This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located on-site.
The Commencement Collection is composed of documents related to the graduation ceremonies held at Columbia University from its inception to the present day. The bulk of the records are programs from the ceremonies themselves. Other printed material such as flyers, tickets, press releases, newspaper clippings, and pamphlets are also held in this collection. There is a small amount of documents that are more general in nature. These include descriptions of proper academic dress, lists of valedictorians, speeches given at the ceremony, and information about the diplomas. This is an artificial collection created by the University Archives staff.
The collection is arranged in three series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located on-site.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the University Archivist/Curator of Manuscripts, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Commencement Collection; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Additions added annually.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
This collection was processed by the University Archives staff.
Finding aid written by Lea Osborne, January 2008.
2009-10-29 File created.
2010-04-06 xml instance created by Lea Osborne.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
The first Commencement of King's College, as Columbia University was originally called, was held on June 21, 1758, in St. George's Chapel on Beekman Street in lower Manhattan. Seven men were graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and four honorary degrees were conferred. According to an observation in the New York Mercury on June 26, 1758, in this first ceremony there was an address given on the "Advantages of a liberal Education" and a Mr. Treadwell demonstrated the "Revolution of the Earth round the Sun" using both astronomical observations and the Theory of Gravity. Apparently he was successful in defending his thesis.
These exercises were conducted almost entirely in Latin during the King's College period, and for yet another century classical orations formed a regular part of the program. These orations, usually in English, are now presented at the Columbia College Class Day.
The academic costumes worn during the ceremony can be traced back to medieval times, perhaps as early as the twelfth century. The hood and gown served a practical purpose for students working in unheated buildings. It appears that the King's College students were the first Americans to wear the costume while in residence.
During the pre-Revolutionary period, the Commencement procession passed through the city streets from the College building on Park Place to Trinity Church. When King's College became Columbia, in 1784, Commencement was held in various churches and halls throughout New York City. After the College moved to 49th Street and Madison Avenue in 1857, Commencement usually took place at the Academy of Music at Fourteenth Street and Irving Place. Since 1898 Commencement has been held on the Campus at Morningside, at first in the University gymnasium, and since 1926 outdoors on Low Plaza.
The eighteenth-century mace used in the ceremony also hearkens back to medieval times when the mace was used as a weapon. At that time it consisted of a stout club ending in a metal ball, usually spiked. The Columbia University mace was donated by Judge John Munro Woolsey, LL.B. '01, LL.D. '29. Historically, the mace was a symbol of authority displayed in British courts; Columbia's mace represents the authority vested in the University president to confer degrees on students and honorands and is carried in every commencement ceremony.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.
| Genre/Form |
|---|
| Academic costume |
| Name |
| Columbia University |
| Columbia University -- History |
| Subject |
| Academic decorations of honor |
This series contains files of information pertaining to commencement ceremonies of a particular year. Files can contain newspaper accounts of the events, programs, planning documents, tickets, invitations, and press releases. This series is updated annually.
Box 1 Folder 5
1758
Box 1 Folder 6
