Long Island University C. W. Post Campus - History

History

In 1947, recognizing the educational needs of the growing number of families moving to the suburbs, the University purchased the estate of Mrs. Joseph E. Davis, better known as Marjorie Merriweather Post. LIU Post was originally conceived to be a small liberal arts and sciences college. Today, this 307-acre, doctoral degree-granting campus is home to more than 11,000 students.

The year was 1955 and 121 students decided to take an educational gamble of a lifetime by enrolling at a new college that had no accredited degree programs, held classes in converted barns, garages and servants' bedrooms, had no sports teams or traditions. Long Island University purchased the 177-acre Gold Coast estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the Post Cereal fortune, for $200,000 to establish a small liberal arts college in Nassau County. The University's Board of Trustees named the college for Marjorie's father, the great American breakfast cereal inventor Charles William Post. Since its inception, LIU Post has grown exponentially to include 260 degree programs, six schools of study, 8,700 students, and more than 320 faculty members. The Campus covers 307 acres and comprises 47 buildings, 10 residence halls and three historic mansions.

LIU Post is named for cereal tycoon Charles William Post. Mr. Post was the father of Marjorie Merriweather Post, from whom Long Island University purchased a Brookville estate to create a Nassau County campus. C.W. Post College was founded on November 29, 1954, the 100th anniversary of Charles William Post’s birth (1854-1914). Mr. Post, who was known as “C.W.”, was the founder of the Post Cereal Company, which marketed products such as Postum (a coffee substitute), Grape Nuts and Post Toasties. C.W. Post is credited as being the first person to use print advertising to promote interest in his products. Because of his revolutionary advertising techniques, he rapidly became one of the most successful business owners of his era. In building his cereal empire, Mr. Post embodied ingenuity, determination and courage – qualities that are living inspirations for the Campus' students and faculty.

From 1921 to 1951, Hillwood, one of the famed estates of Long Island’s Gold Coast, was the home of Post Cereal Company heiress and socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post. The estate’s lavish Tudor-revival mansion was a symbol of her preeminent social and financial status. Hillwood was an idyllic country retreat for her family and friends to escape the noise and crowds of New York City. Tennis, horseback riding, swimming and golf were just a few of the favorite pastimes that guests enjoyed on the estate. The property also was used for numerous social and charitable events. Actress Billie Burke and her husband Flo Ziegfeld, and the Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg were just a few of the famous individuals who stayed here during the first half of the 20th century.

In 1947, Marjorie Post put the estate up for sale. Long Island University expressed interest in purchasing the property and in turning it into a small liberal arts college to serve the higher education needs of a growing Nassau County. The University officially purchased the estate in 1951, and in 1954 named the campus for her father, C.W. Post. Tours of the mansion are held twice a year: once in the spring and again in the fall for groups of 25. The cost of the tour is $15.00 per person and are available on a first come first served basis. Reservations are required.

During the first four years of its existence, the Campus had little, if any funds to construct academic buildings. Classes were held in existing structures, including barns, horse stables, greenhouses, cottages and a mansion. The retrofitted barn served as the site for chemistry classes from 1955 to 1965. The physics building, which was a vehicle shed original to the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate. The Campus library was established in 1955 in the estate’s guest house. The building has a distinguished history. In 1940, the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg lived in the building after they fled to America during to the Nazi invasion of their country.