ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd tˈuː, ɹˈælf vˈoːɹhiːz, ɐ fɪlˈænθɹəpˌɪst ɪn klˈɪntən, nˈuː dʒˈɜːsi, doʊnˈeɪɾᵻd dˈɑːlɚ fˈaɪv,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ tə ðə skˈuːl ɪn ˈɔːɹdɚ tə pˈɜːtʃɪs lˈænd ænd kˈɑːnstɹʌkt bˈɪldɪŋz.
In 1902, Ralph Voorhees, a philanthropist in Clinton, New Jersey, donated $5,000 () to the school in order to purchase land and construct buildings.