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2018 SESSION
WHEREAS, in 2017, Henricus Colledge (1619)® celebrated the 25th anniversary of the revival of “America’s 1st College” for the purposes of American Heritage continuing education and research; and
WHEREAS, in 1619, the historic first meeting of the Virginia General Assembly convened in the wooden church on Jamestowne Island and established America’s first college, stating “Send men to erect the Colledge,” at a 10,000-acre riverfront campus site near the Citie of Henricus; and
WHEREAS, the original Henricus Colledge was based on Marischal College in Aberdeen, Scotland, with its alumnus the Reverend Patrick Copland as its first rector, and with input from officials at Cambridge University; the college drew inspiration from the teachings of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Thomas Cranmer, Edward Coke, Saint Augustine, and Prince Henry, the eldest son of James I and the namesake of the Citie of Henricus, with special impetus from the late Pocahontas; and
WHEREAS, the progress of Henricus Colledge was hindered by the Powhatan uprising in 1622, the Quo Warranto seizure of the Virginia Company by James I in 1624, and the English Civil War; after 74 years, the college took root in 1693 and was renamed The College of William and Mary, with a campus in the Middle Plantation (now Williamsburg) and another Marischal College alumnus, the Reverend James Blair, as rector; and
WHEREAS, after 373 years since the original foudning of Henricus Colledge, Steven C. Smith, a historical interpreter on Jamestowne Island, was inspired by its Virginia Bar Common Law plaque and interactions with visitors from foreign lands, to revive the ancient teaching ministry of Henricus Colledge as Henricus Colledge (1619)®, America’s 1st College - Revived; and
WHEREAS, Henricus Colledge (1619)® was adapted for continuing education and research focused on the acquisition and preservation of primary-source documentation of the principles, practices, and precedents of the 18-year-long Virginia Company in the purposeful development of the constitutional republic of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the grand opening of the revived Henricus Colledge (1619)® occurred on March 28, 1992, at the Williamsburg Regional Library; the event opened with readings of Psalm 107: 23 - 24 in reference to England’s Maritime, Missionary Mandate; comments were offered by Pauline Mitchell, vice chair of the 1611 Henricus Foundation, and the keynote speech was given by Dr. David Gyertson, president of Regent University, whose doctoral studies included the original Henricus Colledge; and
WHEREAS, the Research Division of Henricus Colledge (1619)® has developed an extensive primary-source reference library, which includes the Virginia Company Records; and
WHEREAS, the Continuing Education Division of Henricus Colledge (1619)® has offered teaching talks, history site walks, a James River Cruising Classroom, and an award-winning Lineage of Liberty exhibit; the Colledge, in 2006, hosted the International 400th Anniversary of American Civilization, at the 1611 Citie of Henricus, and in 2007, hosted the 401st Anniversary of America, in the Chapel at William and Mary, and hosts the annual programs at the 1607 Newport Fall Line cross; and
WHEREAS, history legislation consultations with Henricus Colledge (1619)® have resulted in the Virginia Historic Documents Act, which requires that public schools teach the 1606, 1609, and 1612 Virginia Charters, as well as five state-level commending resolutions and four by local governmental units; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Henricus Colledge (1619)® on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its revival; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Steven C. Smith, Chancellor, Henricus Colledge (1619)® as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its unique contributions to the preservation of the history and heritage of the Commonwealth.