A History of Amherst College Text and images courtesy of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections. Cornerstone laid for South College, first College building. College is founded as Amherst Collegiate Institution. 1822 First College Catalog issued-a single sheet. Massachusetts Legislature grants charter to create Amherst College.
College adopts corporate seal and motto.
Johnson Chapel dedicated February 28. 1828 The students organize a form of government for ensuring more order on campus. In response to the protest, the College threatens to remove the Class of 1838. The students backed down, but the controversy was the subject of discussion for years. Amherst's first fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, is established.