After the completion of Sterling Memorial Library, its architect, James Gamble Rogers, designed two dormitories - called the Sterling Dormitories after John W. Sterling, B.A. 1864, whose estate provided funds for the construction - which were completed during the summer of 1930. The dormitories were separated by the Old Gymnasium, still in use at that time, as the construction of Payne Whitney Gymnasium had not yet begun. Rogers was so pleased with the York and High Street dormitories that everyone in his office who assisted in their creation is commemorated in the twenty-one limestone shields at the base of the oriel windows facing York, Elm, and High Streets. On the shields are carved monograms in Gothic letters, representing their initials.

In 1933, Rogers completed Trumbull College - named for Jonathan Trumbull LLD 1779, Governer of the Colony and later the first Governer of the State of Connecticut - which was formed by connecting the Sterling Dormitories with the Dining Hall, Common Room, Library, and Master's House. No mention was made in 1933 of any wonderful recreational facilities in the basement of that wing, however.

	The "Elm Dormitory" as it stood in the early 1930s.
	A photograph of the construction on the dining hall and the southeast wing of Trumbull, circa 1934.
	The new library, completed in 1936.
	The new dining hall, with the library at rear.

Trumbull College was named for Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, member of a family who traces its lineage back to the Turnbull family of Scotland. The name Turnbull owes its heraldic origin to the gallantry of a young peasant. In around 1315, a king engaged in a chase was attacked by a bull. Throwing himself before the king, the peasant skillfully seized the animal by the horns. As a reward for saving his life, the king gave the peasant an estate and the name Turnbull. With the name came a coat of arms with three bull heads and the motto Fortuna Favet Audaci, or Fortune Favors the Brave. But how did Turnbull become Trumbull? The corrupted spelling of the name is accounted for by the Scottish custom of rolling the letter r. A scribe recording the word probably mistook the placement of the prominent sound of the letter r. To this day sometimes the name "Turnbull" is prounouced by Scotsmen as "Trumbull."

John Trumble emigrated from Cumberland County, England, in 1766 and settled in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts. His second son, Joseph, was the father of Jonathan, for whom this college is named. Jonathan Trumbull was born October 12,1710 in a Lebanon parsonage. Throughout his life, Jonathan Trumbull possessed many traits distinctively Scottish: perseverance, a strong sense of duty, and a deeply religious spirit. He went to Harvard College at age 13 and graduated in 1727. Next he studied theology and was called to be a minister of the church in Colchester. Just at this time, however, his elder brother, Joseph was lost at sea with a ship and cargo belonging to the family.

In light of this tragic loss, Jonathan abandoned his plans in order to go into business with his merchant father. In addition, he studied law at the age of 23, and was elected to the colonial Assembly in 1733. He held public office almost continuously after that. Jonathan Trumbull was governor of Connecticut from 1769-1784, serving during the tumultuous years of the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. After the war, Trumbull was a strong Federalist. It is interesting to note that all other Harvard students of his time who attained distinction were loyalists during the Revolution. He received his LL.D. from both Yale and Edinburgh Universities.

Jonathan Trumbull was a friend and counselor of George Washington. Placing great faith in Trumbull's judgment, Washington often sought the Governor's advice while organizing in preparation for war. On one particular occasion, Washington remarked, "We must consult Brother Jonathan on the subject." "Brother Jonathan" soon caught on as a national sobriquet. Today, "We must consult Brother Jonathan" still appears on each of the Trumbull College graduation certificates.

Jonathan Trumbull was married to Faith Robinson for 45 years. Among their six children was Jonathan, who also became governor of Connecticut, in 1798. Another son was the celebrated patriot artist John Trumbull (1756-1843). In 1832, Colonel John Trumbull helped to bring about the founding of the Yale University Art Gallery (at the corner of High and Chapel Streets), the oldest university art museum in the Western Hemisphere, when he donated more than 100 paintings to the new museum. Yale's Trumbull Gallery displays many of John Trumbull's famous works, including "Battle of Bunker Hill," "Death of Montgomery," and "The Declaration of Independence, July 4,1776."

Masters

1932	1938	Stanhope Bayne-Jones
1938	1945	Charles Hyde Warren
1945	1963	John Spangler Nicholas
1963	1966	George Deforest Lord
1966	1969	Ronald Myles Dworkin
1969	1973	Kai Theodor Erikson
1973	1977	Robert John Fogelin
1976	1977	Robert A. Jaeger, acting
1977	1982	Michael George Cooke
1982	1987	Frank William Kenneth Firk
1987	1997	Harry B. Adams
1997	2002	Janet B. Henrich
2002	2003	Frederick J. Streets, acting
2003	present	Janet B. Henrich

Deans

1963	1965	Russell Inslee Clark, Jr.
1965	1968	Edwin Storer Redkey
1968	1971	Paul Terry Magee
1971	1978	W. Scott Long
1974	1975	C. M. Long, acting
1978	1982	Robert A. Jaeger
1982	1986	Mary Ramsbottom
1986	1990	Peter B. MacKeith
1990	1998	William Di Canzio
1998	2001	Peter Novak
2001	2004	Laura King
2004	present	Jasmina Besirevic-Regan