Thomas Hunter (school founder)


Thomas Hunter was the founder of the Female Normal and High School in New York City, United States, now known as Hunter College High School. The school is today considered one of the most valuable assets of the City University of New York, one of the world's largest urban university systems.

Biography

He was a migrant from Ardglass in Ireland to the United States. Hunter was president of the Female Normal and High School for 37 years. He died in 1915.

Legacy

During his tenure as president of the school, the school became known for its impartiality regarding race, religion, ethnicity, financial or political favoritism; its pursuit of higher education for women; its high entry requirements; and its rigorous academics. The college's student population quickly expanded, and the college subsequently moved uptown, into a new Gothic structure on Lexington Avenue between 68th and 69th Streets. Today, the college is particularly noted for its professional schools in the social sciences, education, health sciences, nursing, and social work.