WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE, lo cated at Williamsburg, Va. It was chartered in 1693, thus being the second oldest college in the United States; but an attempt was made to found a college at Henrico in Virginia as early as 1619 when a grant of land for a 'seminary of learning' was made by the Virginia Com pany; a collegiate school was established at Charles City in 1621. but closed on account of Indian troubles in the next year. In 1633 Ben jamin Symes established a free school in Eliz abeth City County, the first in the 13 colo nies. In 1660 the Virginia assembly voted a grant of land for a college, but the disturbed condition of England at that time, and the dis orders within the colony, prevented any further progress toward establishing an institution of higher learning until in 1691. when Rev. James Blair was sent to England to obtain a charter from the Crown. In this he was successful, the charter being signed 8 Feb. 1693. Certain lands, a duty on the exports of tobacco, and other funds were appropriated to the use of the college. During the Revolutionary War the college lost a large part of its endowment, the buildings were occupied by the British and the American and French troops, and the institution was closed for a short time in 1781. After the Revolution, the college was reorganized and re ceived a grant of land from the Virginia legis lature; George Washington served as chan cellor from 1788-99. During the Civil War the college was closed, and about 90 per cent of its students enlisted in the Confederate serv ice. It was occupied by the Federal troops and most of its buildings and property destroyed. In 1869 the main building was restored, and the college again opened, but under serious embar rassment; so serious did the financial &ramifies become that its sessions were suspended in 1882, until 1888, when the State legislature appropri ated $10,000 a year. gradually increased to $50,000. In 1893 the college received $64.000 from Congress as indemnity for loss suffered during the Civil War.
The college has always given history and political science a recognized place in its curric ulum, and was the first American institution to establish chairs of law and history. Partially perhaps for this reason, its influence has always been felt in State and national history; it num bers among its graduates some of the leading men of the nation, including three presidents of the United States ( lefferson. Monroe and Ty
ler), also Chief Justice Marshall, Edmund Ran dolph and General Scott. The first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established at William and Mary 5 Dec 1776. The college was also the first to introduce the elective system which was done in part in 1779 under Jefferson's guidance. In 1819 Jefferson declared in a letter to Francis Eppes that at William and Mary the student could pursue the course of his choice. At this time there appear to have been two classes of students — 'regulars and irregulars.' The first class took a prescribed course for A.B., the lat ter followed their own inclinations, and attended the schools of their own selection. The college was also the first to try the honor system, and a remarkable degree of freedom was permitted the students in the lecture room and on exami nation. They were neither watched nor spied upon, and their word was taken as conclusive on any subject. There are now two courses of fered, the Collegiate and the Normal. The Col legiate course is entirely elective in accordance with the group system; three degrees are con ferred. A.M. (for graduate work), A.B. and B.S., according to the subjects elected. The Normal course is two years in length, to which is added one year's practice work in the Mat thew Whaley Model and Practice School. The most recent new feature at the college is the admission of women to all the classes. The campus consists of 42 acres upon which there are 13 buildings. In the centre is the main col lege structure. Though it has passed through three fires, the walls are the same as were orig inally put up in 1693. They are, therefore, the oldest college walls in the United States. The lawn in front of the college is covered with beautiful trees, and the buildings are furnished with electric lights, artesian well water, and new equipment. The college receives annually from the legislature $50,000. The students average 237, and the teaching force 22. Young women were admitted upon equal terms with young men for the first time in September 1918.