PREFACE.

THIS historical sketch of Columbia College and its associate Schools was prepared at the request of the National Bureau of Education in Washington. The history from the foundation of the college to the year 1845 is essentially that written by the former President, Dr. N. F. Moore, and printed in 1846. For the period from 1845 to 1869, the chief source of information was a continuation of Dr. Moore's history by Rev. Beverley R. Betts, Librarian of the College. The article on the School of Law was furnished by Professor T. W. Dwight, Warden of the School; that on the School of Mines was obtained from documents issued by the School, from the records, and from information furnished by the several Professors; that on the School of Medicine was taken mainly from the historical sketch of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, N. Y., which appeared in the general catalogue of that college published in 1866. The article on the College Library is the article on "Columbia College Library," by the late Librarian, W. A. Jones, Esq., published in the University Quarterly for January, 1871, as abridged and revised for this sketch by Professor Drisler; that on library of the School of Mines was prepared by Mr. John F. Meyer, Librarian and Registrar of the School. The article on Cabinets and Collections was compiled from inventories of the several departments in the hands of the Treasurer, and from information obtained of professors