American history is complex, and the ways we interpret it continue to evolve. As part of our yearlong celebration of America’s 250th birthday, we will be sharing local histories written by community members. While these materials reflect the times in which they were written, they remind us that how history told is also part of history.
Sarah Bradford (1818-1913) lived in Geneva during the mid-19th century. After her husband’s death she ran a girls’ school out her home and wrote several books. Today her best-known work is the autobiography of Harriet Tubman, who dictated the story of her life to Bradford in 1869.
Bradford was the first to write a history of the City of Geneva from its days as a Seneca village to “modern” times. Her history was published in the 1862 Geneva Directory. While not comprehensive, Bradford’s history is one of the earliest accounts of the founding of Geneva. The excerpt includes the early history of Hobart College.
On the 29th of March, 1813, an act of incorporation was obtained from the Regents of the University for Geneva Academy, for which was subscribed a sum of $1,600…
The Geneva Academy progressed favorably until the year 1817 when in consequence of some differences of feeling, it was at a meeting on the 8th of December, 1817,
Resolved, That the Academy operations be suspended; but to obviate any public disadvantage, a committee was appointed to take charge of the School House and to give the use of it to any respectable teacher till the Trustees should resume their duties again.
On the 6th of March, 1821, a meeting was called by James Rees, Secretary Trustee, being the first since the 8th of December and at this meeting was submitted the following:
Whereas, Trinity Church of NY in consequence of an application from the Trustees of Trinity Church, Geneva, have transferred to Geneva Academy, an endowment of $750 per annum, granted by them for the support of the Academy at Fairfield, NY. Therefore,
Resolved, That the endowment thus transferred with the conditions stipulated, be and they are hereby accepted, and that we will take immediate measures for raising the necessary funds for carrying the endowment into effect.
At this meeting, in order that the site for the Geneva Academy might be located without regard to individual or section interest, it was also
Resolved, That the location be made by the Rt Rev Bishop Hobart, and that his selection be accepted as the site on which to erect the necessary buildings. In consequence of this last Resolution, Bishop Hobart viewed the several sites around the village of Geneva, and on the 17th of March 1821, he communicated to the Trustees his selection of the site now occupied by the College, as having the advantage of being conspicuous and of a commanding prospect, whilst it is more easy of access, nearer to the centre of the village and yet in some degree retired.
It was also resolved that Rev. Daniel M’Donald, Principal of the Fairfield Academy, be appointed principal Professor of the Geneva Academy. In consequence of these arrangements, a very liberal subscription was obtained in this village, without sectarian distinction, to erect a suitable stone edifice on the ground thus selected and accordingly the north building of the present College buildings was erected and in the meantime a frame school house, erected in 1817, in the rear of the Episcopal Church, was occupied by the Rev Dr. M’Donald, as the Academy. The old Academy building in the square was assigned as donation for a district school on condition that it be removed, and as the ground on which it had been conveyed by the Pulteney Estate to the Trustees, they ordered it to be sold, and the proceeds to be expended on the new building. The Academy, under the direction of Dr. M’Donald, was exceedingly prosperous. The high standing of this Academy gave the hope that a propitious time had arrived, in which to claim the benefit of the privilege granted by law, to elevate Academies to the station of Colleges, and therefore the Board of Trustees resolved, on the 21st of Jan. 1822, that an application be forthwith made to the Regents of the University of the State of New York, to grant to the Academy the powers and privileges of a College, and measures were accordingly taken and on the 8th day of February 1825, a College charter was granted, giving all the powers and privileges of any College in Europe, and constituting the following persons the first Trustees:
James Reese, Samuel Colt, R. Orrin Clark, Rev. David M’Donald, Abraham Dox, Wm. S. DeZeng, Nathan Noble, Robert L. Rose, Walter Grieve, David Cook, Dr. James Carter, Rev Henry Axtell, H.H. Bogert, John C. Spencer, Philip Church, Bowen Whiting, David Hudson, Thomas D. Burrall, Henry Seymour, Elijah Miller, Rev. Francis H Cumming, Jesse Clark, Rev. Heny Anthon, and Rev. Lucius Smith.
And on the 24th day of May 1815, the Trustees were called and organized by electing James Reese, Chairman, Bowen Whiting, Secretary and Samuel Colt, Treasurer.
In 1822 the building known as Geneva Hall was finished and Trinity Hall was erected in 1837. In the year 1834, statutes were passed creating a medical department in the College and in 1836 the middle College building was erected for the use of the Medical faculty. But in 1851, the new Medical College on the west side of Main Street, having been erected, the middle College was appropriated to the use of the Literary Department. The State contributed $15,000 towards the new Medical College. In 1848, the small building which had been used for Lecture Rooms, was fitted for a Chapel, and in 1852 an organ was obtained for the Chapel and put up in its appropriate place.
The first President of Geneva College was the Rev Jasper Adams D.D., who came into office in 1826 and continued till 1828.
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 1
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 2
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 3
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 4
Sarah Bradford’s History of Geneva, Part 6
For more information about the history Hobart College, view the exhibit Hip Hobart: 200 Years of Hobart College, Part 1 and Part 2.
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