In October, 1701, Connecticut’s governor and representatives, assembled in general court, passed “An Act of Liberty to Erect a Collegiate School.” That spring, the school enrolled a single student to study theology and rhetoric, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, under the tutelage of Reverend Abraham Pierson.
From this humble start sprang Yale College — so named in 1718, after benefactor Elihu Yale. The college became Yale University in 1887.
Over the centuries, the Yale community has strived to create and disseminate knowledge; to train future leaders, scholars, artists, and innovators; to deepen society’s discourse and allow for robust, critical inquiry; and to continually work to strengthen its campus, the New Haven community, the country, and the world.
Yale News presents here a small sampling — which will be updated throughout this anniversary year — of the ways the university and its people have fulfilled that mission over the past 325 years and pursue it vigorously today.
