CCNY-150 Years

CCNY History
City College Sesquicentennial May 7, 1997, marked the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of The City College of New York when the two legislative bills were passed in the New York State Legislature to support the creation of the first taxpayer-based institution of higher learning in the United States.  The day  was commemorated by the United States Postal Service with the issuance of a postal card and the Empire State building was lit up in City College lavender.  Former City College President Yolanda T. Moses presided at several of these festive events such as the dinner on April 9, 1997, honoring former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell ’58 and Homecoming in October 1997 when the commemorative T-shirts, hats, ties and other memorabilia with the Sesquicentennial logo were distributed.  An exhibition of student life at the College mounted by the City College Library; the Founder’s Day lunch; a reception hosted by former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; and an opera staged at Carnegie Hall, “The Dawn of Japan” about the College’s founder, Townsend Harris, were some of the numerous events held to celebrate 150 years of The City College of New York.  Selected images of the commemorative items are presented here.
CCNY Libraries

CCNY Libraries