The Traditions of Hartwick Inaugurations
As Hartwick College prepares to inaugurate Laurel Bongiorno as its 13th president, some traditions of past inaugurations offer a glimpse into how the College has marked new eras of leadership.
Music has been part of every Hartwick inauguration, from religious hymns such as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” in earlier ceremonies to more recent performances, including the Hartwick Rock Ensemble’s rendition of “These Are Days” by 10,000 Maniacs. Music has often been selected to reflect the values and hopes of the College community.
The College mace has also played a prominent role. Crafted in 1967, the mace was first used at the inauguration of Adolph Anderson in 1970. Anderson’s inauguration program described it “as a symbol of authority in the manner of a royal scepter.” Presidents Philip Wilder and Richard Detweiler also held the mace during their inaugurations in 1978 and 1992, respectively. At Detweiler’s investiture, the mace was presented to him as representing “the responsibilities and authority of [the] office.”
Hartwick will continue those traditions when Bongiorno’s inauguration takes place at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, under a tent on Frisbee Field as part of True Blue Weekend.
Page one of a working copy of the inaugural address delivered by Miller Ritchie at his October 24, 1953 ceremony. The Korean War and Cold War events were a part of the backdrop for Ritchie’s somber opening words.
Faculty and guests processing to Binder’s inauguration ceremony in the Field House, a prefabricated building that housed Hartwick’s gymnasium and physical education classrooms until Binder Physical Education Center was built in 1968.
Frederick Binder at his May 9, 1960 inauguration. He was inaugurated 11 months after taking office, in accordance with the requirement that investiture occur within a year.
An excerpt from a Hilltops article, describing plans for Binder’s inauguration. The article went on to note that classes were canceled so students could attend this relatively rare College event.
Adolph Anderson receiving the College mace at his inauguration on April 29, 1970. He was the first Hartwick president to do so. The mace was designed and executed by Hartwick art professor emeritus Earl Cunningham.
A close-up of the presidential medallion worn by Adolph Anderson.
The empty platform, prior to Anderson’s inauguration ceremony. An unconventional setup is reflective of the innovative approach to education for which Anderson was known.
The tradition of painting the wall goes back several decades, as seen here decorated in honor of Philip Wilder’s May 6, 1978 inauguration.
The Inaugural Choir sang a new and short-lived Alma Mater at Wilder’s ceremony.
Wilder’s inauguration was originally to be held in the Sculpture Garden outside of Anderson Hall, but inclement weather necessitated a move to Binder Physical Education Center.
Richard Detweiler holding the mace at his inauguration ceremony on October 3, 1992. It is an inauguration tradition to ring the Hartwick bell once for every College president. Detweiler departed from tradition slightly–instead of having it rung eight times, he had it rung once for every head of every Hartwick institution since its founding in 1797, for a total of 32 times.
Richard Miller is in blue (to the left of the podium) standing with members of the platform party at his September 20, 2003 inauguration on Frisbee Field. The mace is visible laying on the stone wall to the left.
Medallions now feature the College seal, visible on the one worn by Margaret L. Drugovich at her October 4, 2008 ceremony when she became Hartwick’s first female president.
Darren Reisberg posing with students after his October 22, 2022 ceremony on Frisbee Field, which included a song titled Ring Out, All Bells that was commissioned for the occasion.
Photos are part of the collection in Hartwick College Paul F. Cooper, Jr. Archives.
