Williams College was founded in 1793 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Williams College was easy to get into, but once admitted, the students were regulated by dozens of rules that were enforced by fines. The 1795 list of penalties included the following:

Every spot of ink on a library book 2 pence
Absence from prayers 5 pence
Getting a haircut on Sunday 2 shillings
Fornication 10 shillings

By 1805 the shillings and pence fines had been replaced with dollars and cents:

Being tardy to chapel exercises $0.02
Being out of your room after 9 p.m. $0.08
Keeping a gun in your room $0.17
Associating with an expelled student $0.34
Absent from Sunday service $0.50
Drunkenness $0.50
Dancing without permission $1.00
Fighting $1.00
Swearing $1.50
Playing backgammon $5.00

Backgammon had its own set of rules. Over the centuries, people have been confused about some of them ...

Read Duane's article in the March Point. Order HERE.


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