History

The Boston Theological Institute was absorbed into Boston University in 1871 as the BU School of Theology.

In January 1872 Isaac Rich died, leaving the vast bulk of his estate to a trust that would go to Boston University after ten years of growth while the University was organized. Most of this bequest consisted of real estate throughout the core of the city of Boston and was appraised at more than $1.5 million, possibly the largest single donation to an American college or university at that time.

By December, the Great Boston Fire of 1872 had destroyed all but one of the buildings Rich had left to the University, and the insurance companies with which they had been insured were bankrupt. The value of his estate, when turned over to the University in 1882, was left at half of what it had been in 1872. As a result, the University was unable to build its anticipated campus on Aspinwall Hill and the land was sold piecemeal as development sites. Street names in the area including Claflin Road, Claflin Path, and University Road are the only remaining evidence of University ownership in this area.

Boston University established its facilities in buildings scattered throughout the less fashionable parts of Beacon Hill, and later expanded into the Boylston Street and Copley Square area before building the Charles River Campus after 1937.