Columbia College Alumni Association records, 1825-1960

The earliest known group of Columbia College alumni started meeting in 1815 under the name of the Literary Institution of Columbia College. This groups described itself as a "society of graduates of Columbia College established for the purpose of reading papers on literary and scientific subjects." They requested and received space to meet in the College from the Trustees in 1816. There are meeting minutes from 1815 to 1817.

Starting in 1825, the first true alumni association gathered at an "anniversary meeting" under the name of the Society of the Alumni of Columbia College. The first address at this soon-to-be-annual meeting was delivered by Clement Clarke Moore CC 1798 on the history of the College and the role of the alumni. The meeting was held at the College Chapel. The second address, in 1826, was delivered by William Bard. In the afternoon, "about ninety of the Alumni dinned in College Hall, and after spending the day in the most pleasing manner, adjourned in hopes that their next anniversary might be attended with equal intelligence, and animated with like good feeling." (CUQ June 1905, p. 286) The constitution of the Association of the Alumni of Columbia College (AACC) was enacted on April 30, 1831.

The AACC continued to meet until at least 1844, but then there are no records of much alumni activity for the next ten years. The alumni reunited to celebrate the centennial of the original King's College Charter on October 31, 1854 and continued to hold their annual meetings on that day. A new constitution was enacted in 1856. In 1860 the Association started compiling information of Columbia graduates, which was published as the 1865 Alumni Register. A new charter and constitution was ratified in 1876.

In addition to the Annual Meeting and Dinner for returning alumni, the AACC supported the College's library with various purchases: the library of George Strong CC 1838 (1877) and that of Henry Anderson CC 1818, P&S 1824 (1879). They also supported the athletic affairs of the College by funding the Harlem River Boathouse (1876), the Henley regatta celebration (1877), and the purchase of the Williamsbridge Athletic Field (1890).

The alumni were raising funds for a new athletic field in the 1890s, when the College finally prepared to move from their cramped 49th Street and Madison Avenue campus. The fundraising efforts were refocused on purchase of the Morningside Heights site and, eventually, the Alumni Memorial Hall. The Hall campaign was not too successful. What became known as University Hall was never completed. Only two floors from the original design were ever built. Those foundations were later used for the construction of Uris Hall.

In addition to the annual meeting and dinner, in 1908, the AACC started to hold an Alumni Day or the mid-winter reunion. The event was held every year on Lincoln's birthday (February 12) because it was the "only business holiday in the year when alumni can visit their Alma Mater." Alumni would come back to campus and could join classes. This event was held until 1948 when Dean's Day took over.

In 1947, Dean Harry J. Carman invited "old grads" to campus and compare it with "what they were given five, ten, twenty or forty years ago." Alumni took part in discussions, forums and panels and the ladies were invited to accompany their husband to the Dean's reception at the end of the day. This was held in the late spring (end of March to early April). This was originally a Columbia College tradition, but other schools (P&S, Law, Engineering starting in 1949; School of Business, in 1957; General Studies, in 1958) eventually also held their own Dean's Days.

The Columbia College alumni recognize distinguished Columbians with the Alexander Hamilton Medal and the John Jay Awards. A prominent Columbia College graduate is also selected annually to serve as the Class Day Speaker.

The AACC was the alumni association of Columbia College, the undergraduate school, formerly known as the School of Arts. Other Columbia schools had their own associations, which came together under the Alumni Council (1895) and the Alumni Federation (1913). The now-named Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) still serves the College's alumni and partners with the University-wide Columbia Alumni Association.