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Historical Context

The college was founded in 1859 by Harvey G. Eastman, and was for a time one of the largest commercial schools in the United States. Eastman College was located in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Rather than merely being a theoretical school, students gained practical experience in the business arts by actually performing the tasks that would be expected of them in their working careers, a novel approach at the time.

The reverend William Lloyd taught at Eastman College in the late 1800's.

In 1897, Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, NY, had a Business Department, which offered hands-on practice in a mock bank and a mock railway and express office, and also taught book-keeping; a School of Shorthand; which trained students in shorthand, typing, duplicating, and filing; a School of Penmanship, which prepared students to teach writing and pen art; and a School of Telegraphy, which trained students as telegraph operators.

Early newspaper notices indicated that Eastman College was unique in that it owned no buildings. With 1,600 students, it rented five buildings according to the report. A new building was erected in 1883, and was located on Washington Street. It was three and a half stories high, with twin towers and the school name above the front doors.

The Duchess County Historical Society reported that the building was razed in 1941. Today a new Washington Street passes over the site.

The college closed on June 10, 1931.

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