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Alumni from all generations gathered in Albany, NY to toast the College's namesake.
Alumni from all generations gathered in Albany, NY to toast the College's namesake.

Alexander Hamilton, according to many scholars, would have turned 250 years old on Thursday, January 11, 2007.  The academic debate over Hamilton's actual birth year did not deter the more than 1,000 alumni, parents and friends of Hamilton College from celebrating his bi-sesquicentennial anniversary at regional alumni association events around the world.

Beginning on Saturday, January 6 in Richmond, VA and continuing through Sunday, January 14, in Westchester County, NY, 27 parties were held.  Many of these featured birthday cakes, some with elaborate reproductions of Hamilton's likeness.  Contests were held to determine who knew the most about the life and work of our College's namesake and all the Hamilton family universally enjoyed honoring the memory of a great statesman, philosopher, economist, military leader and trustee of our most extraordinary College.  

San Francisco alumni and friends celebrated with President Joan Hinde Stewart and toasted Al Ham with specialty microbrews at the ThirstyBear Restaurant and Brewery.  The Mohawk Valley and Albany parties were visited by alums dressed in full revolutionary war regalia and the Rochester and Westchester County Alumni Associations were treated to presentations by Professors Doug Ambrose and Alan Cafruny.

Back in 2001, then Alumni Association President George Baker '74 promulgated the idea of coast-to-coast gatherings held in conjunction with Hamilton's January 11 birthday.  In January 2002, eight alumni regions hosted celebrations for members of the GOLD Group.  Five years later, the number of gatherings has more than tripled and the scope has expanded to include the entire Hamilton family of alumni, parents and friends; the dream of making these celebrations the premier Alumni Association event has turned into a reality.  These gatherings are a direct result of two factors: the tremendous dedication and generosity of our alumni volunteers and hosts, to whom the College owes a debt of gratitude, and the attendance and conviviality of the Alumni Association as a whole.  The challenge remains: to figure out how we will we top ourselves in 2008!

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