The Philolexian Society of Columbia University
John Purroy Mitchel
Reform Mayor of New York City; killed in 1918 during military pilot training.
From Notable Alumni · Foundation editorial
Reform Mayor of New York City; killed in 1918 during military pilot training. John Purroy Mitchel (CC 1899) ran New York for one term and is remembered chiefly for what came after: a fall from an Army training aircraft in 1918, after he had failed to fasten his seatbelt. As "Boy Mayor" he was the second-youngest in the city's history, an anti-Tammany reformer who professionalized the civil service, antagonized everyone, and was retired from office at thirty-eight. The bronze plaque between the western pylons of Hamilton Hall is a small remembrance still observed by Philos. Noted as a debater in the Philolexian Society at Columbia; later 95th Mayor of New York City (age 34), anti-Tammany reformer. Killed in a WWI Aviation Corps training accident on July 6, 1918, in Lake Charles, LA. Memorialized by the bronze tablet at the west end of Hamilton Hall (unveiled Feb 12, 1921) and by Mitchel Field, Garden City, NY.
Vital
- Full name
- John Purroy Mitchel
Columbia & the Society
- Columbia
- Class of 1899 (Columbia College)
Works (9)
- 1915 [Remarks of Hon. John Purroy Mitchel, as Presiding Officer] · Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
- 1915 Concluding Remarks of Presiding Officer · The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
- 1915 Speech Made by Hon. John Purroy Mitchel, Mayor of the City of New York, at the Dinner of the Committee of 107 at the Aldine Club, Monday, April 12, 1915 · Published address as Mayor of New York
- 1915 The City and the State Constitution · Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York
- 1915 The Office of Mayor · Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York
- 1915 Transportation, Port and Terminal Facilities · Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York
- 1916 General Sessions of the Association: Address of Welcome · PsycEXTRA Dataset
- 1916 Speech of Hon. John Purroy Mitchel, Mayor of the City of New York, at the Dinner of the Committee of 107, at the Hotel Astor, Tuesday, May 2, 1916 · Published address as Mayor of New York, cataloged at HathiTrust
- 1918 Editorial · National Municipal Review
Primary sources
The Columbia Daily Spectator
1901-04-12 Philolexian Prize Orations judge of contest
Philolexian Prize Orations The annual prize oratorical contest of the Philolexian Society last Wednesday evening brought out a good attendance, T his contest is limited to the undergraduate members of the society. The following members spoke: W. F. Beers, 1901 ; B. FI. Ridder, 1903; A. F. Strasser, [903; J. G. Moses, 1903; C. S. Forbes, 1901; G. 11. Butler, 1903; J. T. Williams, 1901, and M. H. Cardozo, 1901. The judges were J. P. Mitchel, '99, and C. A. Baker, '99. 1902 F., both old Philolexian men, and H. F. Hannah, 1902. After deliberating at some length the)' named for first honor Butler, who delivered Clay's speech on the Greek Revolution; for second place, Williams, whose • selection was Robert Emmett's farewell address, and for third place Mr. Cardozo, who delivered Mr. Choate's address 011 Jury Trial. This decision, however, was not unanimous 011 the part of the judges,…
1921-02-11 Alumni Gather to Eulogize Mitchel at Tablet Unveiling honoree of Alumni Day memorial tablet unveiling
Alumni Gather to Eulogize Mitchel at Tablet Unveiling As a part of the Alumni Day Exercises tomorrow Columbia will honor one of her most famous graduates, John Purroy Mitchel '99. The Mitchel Memorial exercises will start at 2:30 p. m. in the Gym, George S. Hellman '99 presiding. The first address will be made by President Butler as the representative of the University. He will be followed by Major General Robert L. Bullard, for the U. S. Army, the Honorable George McAneny, for the Mitchel administration, Colonel Arthur Woods, for the Mitehel Post of the American Legion, and Professor Hans Zinsser '99, for the alumni. Music for the exercises will include "America," "The Soldier's March" from Faust and several other noteworthy pieces to be played by the Columbia University Band lead by Edwin Franko Goldman. The program will be concluded with the unveiling of the bronze portrait…
