Series I: Commencement, 1758-present
This series contains files of information pertaining to commencement ceremonies of a particular year. Files can contain newspaper accounts of the events, programs, planning documents, tickets, invitations, and press releases. This series is updated annually.
Box 1 Folder 5
1758
Box 1 Folder 6
1773
Box 1 Folder 7
1774
Box 1 Folder 8
1786
Box 1 Folder 9
1788
Box 1 Folder 10
1791
Box 1 Folder 11
1792
Box 1 Folder 11A
Peter Augustus Jay Speech, 1794 May 7
Box 1 Folder 12
1795
Box 1 Folder 13
1789
Box 1 Folder 14
1790
Box 1 Folder 15
1807
Box 1 Folder 16
1810
Box 1 Folder 17
1813
Box 1 Folder 18
1815
Box 1 Folder 19
1817
Box 1 Folder 20
1818
Box 1 Folder 21
1819
Box 1 Folder 22
1821
Box 1 Folder 23
1823
Box 1 Folder 24
1824
Box 1 Folder 25
1825
Box 1 Folder 26
1826
Box 1 Folder 27
1827
Box 1 Folder 28
1828
Box 1 Folder 29
1830
Box 1 Folder 30
1831
Box 1 Folder 31
1832
Box 1 Folder 32
1834
Box 1 Folder 33
1837
Box 1 Folder 34
1838
Box 1 Folder 35
1839
Box 1 Folder 36
1840
Box 1 Folder 37
1841
Box 1 Folder 38
1842
Box 1 Folder 39
1843
Box 1 Folder 40
1844
Box 1 Folder 41
1848
Box 1 Folder 42
1849
Box 1 Folder 43
1850
Box 1 Folder 44
1852
Box 1 Folder 45
1853
Box 1 Folder 46
1854
Box 1 Folder 47
1855
Box 1 Folder 48
1856
Box 1 Folder 49
1857
Box 1 Folder 50
1858
Box 1 Folder 51
1859
Box 1 Folder 52
1860
Box 1 Folder 53
1861
Box 1 Folder 54
1862
Box 1 Folder 55
1863
Box 1 Folder 56
1864
Box 1 Folder 57
1865
Box 1 Folder 58
1866
Box 1 Folder 59
1867
Box 1 Folder 60
1868
Box 1 Folder 61
1869
Box 1 Folder 62
1870
Box 1 Folder 63
1871
Box 1 Folder 64
1872
Box 1 Folder 65
1873
Box 1 Folder 66
1874
Box 2 Folder 1
1875
Box 2 Folder 2
1876
Box 2 Folder 3
1877
Box 2 Folder 4
1878
Box 2 Folder 5
1879
Box 2 Folder 6
1880
Box 2 Folder 7
1881
Box 2 Folder 8
1882
Box 2 Folder 9
1883
Box 2 Folder 10
1884
Box 2 Folder 11
1885
Box 2 Folder 12
1886
Box 2 Folder 13
1887
Box 2 Folder 14
1888
Box 2 Folder 15
1889
Box 2 Folder 16
1890
Box 2 Folder 17
1891
Box 3 Folder 1
1892
Box 3 Folder 2
1893
Box 3 Folder 3
1894
Box 3 Folder 4
1895
Box 3 Folder 5
1896
Box 3 Folder 6
1897
Box 3 Folder 7
1898
Box 3 Folder 8
1899
Box 3 Folder 9
1900
Box 3 Folder 10
1901
Box 3 Folder 11
1902
Box 3 Folder 12
1903
Box 3 Folder 13
1904
Box 3 Folder 14
1905
Box 4 Folder 1
1906
Box 4 Folder 2
1907
Box 4 Folder 3
1908
Box 4 Folder 4
1909
Box 4 Folder 5
1910
Box 4 Folder 6
1911
Box 4 Folder 7
1912
Box 4 Folder 8
1913
Box 4 Folder 9
1914
Box 5 Folder 1
1915
Box 5 Folder 2
1916
Box 5 Folder 3
1917
Box 5 Folder 4
1918
Box 5 Folder 5
1919
Box 5 Folder 6
1920
Box 5 Folder 7
1921
Box 5 Folder 8
1922
Box 6 Folder 1
1922
Box 6 Folder 2
1923
Box 6 Folder 3
1924
Box 6 Folder 4
1925
Box 7 Folder 1
1926
Box 7 Folder 2
1927
Box 7 Folder 3
1928
Box 7 Folder 4
1929
Box 7 Folder 5
1930
Box 7 Folder 6
1931
Box 8 Folder 1
1931
Box 8 Folder 2
1932
Box 8 Folder 3 to 4
1933, (2 Folders)
Box 8 Folder 4
1934
Box 9 Folder 1
1934
Box 9 Folder 2
1935
Box 9 Folder 3
1936
Box 9 Folder 4
1937
Box 9 Folder 5
1938
Box 10 Folder 1
1938
Box 10 Folder 2 to 4
1939, (3 Folders)
Box 11 Folder 1 to 4
1940, (4 Folders)
Box 11 Folder 5 to 6
1941, (2 Folders)
Box 12 Folder 1
1941
Box 12 Folder 2 to 5
1942, (4 Folders)
Box 12 Folder 6
1943
Box 13 Folder 1
