years by the original. Priorities of the College A large plaque was presented by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in 1914 which lists some of the notable firsts for William and Mary: First college in the United States, the claim being that its antecedents go back to the college proposed at Henrico (1619). First American college to receive its charter from the Crown under the Seal of the Privy Council, in 1693. Hence it was known as "their Majesties' Royal College of William and Mary." First and only American college to receive a colonial Coat-of-Arms from the College of Arms in London, 1694. First college in the United States to have a full Faculty, consisting of a President, six Professors, usher; and writing master, 1729. First college to confer medallic prizes; the gold medals donated by Lord Botetourt in 1771. First college to establish an inter-collegiate fraternity, the Phi Beta Kappa, December 5, 1776. First college to have the Elective system of study, 1779. First college to have the Honor System (inked by Thomas Jefferson), 1779. First college to become a University, 1779. First college to have a school of Modern Languages, 1779. First college to include Fine Arts in a professorship, 1779. First college to have a school of Municipal and Constitutional Law, 1779. First college to teach Political Economy, 1784. First college to have a school of Modern History, 1803. See also List of the oldest buildings in the United States Wren Cross controversy List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia National Register of Historic Places listings in Williamsburg, Virginia References External links William & Mary College, Main Building, College Yard, Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA: 4 photos, 14 measured drawings, and 5 data pages at Historic American Buildings Survey William and Mary — History of the Wren Building Colonial Williamsburg — Wren Building 1700 establishments in Virginia 18th-century Church of England church buildings College of William & Mary buildings Colonial Williamsburg Christopher Wren buildings Historic American Buildings Survey in Virginia National Historic Landmarks in Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Williamsburg, Virginia School buildings completed in 1700 University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia