About
the Tercentennial
In
1701, the collegiate institution that would soon become
Yale was founded. To celebrate the 300th anniversary
of this event, President Levin convened a group including
faculty, students, administrators and Fellows of the
Corporation to develop guiding principles for the programs
of the Tercentennial Year. Every school, museum and
academic center has responded by creating special exhibitions,
publications or symposia.
The
official opening of the anniversary was Saturday, October
21, 2000 when Yale opened its doors to the public. Thousands
enjoyed this daylong celebration which included tours,
exhibits, hands-on demonstrations and special events
for children and families. Click
here for a photo tour. View two 60-second film
clips of the day's highlights click
here.
The
events continued with the Alumni Leadership Convocation
April 19-22, 2001. The weekend allowed alumni leaders
to "Go to Yale" again and choose from an array
of lectures, panels and workshops. Over 1,400 attendees
chose among 50 different sessions, which included topics
as diverse as modern business ethics, cartooning, Yale's
rowing history, sexual harrassment law, as well as a
tutorial on how to conduct the end of Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony. Former President George H.W. Bush '48 took
part in the weekend speaking on "Yale and Public
Service." Click
here to view his speech as well other lectures
given over the weekend.
There
have been many other events commemorating Yale's Tercentennial
over the course of the year. Democratic Vistas: The
William C. DeVane
Lecture Series began in January and continued
on a weekly basis through May, seeking to explore the
current condition and the future prospects of democracy
with its audience of students and New Haven residents.
This September, the DeVane Series continues as "Ideals
Without Ideologies: Yale's Contribution to Modern Architecture."
Other lecture series included "In the Company of
Scholars" given by alumni of Yale's graduate schools,
the Tetelman Lectures, which have brought distinguished
scientists and engineers to campus, as well as events
sponsored by the Women Faculty Forum. The Women Faculty
Forum was founded to promote a strong presence of women
during the Tercentennial and in the years beyond, and
their work culminates in the Gender
Matters Conference September 20-21. Other
events have been as diverse as the Yale-China Association's
tour of Chinese medical institutons last October, the
Yale Colorado Association's climbing of Yale's namesake
mountain, and the U.S. Postal Service's dedication of
a postal card featuring Connecticut Hall, Yale's oldest
building. The Tercentennial also has led to the publication
of various books, including a collection
of Yale inaugural addresses, A Yale Album, Richard
Benson's book of photographs documenting the last century
at Yale, and the Green Guide:Yale University and
New Haven.
This
yearlong anniversary culminated the weekend of October
5-7. On the afternoon of October 5th, members
of the Yale community, returning alumni, and representatives
from sister institutions processed to Yale's Cross Campus
for a convocation commemorating the University's founding.
Events took place at the Yale Bowl on the afternoon
and evening of Friday October 5. A two-day symposium
titled "Democratic Vistas, Global Perspectives,"
which included some lectures from last semester's DeVane
course also took place over the weekend. The weekend
drew to a close with Yale's first ever Sunday football
game against Dartmouth University.
Click
on the following links for articles and photo essays
taken during the Yale 300 Celebration.
