Oral History - Robert Burns
Clip from oral history interview with Robert Burns (Former Facilities Program Coordinator, Director of Facilities, and Director of Alumni Relations at SUNY Potsdam), interviewed by Joel Ehrlich on November 9, 2012.
Burns, Robert. Interviewee.
Ehrlich, Joel. Interviewer.
SUNY Potsdam. College Archives & Special Collections.
November 9, 2012
The oral history was conducted as a part of SUNY Potsdam's Fall 2012 "Oral History" course (ANTH 364/HIST 450).
eng.
Sound
St. Lawrence Academy circa 1816
A sketch of the first building of the St. Lawrence Academy established in 1816.
This is the only known rendition of the first building of the St. Lawrence Academy, since it was replaced by the North Academy building in 1826 before photography was available. The new building was needed because of increased enrollment. As matriculation increased students enrolled locally, from nearby counties, and also from Canada.
The St. Lawrence Academy opened with an enrollment of 42 pupils. Nahum Nixon was hired as principal and teacher. A local Board of Trustees oversaw the curriculum, finances, and personnel of the Academy. By-laws were adopted that included conduct, curfew, and reference to the Sabbath Day. Tuition was determined and paid each quarter with the amount calculated according to which courses were taken: Reading and Writing were each $2.50, English Grammar, Cyphering, and Mathematics were $3.00, Dead Languages were $3.50, and the most expensive courses were Logic, Rhetoric, Composition, Philosophy, and French, each course cost $4.00. Students also paid about $2.50 per week for room and board in local homes.
The Campus History Series: State University of New York at Potsdam
1816
English
Presbyterian Church, St. Lawrence Academy, and the Village of Potsdam public square
This drawing shows the Presbyterian Church flanked by the North and South Academies. In addition to classrooms, the North Academy had a chapel, library and dormitory space. The new buildings were placed on the public square between Elm Street and Main Street across from what is now the Civic Center.
The Campus History Series: State University of New York at Potsdam
English
South Academy Building
This is the first known photograph of the South Academy building of the St. Lawrence Academy, circa 1850. The South Academy building opened in 1837. The first floor was used primarily for the teacher department classrooms while the upper three floors were dormitories and a recitation room.
State aid for teacher training led to an increase in enrollment and the need for additional classrooms and more dormitory space. The South Academy Building was constructed to accommodate those needs.
The Campus History Series: State University of New York at Potsdam
1837;1850
English