How a nineteenth-century medical school evolved into a modern research powerhouse in New York.
In short: Founded by a future U.S. president, the University at Buffalo began as a small private medical college in 1846. Today, it stands as the largest public university in New York, serving nearly 32,000 students and operating as a flagship institution within the expansive State University of New York system.
The institution traces its origins to May 11, 1846, when it was established as a private medical school to train local physicians. Millard Fillmore, who would later become the thirteenth President of the United States, served as the university's first chancellor until 1874. Early instruction took place in a former post office, as the school lacked dedicated facilities until a stone building was constructed at Main and Virginia streets between 1849 and 1850.
The university underwent a significant transformation in 1962 when it was acquired by the State University of New York system. This merger, supported by then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller, prompted the development of a comprehensive North Campus in Amherst, which eventually became the primary hub for non-medical disciplines. The institution has since expanded its reach, earning classification as an R1 doctoral university with very high research activity and gaining membership in the Association of American Universities in 1989.
In recent years, the university has actively re-evaluated its historical ties. Beginning in 2019, the administration moved to distance the school from its founders due to their controversial associations with slavery. This included ending the co-sponsorship of Millard Fillmore’s annual gravesite ceremony and removing his name from the campus academic center, as well as de-naming buildings associated with other figures who held racist views or owned slaves.
Today, the university maintains a diverse academic portfolio, housing 13 schools and colleges that offer hundreds of degree programs. From its early days as a local medical training ground to its current status as a major research center, the institution continues to shape the regional economy, with recent estimates suggesting its presence contributes approximately $1.7 billion to the Western New York economy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: University at Buffalo
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