Adamson

Dr. George Lucas Adamson, a Greek chemist from Athens, founded the Adamson School of
Industrial Chemistry (ASIC) on June 20, 1932 to train young men and women along the
lines of practical industrial chemistry. It started as a one-classroom school that evolved into
the Adamson School of Industrial Chemistry and Engineering (ASICE) on February 19,
1936. Upon approval by the Secretary of Public Instruction of its application for university
status on February 5, 1941, it became known as Adamson University (AdU).

George Lucas’s cousin Alexander Athos Adamson came to ASIC shortly after to help the
fledgling school. Alexander joined the administration on July 15, 1932, serving at one time
or another as Vice President, Treasurer and Registrar. Much later, Alexander’s brother
George Athos Adamson also came onboard in 1934, becoming the School Dean, Dean of
the College of Engineering and professor. Evdoxia Savaides Adamson, wife of George
Lucas, started working and teaching in the University in 1939, then served as Dean of the
College of Education and of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Sofia Adamson,
George Athos’s wife, taught in the College of Education after arriving in 1939 and briefly
served as Directress of the Junior Normal College. Except for George Athos and Sofia who
left after the war, all the Adamsons remained working in the University until its turnover to
the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers of the Congregation of the Mission in 1964. George
Lucas Adamson served as President until 1967, for a total of 35 years, including a three-
year holdover stint at the assumption of the Vincentians as administrators.

Before finally settling on its permanent home along San Marcelino Street in 1946 after the
war, the school stayed in three different locations: Sta. Cruz (1932-1933), San Miguel
(1933-1939) and Intramuros (1939-1941). In San Marcelino, the University expanded with
the acquisition of the Meralco building in 1968 and the St. Theresa’s College-Manila
campus in 1977, both just across the street.