Cleveland Museum of Art Department of Education and Interpretation

This document outlines a selection of distinguished graduates and former students from Columbia College, Columbia University's undergraduate liberal arts program, tracing its history from its inception as King's College in 1754. The list encompasses individuals who played significant roles in the founding of the United States, such as John Jay, Robert Livingston, Egbert Benson, Gouverneur Morris, and Alexander Hamilton. These figures were instrumental in drafting foundational documents, establishing key governmental roles, and shaping early American policy.

The compilation also highlights a broad spectrum of scholars across various disciplines. These include jurists, historians, classical scholars, linguists, economists, anthropologists, archaeologists, art historians, philosophers, and literary critics. Many of these individuals went on to become influential academics, founding educational institutions, leading professional organizations, and making significant contributions to their respective fields. The entries often note their academic achievements, institutional affiliations, and notable contributions, providing a snapshot of the intellectual legacy of Columbia College alumni.

The early history of Columbia University, then King's College, is marked by the contributions of its graduates to the formation of the United States. John Jay, a graduate of the class of 1764, went on to serve as the first Chief Justice of the United States and was a key author of The Federalist Papers. Also graduating in 1764, Robert Livingston was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. Egbert Benson, from the class of 1765, held positions as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the first New York State Attorney General. Gouverneur Morris, a graduate of 1768, was instrumental in drafting the U.S. Constitution and served as a United States Ambassador to France. Alexander Hamilton, though a former student who did not graduate in 1776, was a pivotal figure in the American Revolution, the primary author of The Federalist Papers, and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.

The alumni list features a vast array of scholars who significantly advanced knowledge in numerous fields. Clement Clarke Moore, graduating in 1798, is widely recognized for his attribution to "The Night Before Christmas." The field of classical studies was notably represented by figures such as John Anthon (1801), Charles Anthon (1815), Henry Drisler (1839), and James Chidester Egbert Jr. (1881). Historians like John Church Hamilton (1809), William Milligan Sloane (1868), George Louis Beer (1892), and William Robert Shepherd (1893) made substantial contributions to the understanding of American and world history. In economics, Richard T. Ely (1876) and Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman (1879) were prominent, with Benjamin Graham (1914) pioneering value investing. The list also includes influential figures in anthropology, such as Alfred L. Kroeber (1896) and Leslie White (1923), and in linguistics, including Edward Sapir (1904) and A. V. Williams Jackson (1883).

Columbia College alumni have also been at the forefront of developments in the arts, ethics, and social sciences. Felix Adler (1870), a graduate of 1870, founded the Ethical Culture movement, emphasizing ethical living and education. Brander Matthews (1871) became the first professor of dramatic literature in the United States. The field of art history and criticism is represented by figures like Meyer Schapiro (1924) and Joseph Campbell (1925), a renowned mythologist. In philosophy, Irwin Edman (1916) and John Herman Randall Jr. (1918) were influential thinkers. Kenneth Burke (1920) and Lionel Trilling (1925) are recognized for their significant contributions to literary theory and criticism. The social sciences saw contributions from figures like F. Stuart Chapin (1909) in sociology and Lawrence K. Frank (1912) in social science research.