine, N. S. Vol. XX, p. 449, Bos ton 1899) • Root, W., 'Hamilton Oneida Acad emy in 1794' (in Magazine of American His tory, Vol. XVIII, p. 396, New York 1887) ; Schuyler, M., 'Architecture of American Col leges' (in Architectural Record, Vol. XXX, p. 554, New York 1911) • Scollard, C., 'Rose of an Hundred Years; Hamilton College 1812 1912' (Clinton 1912) ; Sherwood, S., 'The Uni versity of the State of New York' (in the United States Education Bureau, Circular of Information, No. 3, Washington 1900).