Education

Félix Varela y Morales was born on November 20, 1788, in Havana, Cuba.  A priest and teacher, he spent his life helping the poor and sic

On November 8, 1837, Mary Lyons opened Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. One of the oldest female colleges in America, it inspired countless universities around the world to follow its model.

On November 6, 1869, Rutgers College and the College of New Jersey (later named Princeton) played the first game of intercollegiate football in America.

On October 17, 1979, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed legislation establishing the US Department of Education. The department creates policies, monitors federal funding, and ensures equal education for students.

On August 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed legislation establishing the Fulbright Program. An international exchange program, the Fulbright Scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world.  

Robert Robinson Taylor was born on June 8, 1868, in Wilmington, North Carolina.  He was the first African American student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the first fully accredited African American architect in the US.

Reverend Theodore Martin Hesburgh was born on May 25, 1917, in Syracuse, New York.  He served as president Notre Dame University for 35 years, transforming it into one of the best colleges in America.

On May 23, 1895, the New York Public Library was established. Exactly 16 years later, on May 23, 1911, the main branch of the library opened its doors to the public. Today, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the country and the fourth largest in the world.

Johns Hopkins was born on May 19, 1795, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. A successful businessman, he donated $7 million for the creation of schools and hospitals, the largest philanthropic gift in America up to that time.