The Death of Mercury
The Beginning of the End
The rivalry over Mercury became increasingly controversial as the years progressed. It not only increased tensions between Colgate classes but also with the Hamilton community at large. Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of the founders of the tradition, regrets starting the competition, saying, "According to one estimate, the twenty-year-long custom cost the students more than $10,000 for chartered trains, buses, and handcars, for class banquets and damages, and that more seriously yet, it cost more than one student his bachelor's degree."1
1 "Mercury- A Tradition of the Past." Colgate Alumni News, December 1929: 13-14. Special Collections and University Archives, Colgate University Libraries
Class of 1923. "1922 Watch Out!" Broadside. Circa 1919.
Student Broadside Collection. Special Collections and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.
Class of 1917. "Hear Ye, 1916" Broadside. Circa 1913.
Student Broadside Collection.
Special Collections and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.
The Decapitation of the God
In November 1919, the faculty at Colgate decided to abolish officially the Mercury tradition because it had become dangerous for the students' welfare. Because of the increased competition between the classes, a student lost his life attempting to swim back from a small island to which he had been kidnapped along with the rest of his class. This devastating event began the pushback against the Mercury tradition and others like it which had become dangerously violent. The faculty beheaded the statue of Mercury and thus killed the tradition. Although the head rose from the dead a few times throughout the years from 1919 to 1949, Mercury never regained the same notoriety nor was he embraced by the campus.
"To the Subjects of His Mercurial Highness"
Broadside. Circa 1911.
Student Broadside Collection.
Special Collections and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.
"A little old piece of lead known as 'Mercury' probably did more to build class unity than any other agency ever in effect at Colgate. . . One after another of the old class customs have been done away with for one reason or another. In most cases protection to property and life itself has made the abandonment necessary."2
2 Colgate Alumni News, February 1928: 8. Special Collections and University Archives, Colgate University Libraries
"M is for Mercury."
Salmagundi, 1907. Hamilton, NY:
Colgate University Press, 1906: 204.
Colgate University Libraries.
Verse about Mercury
from Class of 1918 First Mercury Banquet program, 1914.
Mercury Collection.
Special Collections and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.
Mercury Through the Years
After Mercury's arrival on campus in 1884, the statue was slowly damaged, losing an arm by 1905, all four of his limbs by 1914, and intentionally beheaded to kill the tradition in 1919. Today, the head of Mercury resides in Special Collections and University Archives.
Drawing of Mercury and Pedestal.
Salmagundi, 1884. Hamilton, NY:
Colgate University Press, 1883: 65.
Colgate University Libraries.
Picture of Mercury with Unknown Man, 1913.
Mercury Collection.
Special Collections and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.
Image of Mercury, from
Class of 1918 First Mercury
Banquet Program, 1914.
Mercury Collection.
Special Collections
and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.
Head of Mercury, 1879.
Mercury Collection.
Special Collections
and University Archives,
Colgate University Libraries.