Columbia University

an institution of higher learning in New York City. It was founded by the colonial authorities, the Church of England taking the lead. The first money was raised by public lottery. The first principal assumed office July 17, 1754, in the schoolhouse belonging to Trinity Church. He had eight students. A royal charter was granted on October 31st of the same year, the institution taking the name of King's College, providing that the balance of control should rest with the Episcopal church. This clause was later stricken out. As a matter of fact, King's College was noted for catholicity of spirit from the very beginning. When the Revolutionary War broke out the students pulled down the statue of King George that stood on the campus, and entered Washington's army. May 1, 1774, college work was resumed, the legislature of New York having changed the name to Columbia College. Columbia University, as the institution is now known, consists of faculties of law, of medicine, of philosophy, of political science, of pure science, and applied science. It has also a college of physicians and surgeons, Barnard College for women, a school of mines, and a teachers' college, the latter a high-rank professional school for teachers. The governing body of the university consists of twenty-four trustees who fill vacancies in their own membership. Columbia Library contains one-third of a million bound volumes. The building itself is a gift from Ex-President Low, who expended over a million dollars in its erection. There are between 5,000 and 6,000 students in attendance.