Academic Catalogue, 2021-22

HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE The mission of Hampden-Sydney College has secured an adequate subscription of funds and been, since stated by its Founders in 1775, an enrollment of 110 students. Intending to “to form good men and good citizens.” In model the new college after his alma mater, he continuous operation since the first classes were journeyed to Princeton to secure the first faculty held on November 10, 1775, the College is one and visited Philadelphia to enlist support and of the oldest institutions of higher learning in to purchase a library and scientific apparatus. the United States and holds the oldest (1783) Students and faculty gathered for the opening of private charter in the South. the first winter term on November 10, 1775.

The first president, Samuel Stanhope Smith The College matured physically and (1775–1779), chose the name Hampdenacademically through the first half of the Sydney to symbolize devotion to the principles nineteenth century. Jonathan P. Cushing of representative government and full civil and (1821–1835) oversaw the move from the religious freedom, which the Englishmen John College’s original buildings to “New College,” Hampden (1594–1643) and Algernon Sydney now Cushing Hall. Union Theological Seminary (1622–1683) had supported and for (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) was founded which they had given their lives. They at Hampden-Sydney in 1822 and occupied were widely invoked as hero-martyrs the current Venable Hall and the south end

by American colonial patriots, and of the present campus until its relocation their names immediately associated to Richmond in 1898. The Medical the College with the cause of College of Virginia (now the Virginia independence championed by Patrick Commonwealth University School of Henry, James Madison, and the Medicine) was opened in Richmond other less well-known but equally in 1838 as the medical department vigorous patriots who comprised the of Hampden-Sydney College.

College’s first Board of Trustees.

The Civil War and its aftermath The first students committed themselves were difficult years for Hampdento the revolutionary effort, organized a Sydney. The longest-tenured of militia-company, drilled regularly, and went its presidents, J. M. P. Atkinson, off to the defense of Williamsburg served from before the war through Algernon Sydney (top) in 1777 and Petersburg in 1778.

John Hampden (above) Reconstruction (1857–1883). He Their uniform was a hunting-shirt, performed the remarkable feat of dyed purple with the juice of pokeberries, and keeping the College open and solvent, while gray trousers. Garnet and gray were adopted upholding academic standards. as the College’s colors when sports teams were Once again, at the outset of war the student introduced in the 19th century. body organized a company. These men, officially The College, first proposed in 1771, was mustered as Company G, 20th Virginia formally organized in February 1775, when the Regiment, “The Hampden-Sidney Boys,” saw Presbytery of Hanover, meeting at Nathaniel action in Rich Mountain in West Virginia (July Venable’s Slate Hill plantation, accepted a gift of 9–11, 1861), were captured, and were paroled by 100 acres for the College, elected Trustees and General George B. McClellan on the condition named as President the Rev. Samuel Stanhope that they return to their studies. The College did Smith, College of New Jersey (Princeton) not close during the Civil War. Class of 1769. Within only ten months, Smith