Today in History: Presidential Inaugurations at Teachers College, 1887-2018
Presidential inaugurations at Teachers College, Columbia University occur on the average every 11 years, from the appointment of Nicholas Murray Butler, 10th President of Columbia University and first President of Teachers College (formerly known as New York College for the Training of Teachers) in 1887, through to the investiture of Thomas Bailey, our eleventh president, on December 7th, 2018. The longest tenure was held for 28 years by James Earl Russell, while the shortest, for just 4 years by Nicholas Murray Butler.
While a couple of presidents kept meticulous documentation of their inaugurations, the majority did not. There are extensive inauguration resources within the John Fischer collection — everything from plans of the nave in Riverside Church, complete with instructions to marshals, to roughly 100 certificates of congratulations from universities — some as far away as Nigeria. The Hollis Caswell inaugural materials include meeting notes, budget, correspondence, reports, publicity, and more. In exploring the Office of the President collections you’ll find assorted inauguration program booklets, images, news releases, and other miscellaneous documentation that reflect the planning and delivery of some of the most ceremonious days in the history of Teachers College — days that also represent milestones in the history of higher education philosophy and leadership.
The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning:
- Columbia University Will Install Her Tenth President This Week With Due Ceremony. (1902, Apr 13). New – York Tribune (1900-1910)
- A Big Day for Columbia. (1902, Apr 19). New – York Tribune (1900-1910)
- Installation of Dr. Butler. (1902, Apr 20). New – York Tribune (1900-1910)
- Adams, M. (1926, Dec 19). A Teacher of Teachers Pauses: Dean Russell Lightens His Burden But He Is Not Lost to Education. New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Avirett, W. G. (1944, Nov 12). Teachers College to Celebrate Its 50th Birthday Wednesday. New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962)
- Dean W. F. Russell Chosen President: Columbia Teachers College to Enter New Relationship with University. (1949, Mar 17). New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Teachers College to Install Caswell as President Today. (1955, Nov 22). New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962)
- Democracy Seen as Moral System. (1955, Nov 22). New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Columbia School to Install Head: Fischer Inaugural Tuesday at Teachers College. (1962, Nov 11). New York Times (1923-Current File)
- New Leadership at T.C. (1962, Nov 13). New York Times (1923-Current File)
- A Teacher of Teachers Insists On a Real World. (1974, Jun 23). New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Greer, W.R. (1984, Mar 12). Dean Named Head of Teachers College in Shift at Columbia. New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Brozan, N. (1994, Nov 16). Chronicle: New President at Teachers College Gets Vivid Inspiration. New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Fuhrman, Authority on School Reform to Be Next President of Teachers College, Columbia University. (2006, May 09). US Fed News Service, Including US State News
- Saulny, S. (2006, May 10). Educator from Penn Will Lead Columbia ‘s Teachers College. New York Times (1923-Current File)
- Thomas Bailey Named 11th President of Teachers College, Columbia University. (2018, Mar 21). PR Newswire
Tips: 
Cremin, Lawrence, David A. Shannon and Mary Evelyn Townsend. A History of Teachers College, Columbia University. New York: Columbia University Press, 1954. e-book
Past Presidents of Teachers College, Teachers College, Columbia University
Pocketknowledge Collections:
- Nicholas Murray Butler, 1887-1891
- Walter Hervey, 1893-1897
- James Earl Russell, 1898-1926
- William Fletcher Russell, 1927-1954
- Hollis L. Caswell, 1954-1962
- John H. Fischer, 1962-1974
- Lawrence Arthur Cremin, 1974-1984
- Philip Michael Timpane, 1984-1994
- Arthur E. Levine, 1994-2006
- Susan H. Fuhrman, 2006-2018
- Thomas Bailey, 2018-
Images:
- Dinner In Honor Of James Earl Russell On His 25th Anniversary As Dean Of Teachers College, Given By The Alumni Association At The Hotel Commodore, New York. (February 22, 1923). Courtesy of Teachers College, Columbia University.
- Special Slides Courtesy of Edlab Studios
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