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](https://www.dickinson.edu/images/Interdisciplinarity___2_rushstatue_hand_400.jpg)
The Dickinson Story
Revolution was in the air when Benjamin Rush, a prominent Philadelphia physician, prepared the charter for Dickinson College in 1783.
![Traditions](https://www.dickinson.edu/images/admissions_red_chair_widget.jpg)
Traditions
From signing in and out to stepping on the seal, red chairs to Red Devils, explore the stories behind our time-honored traditions.
![Archives & Special Collections](https://www.dickinson.edu/images/archives_image.jpg)
Archives & Special Collections
The Dickinson Archives & Special Collections has compiled several resources that trace the history of the college.