1773
Box 1 Folder 7
1774
Box 1 Folder 8
1786
Box 1 Folder 9
1788
Box 1 Folder 10
1791
Box 1 Folder 11
1792
Box 1 Folder 11A
Box 1 Folder 12
1795
Box 1 Folder 13
1789
Box 1 Folder 14
1790
Box 1 Folder 15
1807
Box 1 Folder 16
1810
Box 1 Folder 17
1813
Box 1 Folder 18
1815
Box 1 Folder 19
1817
Box 1 Folder 20
1818
Box 1 Folder 21
1819
Box 1 Folder 22
1821
Box 1 Folder 23
1823
Box 1 Folder 24
1824
Box 1 Folder 25
1825
Box 1 Folder 26
1826
Box 1 Folder 27
1827
Box 1 Folder 28
1828
Box 1 Folder 29
1830
Box 1 Folder 30
1831
Box 1 Folder 31
1832
Box 1 Folder 32
1834
Box 1 Folder 33
1837
Box 1 Folder 34
1838
Box 1 Folder 35
1839
Box 1 Folder 36
1840
Box 1 Folder 37
1841
Box 1 Folder 38
1842
Box 1 Folder 39
1843
Box 1 Folder 40
1844
Box 1 Folder 41
1848
Box 1 Folder 42
1849
Box 1 Folder 43
1850
Box 1 Folder 44
1852
Box 1 Folder 45
1853
Box 1 Folder 46
1854
Box 1 Folder 47
1855
Box 1 Folder 48
1856
Box 1 Folder 49
1857
Box 1 Folder 50
1858
Box 1 Folder 51
1859
Box 1 Folder 52
1860
Box 1 Folder 53
1861
Box 1 Folder 54
1862
Box 1 Folder 55
1863
Box 1 Folder 56
1864
Box 1 Folder 57
1865
Box 1 Folder 58
1866
Box 1 Folder 59
1867
Box 1 Folder 60
1868
Box 1 Folder 61
1869
Box 1 Folder 62
1870
Box 1 Folder 63
1871
Box 1 Folder 64
1872
Box 1 Folder 65
1873
Box 1 Folder 66
1874
Box 2 Folder 1
1875
Box 2 Folder 2
1876
Box 2 Folder 3
1877
Box 2 Folder 4
1878
Box 2 Folder 5
1879
Box 2 Folder 6
1880
Box 2 Folder 7
1881
Box 2 Folder 8
1882
Box 2 Folder 9
1883
Box 2 Folder 10
1884
Box 2 Folder 11
1885
Box 2 Folder 12
1886
Box 2 Folder 13
1887
Box 2 Folder 14
1888
Box 2 Folder 15
1889
Box 2 Folder 16
1890
Box 2 Folder 17
1891
Box 3 Folder 1
1892
Box 3 Folder 2
1893
Box 3 Folder 3
1894
Box 3 Folder 4
1895
Box 3 Folder 5
1896
Box 3 Folder 6
1897
Box 3 Folder 7
1898
Box 3 Folder 8
1899
Box 3 Folder 9
1900
Box 3 Folder 10
1901
Box 3 Folder 11
1902
Box 3 Folder 12
1903
Box 3 Folder 13
1904
Box 3 Folder 14
1905
Box 4 Folder 1
1906
Box 4 Folder 2
1907
Box 4 Folder 3
1908
Box 4 Folder 4
1909
Box 4 Folder 5
1910
Box 4 Folder 6
1911
Box 4 Folder 7
1912
Box 4 Folder 8
1913
Box 4 Folder 9
1914
Box 5 Folder 1
1915
Box 5 Folder 2
1916
Box 5 Folder 3
1917
Box 5 Folder 4
1918
Box 5 Folder 5
1919
Box 5 Folder 6
1920
Box 5 Folder 7
1921
Box 5 Folder 8
1922
Box 6 Folder 1
1922
Box 6 Folder 2
1923
Box 6 Folder 3
1924
Box 6 Folder 4
1925
Box 7 Folder 1
1926
Box 7 Folder 2
1927
Box 7 Folder 3
1928
Box 7 Folder 4
1929
Box 7 Folder 5
1930
Box 7 Folder 6
1931
Box 8 Folder 1
1931
Box 8 Folder 2
1932
Box 8 Folder 3 to 4
1933, (2 Folders)
Box 8 Folder 4
1934
Box 9 Folder 1
1934
Box 9 Folder 2
1935
Box 9 Folder 3
1936
Box 9 Folder 4
1937
Box 9 Folder 5
1938
Box 10 Folder 1
1938
Box 10 Folder 2 to 4
1939, (3 Folders)
Box 11 Folder 1 to 4
1940, (4 Folders)
Box 11 Folder 5 to 6
1941, (2 Folders)
Box 12 Folder 1
1941
Box 12 Folder 2 to 5
1942, (4 Folders)
Box 12 Folder 6
1943
Box 13 Folder 1
1943
Box 13 Folder 2 to 3
1944, (2 Folders)
Box 13 Folder 4
1945
Box 14 Folder 1 to 3
1946, (3 Folders)
Box 14 Folder 4
1947
Box 15 Folder 1
1947
Box 15 Folder 2
1948
Box 15 Folder 3
1949
Box 16 Folder 1
1949
Box 16 Folder 2 to 3
1950, (2 Folders)
Box 16 Folder 4
1951
Box 17 Folder 1
1951
Box 17 Folder 2
1952
Box 17 Folder 3
1953
Box 17 Folder 4
1954
Box 18 Folder 1
1954
Box 18 Folder 2
1955
Box 18 Folder 3
1956
Box 18 Folder 4
1957
Box 18 Folder 5
1958
Box 19 Folder 1
1958
Box 19 Folder 2
1959
Box 19 Folder 3
1960
Box 19 Folder 4
1961
Box 19 Folder 5
1962
Box 20 Folder 1
1962
Box 20 Folder 2
1963
Box 20 Folder 3
1964
Box 20 Folder 4
1965
Box 20 Folder 5
1966
Box 21 Folder 1
1966
Box 21 Folder 2
1967
Box 21 Folder 3
1968
Box 21 Folder 4
1969
Box 22 Folder 1
1969
Box 22 Folder 2 to 3
1970, (2 Folders)
Box 22 Folder 4
1971
Box 22 Folder F
1972
Box 22 Folder 6
1973
Box 23 Folder 1
1973
Box 23 Folder 2
1974
Box 23 Folder 3
1975
Box 23 Folder 4
1976
Box 23 Folder 5
1977
Box 24 Folder 1 to 3
1978, (3 Folders)
Box 24 Folder 4 to 5
1979, (2 Folders)
Box 24 Folder 6
1980
Box 24 Folder 7
1981
Box 25 Folder 1
1982
Box 25 Folder 2
1983
Box 25 Folder 3
1984
Box 25 Folder 4
1985
Box 25 Folder 5 to 6
1986
Box 26 Folder 1
1986
Box 26 Folder 2 to 3
1987, (2 Folders)
Box 26 Folder 4 to 5
1988, (2 Folders)
Box 26 Folder 6
1989
Box 27 Folder 1
1990
