Geneva Medical College collection

The origins of the Geneva Medical College can be traced to 1826 when Dr. Hosack created the Rutgers Medical College in New York City sponsored by Rutgers University in New Jersey. This move was opposed by the New York State legislature which questioned whether students studying in New York could receive a diploma from a university located outside the state. Dr. Hosack and the Rutgers Medical College were brought to trial over that questions and it was ultimately put before the New York Supreme Court which said they could not. This forced Dr. Hosack to look for a New York based university to sponsor his medical college in New York City and turned to Geneva College (now called Hobart College of Hobart and William Smith Colleges).

Dr. Hosack and the Rutgers Medical College soon shifted their allegiance from Rutgers University to Geneva College leading to the Rutgers Medical Faculty of Geneva College. The Board of Trustees decided to open two branches of the medical college under their authority, reopening to medical college in New York City and opening another in Geneva. Once again, the medical college was brought to trial, this time questioning the authority of the Board of Trustees of Geneva College to appoint faculty outside of Geneva. Again, the court ruled unfavorably and ties between the Rutgers Medical College were cut in 1830.

In 1834 the Board of Trustees of Geneva College voted to create their own medical college as a branch of Geneva College under the direction of Dr. Thomas Spencer and Dr. John Morgan which opened in 1835. Edward Cutbush would become the first dean of the Medical Faculty while Thomas Spencer became the chair of the medical faculty. The Geneva Medical College settled into a strange space at Geneva College where it was independent from the rest of Geneva College in many ways but still remained under the authority of the Board of Trustees. This led to internal friction at times between the Board of Trustees and the Medical Faculty (mostly represented by Thomas Spencer) often in regard to finances and authority.

The Geneva Medical College hosted one of the most notable alumni of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Elizabeth Blackwell. She was the first women to receieve a medical degree in the United States when she graduated from the Geneva Medical College in 1849.

Due to slowly declining numbers, the Geneva Medical College was transferred to Syracuse University in 1871. Since Syracuse had a larger population, two already established hospitals providing more opportunities for students, and was better connected by railway to other large cities, Syracuse offered a more advantageous location for the medical college.