John Jennings Elected First Black Student Association President 1948 John Jennings is elected the first African-American president of the Student Council (also called the Student Association). He later had a prominent career in NYS Civil Services.
Marcia Brown Graduates 1940 June 17 Marcia Brown became an author and illustrator of children's literature. Brown was one of only two three-time winners of the Caldecott Medal, the American Library Association's highest award for excellence in children's' picture-book illustrations. Brown's winning books were Cinderella, or the...
Frances Allen Graduates 1954 Frances Allen grew up on a farm without electricity in Peru, New York and would go on to be the first woman to win the Turing Award. After her graduation from the State College for Teachers, Allen fulfilled her Declaration of Teaching pledge by teaching mathematics. She then obtained an MS in...
Harvey Milk Graduates 1951 Milk became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assassinated on November 27, 1978.
First Native American Students Admitted 1850 May 13 Nine Native American pupils were admitted, three women and six men, including Caroline, Nicholson, and Newton Parker, all of Pembroke; Lucia Green and Mary Jemison of Cattaurugus; Levi Williams of Collins; Thomas Webster of Lenox; and Honues Neddy of Onondaga. Between 1850 and 1853 a total of 25...
Sarah Lattimore Registers For Classes 1850 November 11 Sarah Lattimore of Moreau, in Saratoga County registered for classes. There is no extant documentation of her attendance, graduation, or race. It is possible that Sarah was the daughter of Benjamin Lattimore, Jr., a leader in Albany's Black community. In September 1857, Susan B. Anthony made a...
Javier S. Adrianzen, First Latin American Student, Graduates 1907 June 21 Javier S. Adrianzen, A.B., a student from Chiclayo, Peru, attends State Normal School funded by the Peruvian Government. He earns a Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1910. Adrianzen is the first known Latin American student. He designed the State Normal College Echo cover in 1907.
First Black Homecoming Queen 1965 November 6 Harriet Tucker becomes the first Black Homecoming Queen chosen. At the time, Black students are a very small percentage of the student body.
First Doctorate Awarded 1963 June 19 First doctorate (an Ed.D.) awarded to James Arthur Conway of School of Education, SCT, BA ‘54.
First Ph.D. In French Studies Awarded To Louise Charbonneau 1997 Fall First Ph.D. in French Studies awarded to Louise Charbonneau.