1943
Box 13 Folder 2 to 3
1944, (2 Folders)
Box 13 Folder 4
1945
Box 14 Folder 1 to 3
1946, (3 Folders)
Box 14 Folder 4
1947
Box 15 Folder 1
1947
Box 15 Folder 2
1948
Box 15 Folder 3
1949
Box 16 Folder 1
1949
Box 16 Folder 2 to 3
1950, (2 Folders)
Box 16 Folder 4
1951
Box 17 Folder 1
1951
Box 17 Folder 2
1952
Box 17 Folder 3
1953
Box 17 Folder 4
1954
Box 18 Folder 1
1954
Box 18 Folder 2
1955
Box 18 Folder 3
1956
Box 18 Folder 4
1957
Box 18 Folder 5
1958
Box 19 Folder 1
1958
Box 19 Folder 2
1959
Box 19 Folder 3
1960
Box 19 Folder 4
1961
Box 19 Folder 5
1962
Box 20 Folder 1
1962
Box 20 Folder 2
1963
Box 20 Folder 3
1964
Box 20 Folder 4
1965
Box 20 Folder 5
1966
Box 21 Folder 1
1966
Box 21 Folder 2
1967
Box 21 Folder 3
1968
Box 21 Folder 4
1969
Box 22 Folder 1
1969
Box 22 Folder 2 to 3
1970, (2 Folders)
Box 22 Folder 4
1971
Box 22 Folder F
1972
Box 22 Folder 6
1973
Box 23 Folder 1
1973
Box 23 Folder 2
1974
Box 23 Folder 3
1975
Box 23 Folder 4
1976
Box 23 Folder 5
1977
Box 24 Folder 1 to 3
1978, (3 Folders)
Box 24 Folder 4 to 5
1979, (2 Folders)
Box 24 Folder 6
1980
Box 24 Folder 7
1981
Box 25 Folder 1
1982
Box 25 Folder 2
1983
Box 25 Folder 3
1984
Box 25 Folder 4
1985
Box 25 Folder 5 to 6
1986
Box 26 Folder 1
1986
Box 26 Folder 2 to 3
1987, (2 Folders)
Box 26 Folder 4 to 5
1988, (2 Folders)
Box 26 Folder 6
1989
Box 27 Folder 1
1990
Box 27 Folder 2 to 4
1991, (3 Folders)
Box 27 Folder 5
1992
Box 28 Folder 1
1993
Box 28 Folder 2 to 3
1994, (2 Folders)
Box 28 Folder 4 to 5
1995, (2 Folders)
Box 29 Folder 1 to 2
1996
Box 29 Folder 3
1997
Box 29 Folder 4
1998
Box 29 Folder 5
1999
Box 41
Columbia University Commencement (VHS Tape), 1999
Box 30 Folder 1
2000
Box 30 Folder 2
2001
Box 41
Columbia University Commencement (VHS), 2001
Box 30 Folder 3
2002
Box 41
Columbia University Commencement (VHS), 2002
Box 30 Folder 4
2003
Box 41
Columbia College Class Day (VHS Tape), 2003
Box 31 Folder 1
2003
Box 41
Columbia University Commencement (VHS), 2003
Box 31 Folder 2 to 3
2004, (2 Folders)
Box 31 Folder 4
2005
Box 31 Folder 5
2006
Box 32 Folder 1
2006
Box 32 Folder 2 to 4
2007, (3 Folders)
Box 41
Baccalaureate Service at St. Paul's Chapel (DVD), 2007
Box 32 Folder 5
2008
Box 34 Folder 1
2008
Box 41
Columbia University Commencement (DVD), 2008
Box 34 Folder 2 to 3
2009, (2 Folders)
Box 35 Folder 1 to 2
2010, (2 Folders)
Box 41
Columbia College Class Day (DVD), 2010
Box 41
Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Class Day (DVD), 2010
Box 41
Columbia University Commencement (2 DVDs), 2010
Box 35 Folder 3 to 4
2011, (2 Folders)
Box 36 Folder 1 to 3
2012, (3 Folders)
Box 36 Folder 4
2013
Box 37 Folder 1 to 2
2013, (2 Folders)
Box 37 Folder 3 to 4
2014, (2 Folders)
Box 38 Folder 1 to 3
2015, (3 Folders)
Box 39 Folder 1 to 3
2016, (3 Folders)
Box 39 Folder 4
2017, (1 of 4 Folders)
Box 40 Folder 1 to 3
2017, (3 of 4 Folders)
Box 40 Folder 1
2018, (1 of 3 Folders)
Box 41 Folder 1 to 2
2018, (2 of 3 Folders)
Box 42 Folder 1
2019
Box 42 Folder 2
2019
Box 42 Folder 3
2019
Box 42 Folder 4
SEAS Class Day Script, 2019
Box 42 Folder 5
Columbia College Class Day Script, 2019
2020
Due to COVID-19 commencement was held virtually. All content is available in PDF form. Please contact University Archives staff for access.
