Colleges in the colonial era -- Creating the "American way" in higher education: college building, 1785 to 1860 -- Diversity and adversity: resilience in American higher education, 1860 to 1890 -- Captains of industry and erudition: university-builders, 1890 to 1910 -- Alma mater: America goes to college, 1890 to 1920 -- Success and excess: expansions and reforms in higher education, 1920 to 1945 -- Gilt by association: higher education's "golden age," 1945 to 1970 -- Coming of age in America: higher education as a troubled giant, 1970 to 2000 -- A new life begins?: reconfiguring American higher education in the 21st century.