Hardenbergh Hall at Rutgers University: Unveiling a Complex History
Hardenbergh Hall, a building on the College Avenue Campus of Rutgers University, stands as a physical reminder of the institution's long and intricate past. While seemingly a simple dormitory, its name and history are intertwined with the complex legacy of slavery and its impact on the founding and development of the university. This article delves into the history of Hardenbergh Hall, its namesake, and Rutgers University's ongoing efforts to confront its historical ties to slavery.
The Construction and Naming of Hardenbergh Hall
Hardenbergh Hall was constructed in 1956, along with Frelinghuysen Hall and Campbell Hall. These three buildings, known as the River Dorms, were designed in the International Style and offer views of the Raritan River. Hardenbergh Hall was originally designed as the "medical" dorm, equipped with air conditioning for students with physical ailments.
The building was named in honor of Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, a Dutch Reformed minister who played a pivotal role in the establishment of Queen's College, which was later renamed Rutgers College. Hardenbergh served as the college's first president from 1785 to 1790.
Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh and His Family's Connection to Slavery
While Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh is celebrated as a founder and early leader of Rutgers University, his legacy is complicated by his family's involvement in slavery. Research conducted as part of the Scarlet and Black Project revealed that the Hardenbergh family owned enslaved people, including the renowned abolitionist Sojourner Truth and her parents, Bomefree and Mau-Mau Bett.
Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh came from a prominent slaveholding family in Ulster County, New York. He was born in the family home "Rosendale." The elder Colonel Johannes Hardenbergh (1706-1786), a founding trustee of Queens (later Rutgers) College, lived with his family in “Rosendale,” a house with many rooms as well as slave quarters. In the New York Census of Slaves of 1755 Hardenbergh is listed as living in Hurley owning six slaves, which made him one of the largest slaveholders in the county.
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While it is unknown how many enslaved people were forced to manage Hardenbergh's household, the historical marker erected at Hardenbergh Hall honors Sojourner Truth, Bomefree, Mau-Mau Bett, and all the other individuals enslaved by the Hardenbergh family.
Rutgers University's Acknowledgment of its History
In recent years, Rutgers University has undertaken a comprehensive effort to acknowledge and address its historical connections to slavery and racial injustice. The Scarlet and Black Project, launched in 2015, has been instrumental in uncovering the stories of enslaved people and other disenfranchised populations who were impacted by the university's early benefactors.
As part of this ongoing effort, Rutgers installed four historical markers in the spring of this year to provide a more complete and honest portrayal of the university's past. These markers, including the one at Hardenbergh Hall, serve as a reminder of the complicated legacies of the individuals for whom campus buildings are named and the ways in which wealth derived from slavery was woven into the fabric of the institution.
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway emphasized that these markers are "an invitation for us to talk about the complicated legacies of namesakes and the complicated ways in which blood money from slavery is woven into old institutions like Rutgers."
Deborah Gray White, a Rutgers University History Professor, stated, "Hardenbergh, Livingston, and Frelinghuysen contributed their time, in terms of their presence and leadership to the campus, but they also contributed their money," Gray White said. "Money made through the slave trade."
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Student Activism and Calls for Change
While the installation of historical markers has been lauded as a step in the right direction, some students believe that more needs to be done. An online petition with thousands of signatures has called for the renaming of buildings named after slaveholders.
Rutgers Black Student Union Vice President Ezenezie v. Eze expressed the sentiment that "It is appalling that we're still having these conversations you know."
Additional Markers and Ongoing Efforts
In addition to the four markers already installed, Rutgers is planning to erect eight more historical markers, including one acknowledging Colonel Henry Rutgers, the university's namesake, who was the son of a slave-owning family.
The university has also taken other steps to recognize and honor the contributions of African Americans and other marginalized groups, including naming a walkway "Will's Way" after an enslaved man who helped lay the foundation of the Old Queens building and naming an apartment building after Sojourner Truth.
The Broader Context of Racial Injustice
Rutgers University's efforts to confront its history are part of a broader movement to address racial injustice in higher education and American society as a whole. The Black Lives Matter movement has created a space for greater awareness and understanding of the ongoing impact of slavery and systemic racism.
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“As the pandemic has given all people more time to think and reflect on the way law enforcement deals with Black lives, books and videos reflecting Black life have increased in consumption,” White said.
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