Rutgers' 1870 Centennial Celebration and Other Charter-related Puzzles

Abstract

As Rutgers celebrates its 250th anniversary, this article looks back at other moments of celebration in its history, particularly its centennial celebration and the first Charter Day. It discusses how, after celebrating the centennial in the "wrong" year, the Rutgers community came to have a better understanding of its own founding and history. This article examines how Charter Day came into being, and demonstrates the impact of Rutgers' acquisition of a contemporaneous copy of its second charter (from 1770).