2021
Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, commencement was again held mostly virtually. Programs and information are available in PDF format. Contact University Archives staff for access.
Box 43 Folder 1-3
2022, 3 folders
PDFs of several programs and MP4 video recordings of the main 2022 university ceremony and special ceremony for members of the Classes of 2020 and 2021 available in the UA Office.
Box 44 Folder 1-5
2023, 5 folders
PDF programs for several ceremonies and MP4 recording of the main commencement ceremony are avaialable in the UA Office.
Series II: Subjects, 1758-2007
This series contains documents that are more general in nature and are not necessarily associated with a particular graduation year. Materials include descriptions of proper academic dress, lists of valedictorians, speeches given at the ceremony, and information about the diplomas
Box 33 Folder 1
General, 1758-1938, 1958, 1976, 2000
Box 33 Folder 2 through 2a
Academic Costume (Academic Dress), 1896, 1910-1958, 1987, 2002, 2009
Box 33 Folder 3
Baccalaureate, 1860-1998
Box 33 Folder 4
Diplomas, 1770-1916, 1960
Box 33 Folder 5
Form of Graduation, 1885
Box 33 Folder 6
King's College Commencement in the Newspapers, 1930 June
Box 33 Folder 7
Photograph, circa 1914-1917
Box 33 Folder 8
Valedictorians, 1758-1772, 1786-1889, 1910, 1948-1966, 1994-1997, 2000-2007
Box 33 Folder 9
Valedictory and Salutatory Addresses, 1982-1996
Box 33 Folder 10
List of the Class Which Entered Columbia College October 1828 and Graduated August 7th 1832 Without Commencement. With All Its Various Changes, 1832
Series III: Annual Commencement scrapbooks, 1758-1937
This series contains a number of scrapbooks put together by the Columbiana curators. During the tenure of Robert Arrowsmith CC 1882 as Columbiana curator (1917-1927), he envisioned a collection of scrapbooks documenting different aspects of Columbia: athletics, literary societies, alumni associations, schools, etc. One series of scrapbooks, which was continued by Arrowsmith's successor, Milton Halsey Thomas, collected materials related to the Annual Commencement ceremony. In these scrapbooks, there are Photostat copies and transcriptions of newspaper accounts, programs, tickets, published addresses, invitations and some photographs. The scrapbooks include materials related to other Commencement events (Class Day, Baccalaureate Service, Alumni Luncheon, Campus Night, etc.) and cover the various schools at Columbia (Engineering, Journalism, Barnard, etc.). At the 1811 Commencement ceremony, the refusal of a diploma to one of the graduates led to a riot. There is a supplemental 1811 volume with the transcription of the newspaper accounts about the incident, the legal procedures and the subsequent sentencing of those involved.
Volume 1
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1758-1776
Volume 2
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1786-1799
Volume 3
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1800-1811
Volume 4
Supplement, 1811
This small volume contains the transcription of the newspaper accounts about the incident, the legal procedures and the subsequent sentencing of those involved. A great summary of the events can be found in the two part article by Hertbert T. Wade, which appeared in the Columbia University Quarterly in
June 1901 and
September 1901.
Volume 5
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1812-1819
Volume 6
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1820-1829
Volume 7
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1830-1849
Volume 8
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1850-1869
Volume 9
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1870-1889
Volume 10
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1890-1895
Volume 11
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1896-1899
Volume 12
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1900-1902
Volume 13
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1903-1905
Volume 14
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1906-1907
Volume 15
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1908-1909
Volume 16
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1910
Volume 17
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1911
Volume 18
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1912
Volume 19
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1913
Volume 20
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1914
Volume 21
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1915
Volume 22
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1916
Volume 23
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1917
Volume 24
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1918
Volume 25
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1919
Volume 26
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1920
Volume 27
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1921
Volume 28
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1922-1923
Volume 29
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1924
Volume 30
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1925
Volume 31
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1926
Volume 32
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1927
Volume 33
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1928
Volume 34
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1929
Volume 35
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1930
Volume 36
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1931
Volume 37
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1932
Volume 38
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1933
Volume 39
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1934
Volume 40
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1935
Volume 41
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1936
Volume 42
Annual Commencement Scrapbook, 1937