Opening Charter Day ceremony celebrates Cornell-Ithaca ties

Plaque unveiled
Jason Koski/University Photography
President David Skorton and Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick '09 unveil a plaque on the Ithaca Commons to commemorate Cornell's 150th anniversary April 24.
Plaque on Commons
Jason Koski/University Photography
A close-up of the plaque.
Glenn Altschuler ans Isaac Kramnick
Jason Koski/University Photography
Glenn Altschuler, Ph.D. ’76, left, dean of the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, and Isaac Kramnick, the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, discuss the past, present and future of Cornell's relationship with Ithaca April 24 at the Tompkins County Public Library.
Ezra Cornell
Jason Koski/University Photography
University trustee Ezra Cornell '70 focused on his ancestor's humble background and the inspiration behind the founding of the library and the university.

The kickoff event for Cornell’s sesquicentennial Charter Day Weekend was held not on the Ithaca campus Ezra Cornell founded but downtown in the Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL), which he also founded. The event, “Ithaca’s Roots in Cornell’s Founding,” celebrated many ways the histories of the university and the city intertwine.

Cornell President David Skorton commented on the appropriateness of kicking the weekend off at the library. Glenn Altschuler, Ph.D. ’76, dean of the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions and the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies, said, “This city, this town, is an indispensable part of what Cornell has been, is and will be.”

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 drew attention to the library exhibit “Cornell Off Campus – The Impact of Cornellians on Tompkins County,” and thanked the university for making the sesquicentennial a communitywide celebration. Susan Currie, director of the TCPL, noted that the original library was the site of Cornell University’s first Inauguration Day, first graduation ceremonies and early trustees’ meetings.

Isaac Kramnick, the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, focused on the last 50 years of the town-gown relationship. Kramnick noted some of the challenges that have arisen and been addressed over the years: financial contributions to the city, neighborhood development, Redbud Woods and Lake Source Cooling, for instance. But, he said, with Cornell’s downtown offices and greater interactions between the university and the city, Cornell is no longer “far above Cayuga’s waters”; it is now very much a part of Ithaca.

Trustee Ezra Cornell ’70 gave a brief history of his ancestor’s life, beginning with the humble background of the first Ezra Cornell’s great-great-grandparents, and the values of hard work, truth and perseverance instilled by the founder’s family, who were Quakers.

Cornell said he often is asked why his ancestor did not keep his money, build an empire and enrich a family dynasty. He answers that the founder Cornell “placed a higher value on the original American dream: to live in freedom with liberty, and pass that opportunity on to others.” Those beliefs and the inspiration he gained from reading led to his founding the library in Ithaca in 1864 and the university in 1865.

Trustee Cornell noted that two of his fellow speakers also grew up in modest circumstances but were driven to learn and excel, and to pass opportunities on to others: Skorton, who has worked to protect educational access for students; and Myrick, who has helped to improve city relations with the university. He also thanked Altschuler, whose idea it was to expand Charter Day into Charter Day Weekend, making “this rich event an extraordinary several days in the history of the university.”

“It is fair to say,” Cornell concluded, “that Ezra Cornell endowed the library and university to help his hometown remain strong and thoughtful in protecting and living the American dream.” Now, “that great responsibility [passes] to us in the present and to our future generations.”

Also speaking were Sally Grubb, exhibit coordinator at TCPL, and Cornell vice presidents Joel Malina and Mary Opperman. The event was followed by a short ceremony on the Ithaca Commons, opened by Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Ithaca Downtown Alliance. There, Myrick and Skorton dedicated a planter bed and plaque to commemorate the university’s 150th anniversary.

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Joe Schwartz