Brown's History: A Timeline

Brown’s History: 1860-1869

This timeline chronicles more than 250 years of Brown University’s history.

These are key milestones from the 1860s.

Alma Mater Written

The Alma Mater was written by student James Andrews DeWolf and published in the annual Brown Paper in 1860. It did not immediately gain traction on campus, but was discovered and popularized by the newly formed Glee Club in 1869.

1860

Brown Reacts to the Start of the Civil War

After the attack on Fort Sumter, students asked permission to raise the Stars and Stripes over University Hall. At the flag-raising ceremony, according to the diary of Henry S. Burrage, Class of 1861:

“Dr. Sears made the opening address. He said he deprecated civil war. He regretted the necessity that is laid upon us. But the time for deliberation is past. Every man is called upon to show himself worthy of the country of his birth.” 

April 17, 1861

Brown Becomes A Land Grant University

In 1863, Brown became Rhode Island’s first land grant university when it received 120,000 acres in Kansas from the federal government under the Morrill Act. In exchange for the money generated by the sale of the land, Brown was to educate students in agricultural and mechanical arts. Dissatisfied with Brown’s broad interpretation of appropriate coursework, the legislature (having fended off Brown’s challenge all the way to the Supreme Court) transferred the land grant responsibilities to Rhode Island College for the Agricultural and Mechanic Arts (today’s University of Rhode Island) in 1894.

1863

“A Hundred Times the Bells of Brown”

Occurring in the midst of the Civil War, Brown’s centennial celebration was subdued, but still “interesting and impressive” according to historian Walter Bronson. Spectators enjoyed a review of the University’s history by President Sears, a number of distinguished speakers and an ode written by Bishop George Burgess, Class of 1826, followed by a dinner for 700. A centennial poem by John Hay, Class of 1858, began:

“A hundred times the bells of Brown
Have rung to sleep the idle summers, 
And still today clangs clamoring down 
A greeting to the welcome comers.”

September 6, 1864

A stone plaque decorated with arches and pillars listing students who had fought and died in the Civil War.

Honoring the Dead

By the end of the American Civil War, 294 alumni and students from Brown had served in the Union ranks and 21 of those men had died. In 1866, a tablet in memory of those who perished was dedicated and installed in Manning Hall.

September 1866

full standing portrait of a man in vintage dress

Sixth President: Alexis Caswell

Alexis Caswell, Class of 1822, had been a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy for many years and was 69 years old when he came out of retirement to assume the presidency. While not an innovator, Caswell was effective and Brown prospered under his leadership, with a nearly doubled endowment, the advent of annual alumni meetings and increases in salaries, tuition and enrollment.

1868-1872

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