Box 27 Folder 2 to 4
1991, (3 Folders)
Box 27 Folder 5
1992
Box 28 Folder 1
1993
Box 28 Folder 2 to 3
1994, (2 Folders)
Box 28 Folder 4 to 5
1995, (2 Folders)
Box 29 Folder 1 to 2
1996
Box 29 Folder 3
1997
Box 29 Folder 4
1998
Box 29 Folder 5
1999
Box 41
Box 30 Folder 1
2000
Box 30 Folder 2
2001
Box 41
Box 30 Folder 3
2002
Box 41
Box 30 Folder 4
2003
Box 41
Box 31 Folder 1
2003
Box 41
Box 31 Folder 2 to 3
2004, (2 Folders)
Box 31 Folder 4
2005
Box 31 Folder 5
2006
Box 32 Folder 1
2006
Box 32 Folder 2 to 4
2007, (3 Folders)
Box 41
Box 32 Folder 5
2008
Box 34 Folder 1
2008
Box 41
Box 34 Folder 2 to 3
2009, (2 Folders)
Box 35 Folder 1 to 2
2010, (2 Folders)
Box 41
Box 41
Box 41
Box 35 Folder 3 to 4
2011, (2 Folders)
Box 36 Folder 1 to 3
2012, (3 Folders)
Box 36 Folder 4
2013
Box 37 Folder 1 to 2
2013, (2 Folders)
Box 37 Folder 3 to 4
2014, (2 Folders)
Box 38 Folder 1 to 3
2015, (3 Folders)
Box 39 Folder 1 to 3
2016, (3 Folders)
Box 39 Folder 4
2017, (1 of 4 Folders)
Box 40 Folder 1 to 3
2017, (3 of 4 Folders)
Box 40 Folder 1
2018, (1 of 3 Folders)
Box 41 Folder 1 to 2
2018, (2 of 3 Folders)
Box 42 Folder 1
2019
Box 42 Folder 2
2019
Box 42 Folder 3
2019
Box 42 Folder 4
Box 42 Folder 5
Due to COVID-19 commencement was held virtually. All content is available in PDF form. Please contact University Archives staff for access.
Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, commencement was again held mostly virtually. Programs and information are available in PDF format. Contact University Archives staff for access.
Box 43 Folder 1-3
PDFs of several programs and MP4 video recordings of the main 2022 university ceremony and special ceremony for members of the Classes of 2020 and 2021 available in the UA Office.
Box 44 Folder 1-5
PDF programs for several ceremonies and MP4 recording of the main commencement ceremony are avaialable in the UA Office.
This series contains documents that are more general in nature and are not necessarily associated with a particular graduation year. Materials include descriptions of proper academic dress, lists of valedictorians, speeches given at the ceremony, and information about the diplomas
Box 33 Folder 1
Box 33 Folder 2 through 2a
Box 33 Folder 3
Box 33 Folder 4
Box 33 Folder 5
Box 33 Folder 6
Box 33 Folder 7
Box 33 Folder 8
Box 33 Folder 9
Box 33 Folder 10
This series contains a number of scrapbooks put together by the Columbiana curators. During the tenure of Robert Arrowsmith CC 1882 as Columbiana curator (1917-1927), he envisioned a collection of scrapbooks documenting different aspects of Columbia: athletics, literary societies, alumni associations, schools, etc. One series of scrapbooks, which was continued by Arrowsmith's successor, Milton Halsey Thomas, collected materials related to the Annual Commencement ceremony. In these scrapbooks, there are Photostat copies and transcriptions of newspaper accounts, programs, tickets, published addresses, invitations and some photographs. The scrapbooks include materials related to other Commencement events (Class Day, Baccalaureate Service, Alumni Luncheon, Campus Night, etc.) and cover the various schools at Columbia (Engineering, Journalism, Barnard, etc.). At the 1811 Commencement ceremony, the refusal of a diploma to one of the graduates led to a riot. There is a supplemental 1811 volume with the transcription of the newspaper accounts about the incident, the legal procedures and the subsequent sentencing of those involved.
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
This small volume contains the transcription of the newspaper accounts about the incident, the legal procedures and the subsequent sentencing of those involved. A great summary of the events can be found in the two part article by Hertbert T. Wade, which appeared in the Columbia University Quarterly in June 1901 and September 1901.
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 8
Volume 9
Volume 10
Volume 11
Volume 12
Volume 13
Volume 14
Volume 15
Volume 16
Volume 17
Volume 18
Volume 19
Volume 20
Volume 21
Volume 22
Volume 23
Volume 24
Volume 25
Volume 26
Volume 27
Volume 28
Volume 29
Volume 30
Volume 31
Volume 32
Volume 33
Volume 34
Volume 35
Volume 36
Volume 37
Volume 38
Volume 39
Volume 40
Volume 41
Volume 42