Posted on Aug 7, 2007

Jackson's Garden is the oldest cultivated garden on an American college campus.

It is named for Isaac Wilbur Jackson (1804-77), Class of 1826, an 1824 graduate of The Albany Academy who entered Union as a junior and graduated in two years with first honors in mathematics and chemistry.

A professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy from 1831 until his death, "Captain Jack" also taught optics, mechanics, electricity and magnetism, acoustics and astronomy.

Students spoke of him as "most beloved," "too kindly" and possessing "the vigor of mind and cleanness of expression that had made him a splendid teacher."

Jackson took up gardening after President Eliphalet Nott suggested it as therapy for his anxiety and depression.

Jackson's customary gardener's outfit was a swallow-tailed blue coat and white trousers.

Early visitors to Jackson's Garden included famed naturalist and painter John James Audubon, who described it as "superb" in 1844.

After Jackson died, his daughter, Julia Benedict, maintained the garden for 48 years. During two of those years, 1879 and 1890, she owned a peacock that purportedly disturbed students by screaming all night.

Jackson's Garden is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman who was murdered by a mob in 1672 after her father killed her suitor.

Peacocks and ghosts notwithstanding, today the garden is Union's top guest attraction.

Source: Encyclopedia of Union College, compiled and edited by Wayne Somers

Posted on Aug 6, 2007

Members of the Honorary Inaugural Committee gathered to welcome President Stephen C. Ainlay and his wife, Judith Gardner Ainlay, at a private reception in Abbe Hall last fall. The College acknowledges with gratitude the support of the Honorary Inaugural Committee.

Robert '49 and Virginia Abbe

Gerald '54 and Bernadette Barandes

David '78 and Roxanne Breazzano

Stephen '70 and Diane Ciesinski

Lee L. Davenport '37

Patrick '88 and Jennifer '91 Pacchiana DiCerbo

André '65 and Molly Donikian

Nancy Eppler-Wolff '75 and

John Wolff

Armand V. Feigenbaum '42

Donald S. Feigenbaum '46

David '75 and Joan Casale Henle

Joseph M. '47 and Barbara Hinchey

Lawrence J. Hollander

John '76 and Helen-Jo Kelly

Douglas '83 and Susan MacFaddin

Mary Ann and Barry MacLean

Frank '73 and Colleen Messa

Jason '87 and Alice Oshins

Lawrence Pedowitz '69 and Kathleen Pool-Pedowitz

Michael Rapaport '59 and

Jo-Ann Friedman

Norton '58 and Rita Reamer

Stephen '68 and Karen Ritterbush

Walter and Anne Robb

Richard '50 and Barbara Roberts

Martin '83 and Kim Sands

Albert H. Stevenson '36

David '76 and Susan Viniar

Mark Walsh '76 and Polly Vail

Posted on Aug 6, 2007

Thomas Armstrong Professor of Economics (2006) – Suthathip Yaisawarng

Frank Bailey Professor of Classics (1945) – Mark S. Toher

Frank and Marie Louise Bailey Professor of Physics (1949) – Michael F. Vineyard

Marie Louise Bailey Professor of Mathematics (1952) – Alan D. Taylor

May I. Baker Professor of Visual Arts (1979) – Walter J. Hatke

John Bigelow Professor of History (1916) – Mark W. Walker

Dwane W. Crichton Professor of Philosophy (2006) – Raymond F. Martin

Horace E. Dodge III Professorship of Electrical and Computer Engineering (1997) – Michael Rudko

Joseph C. Driscoll Professor of Sociology and Marine Policy (2006) – Ilene M. Kaplan

R. Gordon Gould '41 Professorship in Physics (1995) – Jay E. Newman

Edward E. Hale, Jr. Professor of English (1980) – Harry P. Marten

Doris Zemurray Stone Professor in Modern Literary and Historical Studies (1976) – Brenda Wineapple

Carl B. Jansen Professor of Engineering (1992) – Thomas K. Jewell

Thomas B. Lamont Professor of Ancient and Modern Literature (1948) – Appointment pending

Gilbert R. Livingston Professor of Psychology (1970) – Seth N. Greenberg

Gilbert R. Livingston Professor of Behavioral Sciences (1994) – Kenneth G. DeBono

John D. MacArthur Assistant Professor (1982) – Tarik Wareh and Lisa A. Warenski

Agnes S. Macdonald Professor of Mechanical Engineering (2006) – Ann M. Anderson

Robert Porter Patterson Professor of Government (1956) – Clifford W. Brown Jr.

John Howard Payne Professor of Music (2006) – Hilary Tann

Henry and Sally Schaffer Professor of Holocaust and Jewish Studies (2003) – Stephen M. Berk

Florence B. Sherwood Professor of History and Culture (1993) – Teresa A. Meade

Florence B. Sherwood Professor of Life Sciences (1994) – Robert Olberg

Florence B. Sherwood Professor of Physical Sciences (1994) – Thomas C. Werner

Roger Thayer Stone Professor of Anthropology (1989) – George Gmelch

Thomas J. Watson, Sr., and Emma Watson Day Professor of Mechanical Engineering (1989) – Ronald B. Bucinell

William D. Williams Professor of Classics (2006) – Hans-Friedrich O. Mueller

William D. Williams Professor of Mathematics (2006) – William S. Zwicker

William D. Williams Professor of Philosophy (2006) – Robert B. Baker

Chauncey H. Winters Professor of History and Social Sciences (1993) – Robert V. Wells

Chauncey H. Winters Professor of Comparative Social Analysis (1996) – Terry S. Weiner

Chauncey H. Winters Research Professor of Political Science (1996) – Robert S. Sharlet

Chauncey H. Winters Research Professor of Political Science (1996) – James E. Underwood

John '38 and Jane Wold Professor of Geology (1988) – George H. Shaw

John '38 and Jane Wold Professorship in Religious Studies (2006) – Peter Ross Bedford

David L. and Beverly B. Yunich Professor of Business Ethics (2005) – Harold O. Fried

Posted on Aug 2, 2007

The Times Union featured the College's EDGE camp in its Aug. 2, 2007, edition. Since 2002, Union has hosted a two-week residential summer camp, “Educating Girls for Engineering” (EDGE), as one way to inspire high school girls to consider careers in engineering.

This year's program wrapped up Friday, July 27.

To read the complete story, click here (registration may be required)