Edward Hitchcock

A portrait photograph of Edward Hitchcock.Edward Hitchcock graduated from Amherst in 1849 and received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Hitchcock was a Professor of Hygiene and Physical Education at Amherst College from 1861-1911, college physician, and de facto collector of Amherst College history. Hitchcock believed in the importance of sound physical health for college students so that the mind could accomplish its best work and the students could look forward to "the promised labor of a long life." To achieve that goal, he developed systems of physical training (a precursor of today's fitness exercises) intended to appeal to the students both mentally and physically. In addition to heading the Department of Physical Education and Hygiene at Amherst, Hitchcock taught physiology, comparative anatomy, and hygiene. He served as Dean of the College for many years