History Hamilton Hall (Columbia University)



william ordway partridge s statue of hamilton (2009)


the original hamilton hall built in gothic revival style , located on madison avenue on college s former midtown campus. when columbia reconstituted university , relocated morningside heights in 1890s, there no plans area south of 116th street, hamilton hall sits, or facilities dedicated undergraduate college. nevertheless, college advocates persevered , cornerstone new hamilton hall laid in 1905. building designed firm of mckim, mead, , white in neoclassical style, in conformity rest of university campus. completed in 1907.


in latter half of 20th century, hamilton hall taken on several times in course of student protest activity, famously during protests of april 1968. in course of protest, multiracial group first barricaded inside building, imprisoning acting dean henry s. coleman in office. black students asked white students leave, prompting latter s takeover of several other university buildings. after violent end april activities, hamilton peacefully cleared hall briefly reoccupied later year. building site of major 1985 student strike , barricade demand university divestment south africa, under apartheid system @ time, ethnic studies classes @ university.


most recently, hamilton hall has undergone extensive renovations in order restore many of historic details. building houses many of classes of columbia college s famous core curriculum, , apparently tradition of teachers of core class contemporary civilization watch students filing building exams roof of nearby butler library.








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