College of California
College of California | |
---|---|
Location | NE corner of 13th & Franklin Sts., Oakland, California |
Reference no. | 45[1] |
The College of California was the predecessor of the University of California system of public universities.
In 1853, in the recently established town of Oakland, California, noted educators Rev. Henry Durant and Dr. Samuel H. Willey founded the Contra Costa Academy[1], to provide boys with higher education. The school grew quickly and by 1855, the new private College of California opened in (the by now city of) Oakland, on the 4 blocks bounded by Twelfth, Fourteenth, Franklin and Harrison Streets.
Within a few years, the downtown Oakland site had become unsuitable, owing to a lack of room for expansion, and the crowdedness and general rowdiness of the area.
In 1866, the trustees of the College sought out a quieter, more remote site for the College. They planned to finance this expansion by selling land in the vicinity of the prospective college site. To this end, they formed the "College Homestead Association" and purchased 160 acres (65 hectares) of land north of Oakland on a site that is part of today's Berkeley.
Sales of lots were less than had been hoped for. Consequently, the trustees collaborated with the State of California's Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College to establish a public university.
The University of California came into existence on March 23, 1868. While the campus at Berkeley was being constructed, the new University used the buildings of the College of California in Oakland. In September 1873, the University moved to Berkeley.[1]
The site of the College of California in Oakland is now California Historical Landmark #45.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Site of College of California". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
External links
Photographs and transcription of marker - Markeroni.com