Where could I find good information on the founding of schools and universities in colonial America? We are studying The Crucible which takes place in the late 1600's, and we are doing projects on various aspects of life at that time. My topic is schools and universities, and the only university I know of is Harvard. There must be many more, and I need to know their history and their impact on society, etc. Any info, sites, books, advice would be helpful. Thank you in advance!

Not a whole lot here in the 1600s!

Harvard University (1636)

College of William and Mary (1693)

Yale University (Founded as The Collegiate School in 1701)

Princeton University (Founded as the College of New Jersey in 1746)

Washington & Lee University (Founded as Liberty Hall Academy in 1749)

University of Pennsylvania (Founded as Philadelphia Academy in 1751)

Columbia University (Founded as King's College in 1754)

Brown University (Founded as Rhode Island in 1764)

Rutgers University (Founded as Queen's College in 1766)

Dartmouth College (Founded in 1769)

Some Links from the Columbia website...

State of Colonial Colleges

Curricular Evolution in the American Colleges

Another link

College and University Governance in the United States: An Historical Survey (See especially the section on governance of early American colleges)

Wish I could be of more assistance, but I hope this gives you a good start!