Dickinson has a long history of creating the future.

Chartered in 1783 by Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a prominent Philadelphia physician, Dickinson was the first college established in the new United States of America.


The Dickinson Story

The Dickinson Story

Revolution was in the air when Benjamin Rush, a prominent Philadelphia physician, prepared the charter for Dickinson College in 1783.

D-Book

D-Book

This booklet, which was developed by students, offers a selective history of the college and is distributed each year to incoming students.

Archives & Special Collections

Archives & Special Collections

The Dickinson Archives & Special Collections has compiled several resources that trace the history of the college.

Recent News on the History of the College All News

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Thinking With Benjamin Rush

Associate Professor of History Christopher Bilodeau explores the complexities of Founding Father, and founder of Dickinson, Benjamin Rush.

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Contemporary Revolutionary

Nearly 20 years after delivering Dickinson's Commencement address in 1998, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough discusses Benjamin Rush's enduring relevance.

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An Embodiment of Values

When the men of Raven’s Claw decided to establish a scholarship fund in 1993, they did not anticipate just how successful and invaluable it would be.