The text of the College Charter, transcribed in the Trustees Minutes. Photo Credit: Trinity College Archives.

Charter Day is a celebration on May 16, the generally accepted date in which the State of Connecticut General Assembly granted the charter to establish Washington College in 1823.

Trinity's early Charter Day celebrations were unofficial affairs organized by students, as it was not endorsed by the College, and later years seemed to only acknowledge Charter Day or celebrate it during notable College anniveraries.

Bishop Williams was the first to suggest a “proper observance,” which he termed “Natal Day” [birthday] at the Brownell statue unveiling on November 11, 1869: “On the 16th of May, 1823, the charter was granted – an event which, our diocesan historian tells us, 'was welcomed in Hartford with demonstrations of great rejoicing.'”

The students heartily agreed and suggested that the celebrations be considered a college holiday to be part of the official in the College Calendar. “The exercises, if we may be allowed to suggest, should be chiefly, but not wholly, of a commemorative character,” they wrote in the Trinity Tablet. However, there was no celebration in May 1870, to the disappointment of the students. In the Fall of 1870, the students lamented that the faculty were not favorable to making Natal Day or “Founder's Day” a college holiday. “As yet, the undergraduates know nothing definitely as to how the next anniversary will be celebrated, or in fact whether it will be celebrated at all,” one student wrote, recommending that a committee be created for the occasion.

Without the support of faculty, the students took it upon themselves to establish the tradition by celebrating the College's 48th Natal Day on May 16, 1871. By happy coincidence, there was a parade in the City that day, which allowed the students a holiday when the faculty wouldn't grant it. Barnum's Circus was also in town, and the Governor himself passed the College on horseback which delighted the students. According to the Tablet, “the weather was all that could be desired,” and the students enjoyed a dance in the Cabinet in the evening, to which they invited ladies from the city. Dancing was one of the students' favorite pastimes, and it soon became an annual Natal Day Tradition. Originally held on campus, the dance later moved to Reilly's Hall on Main Street in Hartford. The celebration was organized by students, as it was never considered an official College holiday.

Despite the earlier enthusiasm, mention of Natal Day, which was detailed in the Tablet, disappears after 1875. It reappears in the Trinity Tripod as “Charter Day” in 1921, but with a date of May 14, not the 16th. 1921's 98th Charter Day was a momentous occasion because the Chapel bell arrived and was first rung, and the Capital Campaign for Trinity's Centennial opened. The Centennial Fund of 1923 promised that every contributor to the fund would have their name engraved on a bronze scroll that would be unveiled on Trinity's 100th Charter Day. The announcement in the Trinity Tripod advertising the scroll stated that though the contributors “may not live until 2023,” their names would live forever. Trinity's 100th Charter Day was again celebrated on May 14, with a special church service on May 13.

In 1933, the 110th Charter Day was celebrated on May 15. The College Catalogue, however, noted Charter Day was May 22, as it had been doing since 1912 and continued doing until 1938. To add to the confusion, fraternities used “Charter Day” in reference to their organizations' founding, unrelated to Trinity's “Natal Day.”

Trinity's 125th Charter Day was celebrated once again on May 16, with luncheon, church services, and convocation.

The 130th Charter Day was celebrated with the inauguration of President Albert Jacobs in 1953.

Other years saw special services in the chapel and alumni fund drives. One of these funding campaigns,

With the announcement of Trinity's Bicentennial Events in 2023, a plan that would establish a new tradition on Charter Day to be carried out in all future years was unveiled–a ceremonial tree planting, the performance of a new carillon piece composed for the Bicentennial, and the flying of the Trinity College flag over the Connecticut State Capitol building.

Throughout Trinity's history, May 16 is generally accepted as the date Trinity's Charter was granted by the General Assembly. However, it has also mentioned other dates, such as May 13, 14, 15, and May 22.

The Hartford Courant record of legislation gives insight as to the confusion between the dates. Each week, the Courant published in detail the doings of the House. On May 15, the Bill to establish Washington College was read for the first time. On May 16, the Bill was read for the second time and amended into a “bill in form” or “resolve,” so that it would not be added to the General Statutes. The bill was passed on May 16. On May 22, the bill was returned to the House for a “reconsider and concur” regarding further amendments. The original bill can be viewed in the Connecticut State Library; it has the Governor's signature and is dated May 22.

Bicentennial Celebration Events

The Trinity Tripod: "Trinity College on the Occasion of its 197th Charter Day", 05/16/2020.

The History of Trinity College (1967) by Glenn Weaver, p. 171.

The Trinity Tripod, 06/09/1923.

The Trinity Tripod, 06/02/1921.

The Trinity Tablet, May 1871.

The Trinity Tablet, September 1870.

The Trinity Tablet, December 1869.

Memorial of the Proceedings at the Unveiling of the Statue erected in honor of the Founder of Trinity College, Hartford, Nov. 11th 1869 (1870) by Trinity College.