"To have a sense of history, one must consider oneself a piece of history." - Alfred Kazin, 1979 The following is from the 1962 yearbook. The history of the founding of the Colorado School of Mines, closely paralleling the start of the mining industry in Colorado, goes back to the middle of the last century. In 1865, several years after the discovery of gold in the state, the Right Reverend George M. Randall was consecrated Missionary Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Colorado. In 1866 he made plans for a university which would include a school of mines. This university was called Jarvis Hall in honor of George W. Jarvis, who donated the necessary funds. The first building was erected on the present site of the State Industrial School, just south of Golden. In 1876 the school passed to the control of the new state of Colorado. It was during this period that our famous song, “The Mining Engineer,” was adapted from the old English drinking song, “The Son of a Gambolier.” We find the song featured on early programs, and our oldest living graduates testify that they learned it at this time. Question often arises as to whether our song originated at Mines or at the Georgia School of Technology. Georgia Tech was chartered in 1885, and instruction first began there in 1888. We know that our inspiring song originated on our campus at least ten years before Georgia Tech ever held classes. In 1882 the original school was extended by an addition on the present campus of that was part of the recently razed old Chemistry building. In that same year athletics were first officially recognized at Mines, although baseball and cricket teams had been formed as early as 1873. The first commencement was held in May, 1883, with only two graduates. During the eighties the college colors of blue and silver were chosen by the student body. In 1890 an addition was made on the old Chemistry building, and in 1894 the Hall of Engineering was completed. These buildings represented the “old School” as our early graduates remember it. Construction after this included Stratton Hall, erected in 1902 and used by the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Departments, and the Assay Laboratory, erected in 1900 and enlarged in 1905. The old power house was built in 1905; Guggenheim Hall, housing the Administration Offices, was constructed in 1906; and the old Gymnasium, the last building in this period, was completed in 1908. The Experimental Plant, constructed in 1912, was established to give instruction in mining and metallurgical engineering, and to provide laboratory facilities for industrial concerns, which carry on research in mining, metallurgy, and petroleum at the plant. The next expansion phase, covering over 40 years, began with the purchase of the Physics Building, an old elementary school building, in 1936; Steinhauer Field House was built in 1937; and Mines Park, the faculty housing unit, was completed in 1939. Berthoud Hall was dedicated in 1940, and is occupied by the Geology and Geophysics Departments. A new power house was built in 1948; the old one was remodeled and now houses the Civil Engineering and Mining Engineering Departments. The most recent building phase began in 1951 with the construction of Coolbaugh Hall, the new Chemistry building, followed by the Petroleum building, Alderson Hall, in 1953, and the Library in 1954. Bradford Hall, the first men’s residence; was completed in 1954; the New Dorm, in 1957; the Metallurgy Building, in 1958; and the new Gymnasium, in 1959. In addition to the Golden campus, Mines maintains the Edgar Mine in Idaho Springs, Colorado, as a working laboratory for instruction, experimentation, and testing. Mine surveying, mining geology, drilling, blasting, mucking, sampling, valuation, ventilation, and other problems of mining engineering are taught there. Colorado School of Mines differs from other mining schools in the United States in that it has confined its educational activities entirely to training engineers for the mineral industries. The degrees given include: Engineer of Mines; Metallurgical Engineer; Geological Engineer; Geophysical Engineer; Petroleum Engineer; and Petroleum Refining Engineer. Graduate degrees, including both Master of Science and Doctor of Science, are offered in all of the options at Mines.

Additional References Golden the 19th Century: A Colorado Chronicle by Lorraine Wagenbach and Jo Ann Thistlewood Mines Magazine, June 1949 "Departmental History of the Colorado School of Mines" by Louis B. Allen Mines Magazine Volume 85, No. 5, the Commemorative Centennial Issue Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CSM Alumni Association A historical series of articles by M. R. Budd, "Colorado and Its School of Mines," which appeared in various editions of the Mines Magazine during 1929 and 1930 Also, various other materials such as catalogs, yearbooks, pictures, building plans and unpublished histories by Mary Hoyt and Regis Chauvenet which are housed in the Wood Archives on the lower level of the Arthur Lakes Library at Colorado School of Mines. From the Main School Site More About CSM On this site The "M" History of the Alumni Association