1914-05-14 PHILO ELECTS OFFICERS Annual Dinner Next Week expected to attend annual dinner
PHILO ELECTS OFFICERS Annual Dinner Next Week At the final meeting of Philolexian held last night in the Philo Room of the Library, officers for next semester were elected as follows: P. G. Dunham 'l5, President, H. N. Fairchild 'l6, Vice-President, D. M. Black 'l6, Secretary, P. E. Barker 'l6, Treasurer. Tha following were elected to the Program Committee: W. M. Stillman 'l5, P: Kemp 'l5. The Membership Committee was elected as follows: H. N. Fairchild 'l6, K. Smith 'l5, R. D. Franklin 'l6. The Finance Committee will consist of:, R. R. Perry 'l6 and J. W. Allison 'l6. The Play Committee is I. N. Freedman 'l6, K. C. Atwood 'l6 and J. A. Murphy 'l6. To the Archives Committee, E. B. Fox 'l6 and W. D. Taylor 'l6 were elected. L. Jabine'l4, retiring President, was unanimously chosen to *s!l the office of Critic. Philo will hold its annual dinner at the Columbia Club on Saturday evening,…
1915-05-12 FRESHMAN NIGHT IN PHILO CAMP Twelve First Year Men to Speak Before Society—New Officers to Preside BIG FEAST AFTER EXAMS expected guest at Philolexian annual reunion dinner
FRESHMAN NIGHT IN PHILO CAMP Twelve First Year Men to Speak Before Society—New Officers to Preside BIG FEAST AFTER EXAMS To the Freshmen who have been impatiently awaiting the event for a year, the Philolexian Society will throw open its doors tonight. Twelve Freshmen will speak for admission at this time, these having been selected from a list of about twenty-five. Each man is to speak for three or four minutes on any subject, but the addresses must be original, and no notes may be u-ed. The annual "Freshman Nigh'." at Philo always excites considerable interest on the campus. Philo ii the one big thing to which Freshmen who have shown any literary ability during the year, look forward to. Last year nine men were taken into trie society. The Freshman trials tonight will be the 113 th of such occasions to have taken place since the society's organization in 1802. The first…
Columbia College Today & other articles
Columbia College Today — vol. 33 (~1991-92), Hamilton Hall bronze tablet feature
Former New York mayor John Purroy Mitchel '99 is memorialized with a bronze tablet situated between the pylons at the west end of Hamilton Hall. Unveiled on February 12, 1921, the tablet pays tribute to one of the city's great reformers. Until last summer, however, when years of grime and oxidation were finally scrubbed away, it was nearly impossible to discern the image of the mayor himself. Noted for his skills as a debater in the Philolexian Society, Mr. Mitchel began his political career by heading investigations that caused the removal of two borough presidents. After serving as collector of the Port of New York and president of the Board of Aldermen, at age 34 he became the city's 95th mayor. An anti-Tammany man, he championed home rule and instituted a program of tax relief and control of city debts. Mr. Mitchel enlisted in the Aviation Corps in World War I and was killed in a…
CCT feature explicitly identifies Mitchel as 'noted for his skills as a debater in the Philolexian Society'. Also documents the Hamilton Hall bronze tablet unveiled Feb 12, 1921, and his career as 95th mayor of NYC, WWI Aviation Corps enlistment, death in a training accident at age 39 (Lake Charles, La., July 6, 1918), and Mitchel Field's naming after him.
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912)
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) Leaf / page 53
Named in The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916)
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 182
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 1000
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
The Foundation's research archive
Philolexian Annals 1912, Roll of Members
John Purroy Mitchel · Confidence: CERTAIN
External references
Community-maintained record
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