Hamilton Senior Canes, A Half-Century Tradition
This year marks the 50th anniversary of a beloved Hamilton tradition. At every Commencement ceremony since 1976, a wooden cane has been presented to each graduate as a token of the College’s affection and a nod to its long history. The head of the cane forms a Continental tricorn hat in honor of Baron von Steuben, drillmaster of Washington’s Continental Army, who laid the cornerstone of the Hamilton-Oneida Academy on July 1, 1794.
The idea for senior canes came from Lawry Gulick ’52, who is also credited with establishing the Buffers a cappella group as a student on College Hill. Later, while serving as dean from 1975 to 1979, Gulick not only started the cane tradition, but also introduced the Senior Fellowship program and the practice of welcoming new students at matriculation in Kirkland Cottage.
Funding for the canes is provided by the Lee H. Bristol, Jr. ’45 Canes Fund. For many years, the canes were crafted by Harden Furniture Co., which for over three decades was run by the late trustee David Harden ’48. After the company closed in 2018, Doug Cleveland ’85, a former Harden employee, ensured that the tradition continued by matching the College with the Fancher Chair Co. to take over production.
To celebrate a half-century of senior canes, we asked alumni to share if, and where, they keep their Hamilton memento. Several hundred responses poured in — the umbrella stand by my front door; at my parents’ house; in my study, my bedroom, my office, my closet, etc. We thought we’d share a few.
Here’s where a few members of the class to start the tradition keep their canes 50 years later …
“It’s in my library next to the fireplace. For years it was adorned by my old driver cover.”
“My Hamilton College cane resides — along with a collection of about two dozen fantastical folk art canes — in a 26-inch WWI-era ‘trench art’ spent artillery shell. The HamColl cane is clearly the most learned and erudite of the bunch.”
“On proud display in my man cave.”
“My cane has traveled through seven homes since graduating and lives in my home office to remind me where my professional journey began.”
Amanda Schwartz ’95
“In my English Department office at Emory University. I use my cane at every Commencement ceremony as one of the marshals. When anyone inquires how I injured myself, I can tell them a much better story.”
“I keep it in our library along with my husband’s [Chris Craig ’84] and sisters’ [Ann Rafferty Franciskovich ’86, Connie Rafferty ’88, and Sarah Rafferty ’93]. We have five canes in the library!”
“It’s kept in my office in a basket that happens to be right below my diploma. It’s a great conversation piece and the envy of anyone who didn’t get a cool cane at their Commencement!”
“I have my cane in the back of a closet in a guest room. I know it’s not an exciting location, but it means that a few times a year, when I am looking for a specific item or doing some seasonal cleaning, I run across my cane and remember all of the good times I had on the Hill!”
“With a fishing pole in the attic.”
“For years my cane propped open a window in my mom’s small home in Central New York. When we had to move my mom out of the house we grew up in because of her Alzheimer’s, she returned the cane to me saying, ‘This will help you in your walk through the rest of your life.’ My mom hadn’t forgotten the true meaning of the Hamilton cane. Today that cane rests beside my desk as a fond memory of my mom and the friends made and lessons learned on that hilltop in Clinton.”
“In the umbrella stand — we use it to retrieve our dog’s tennis balls under the couch (happens almost every day!)”
“My husband, Chris Bouton ’09, and I have our canes framed. They are crossed at the top and each has the ribbon our diplomas came in tied at the top. A plaque contains our names, majors, and graduation honors. The piece is hung over our mantel.”
“It’s in the corner of my office by the door so that I can pick it up and take it for a walk when I need to think about something. My staff know it as my ‘thinking stick.”
Sandy Webb ’05
“It’s perched next to my oversized couch in our cabin in the Adirondacks. We go to the cabin to hang and relax. Sometimes I get the cane out just to see it with its fun continental hat — it makes me smile.”
“My cane is kept in a stand with my late husband’s cane and our daughter’s cane — ’90 + ’90 + ’17. I love that all of our canes are together even though Michael Babcock’90 never got the chance to even see his daughter [Kelsey Babcock ’17, who recently married Ben Drebing ’17] start Kindergarten. He would have been immensely proud to know she walked on the same campus as he did, slept in the same dorm, and now has the same cane.”
“My cane is in a corner that I pass daily. It has supported me through knee and ankle surgeries, and looking at it makes me proud of my Hamilton history.”
“My cane is carefully leaning against a corner in my home office and positioned in a way where it proudly appears in the background of my many Zoom calls.”
“In my office and I walk with it in every graduation and commencement ceremony at my school [Newark Academy] when we wear our regalia. I even have my Kirkland Apple pin on my robes as well. My students who go on to Hamilton all know what it is and I send them off to the Hill by telling them to go earn their own cane.”
“Mine has been used in quite a few community theater shows, so it lives in our ‘costume closet.”
Meredith Mascali Henriques ’96
“Our living room, as a reminder to our children that hard work yields rewards.”
“My class, 1983, at our last reunion, many brought their canes. That would be a great addition to the tradition ... bring your cane to the Hill for your reunion. Would make a great photo op, too.”
“We have plantation shutters on the windows at the top of our stairs, but they are too high for everyone to reach. My cane is proudly displayed on the landing and frequently used to close the blinds. It’s one of only three Hamilton College canes (of which I am aware) that reside more broadly in Australia!”
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We keep ours in an umbrella stand by our front door — two ’89, one ’22, and one ’25 — along with my grandfather’s bamboo Princeton reunion cane and my other grandfather’s Scottish Highland walking stick. Treasure them all!”
“On my mantle behind the plant my dear friend I met at my pre-orientation gave me as a housewarming present!”
“Right next to the fireplace in our family room. We actually have two — mine and my wife’s [Joan Randolph Magruder] — both Class of 84!”
“After moving it around the houses I’ve lived in, always worried that I would ding, dent, break or lose it, I finally settled on its home in my home — with the rolls of holiday wrapping paper! I always know where it is and it’s the perfect length.”
“My whole family are alumni (’84, ’85, ’19, ’23), and so currently I keep my cane in my parents’ home with their canes — they stand in a line in order of graduation year next to our bookshelves.”
“It sits in a corner of our family gathering room. While it’s tucked in a corner, it’s intentionally in view for people to see. Over the years, I’ve had many questions about it, and each time I can proudly share its history and role in my life. My 3.5-year-old granddaughter loves to pick up the cane. Each time she does, she has me retell her its story. The last time she took the cane out, she said, ‘Lolly, I want to go to your college so I can get my own cane!’ Pure joy!”
“This prompt inspired me to look for my cane, which had popped into my mind every now and again over the last nearly 15 years. I found it still bubble wrapped from my return cross-country move eight years ago. I’m thrilled to finally have it out and on display once again. Thank you for the nudge to find it!”
