**File metadata**

@file_pinax -> documents -> @commencement_and_ceremonies:document {title: "Commencement and Ceremonies Records", creator: [@edwin_russell_dean, @prof_cleveland, @prof_birdsell, @prof_preston, @dr_reynell_coates, @dr_birdsell, @cleveland_evans, @edwin_fennell], created: @date_1850, updated: @date_1859, subjects: ["Commencement","Ceremonies","Medical Education","Faculty Meetings","Student Admissions","Surgery","Graduation"]}

---

**Places**

@albany_ny:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@new_york_city:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@washington_dc:place {country: @united_states}
@concert_hall:place {city: @albany_ny}
@prof_preston_house:place {city: @albany_ny}

---

**People (first‑time definitions)**  

@edwin_russell_dean:person {full_name: "Edwin Russell Dean", role: "Dean"}
@prof_cleveland:person {full_name: "Prof. Cleveland", role: "Professor"}
@prof_birdsell:person {full_name: "Prof. Birdsell", role: "Professor"}
@prof_preston:person {full_name: "Prof. Preston", role: "Professor"}
@dr_reynell_coates:person {full_name: "Dr. Reynell Coates", role: "Physician, later Professor of Surgery"}
@dr_birdsell:person {full_name: "Dr. Birdsell", role: "Physician"}
@cleveland_evans:person {full_name: "Cleveland Evans", role: "Physician"}
@edwin_fennell:person {full_name: "Edwin Fennell", role: "Dean (elected 1850)"}
@dr_temple:person {full_name: "Dr. Temple", role: "Treasurer (elected 1850)"}
@dr_fennell:person {full_name: "Dr. Fennell", role: "Dean (elected 1850)"}
@dr_cleveland:person {full_name: "Dr. Cleveland", role: "Secretary (elected 1850)"}
@prof_bennett:person {full_name: "Prof. Bennett", role: "Teller (elected 1850)"}
@prof_e_h_cleveland:person {full_name: "Prof. E. H. Cleveland", role: "Valedictory speaker (1850)"}
@miss_eliza_j_zimmerman:person {full_name: "Miss Eliza J. Zimmerman", role: "Medical student"}
@hilda:person {full_name: "Dr. Hilda", role: "Student", location: @albany_ny}
@francis_l_evans:person {full_name: "Dr. Francis L. Evans", role: "Student", location: @new_york_city}
@mrs_m_c_redmond:person {full_name: "Mrs. M. C. Redmond", role: "Student", location: @washington_dc}
@students:person {description: "Collective of admitted students"}

---

**Events & ceremonies**

@eighth_annual_commencement:event {when: @date_1859_03_05, where: @concert_hall, description: "Eight Annual Commencement of the medical college"}
@eighth_annual_commencement -> conferred degree -> @prof_cleveland {role: "conferred degree"}
@eighth_annual_commencement -> valedictory delivered by -> @prof_birdsell {role: "valedictory speaker"}
@eighth_annual_commencement -> adjourned by -> @edwin_russell_dean {role: "Dean"}

@reunion_farewell_meeting:event {when: @date_1859_03_05, time: "evening", where: @prof_preston_house, description: "Pleasant meeting of reunion and farewell"}
@reunion_farewell_meeting -> attended by -> [@students, @prof_preston, @prof_cleveland, @prof_birdsell, @cleveland_evans, @edwin_fennell]

@fourth_annual_session:event {when: @date_1859_11_15, where: @concert_hall, description: "Fourth Annual Session of the college"}
@fourth_annual_session -> introductory lecture delivered by -> @prof_preston {audience: "crowded & attentive, both sexes"}
@fourth_annual_session -> authorized expenditure -> @commencement_and_ceremonies {amount: 35, currency: "USD", purpose: "purchase of a skeleton for faculty use"}

@reynell_coates_election:event {when: @date_1859_10_15, where: @concert_hall, description: "Election of Dr. Reynell Coates as Professor of Surgery"}
@reynell_coates_election -> elected -> @dr_reynell_coates {position: "Professor of Surgery"}
@reynell_coates_election -> motion by -> @dr_birdsell {vote: "unanimous"}

@zimmerman_graduation:event {when: @date_1850_03_07, where: @concert_hall, description: "Graduation of Miss Eliza J. Zimmerman (M.D.)"}
@zimmerman_graduation -> votes -> {
    physiology: {white: 8, black: 2},
    obstetrics: {white: 10, black: 0},
    anatomy: {white: 8, black: 2},
    chemistry: {white: 10, black: 0},
    surgery: {white: 8, black: 2}
}
@zimmerman_graduation -> degree conferred by -> @edwin_fennell {role: "Dean", date: @date_1850_03_10, time: "12:30"}

@officers_election:event {when: @date_1850_03_07, where: @concert_hall, description: "Election of college officers for the year 1850"}
@officers_election -> elected -> [@edwin_fennell, @dr_cleveland, @dr_temple, @prof_bennett]
@officers_election -> teller appointed -> @prof_bennett
@officers_election -> dean elected -> @edwin_fennell
@officers_election -> secretary elected -> @dr_cleveland
@officers_election -> treasurer elected -> @dr_temple

@committee_on_beneficiaries:event {when: @date_1859_10_15, description: "Committee reported admissions of new students"}
@committee_on_beneficiaries -> reported admissions -> [@hilda, @francis_l_evans, @mrs_m_c_redmond]

---

**Administrative & committee actions**

@dr_birdsell -> recommended -> @dr_reynell_coates {position: "Chair of Surgery", vote: "unanimous"}
@dr_birdsell & @cleveland_evans -> appointed -> @clinic_physicians:organization {year: @date_1859, purpose: "clinical instruction"}

@prof_cleveland -> conferred -> @degree_md:document {recipient: @miss_eliza_j_zimmerman, date: @date_1850_03_10}
@prof_e_h_cleveland -> delivered -> @valedictory:document {event: @eighth_annual_commencement}

@dr_birdsell -> delivered -> @valedictory:document {event: @eighth_annual_commencement}

--- 

**Notes**

* All dates are auto‑created entities (e.g., @date_1859_03_05).  
* Common‑knowledge entities such as @new_york, @united_states, @united_states, @united_states, @united_states, @united_states, @united_states, @united_states are referenced, not defined.  
* Collections of people are expressed as arrays when appropriate.