In 1915, C. Cresson Wistar, Class of 1865, donated seven American elm grafts that were planted in a circle on the lawn behind Barclay Hall also known as “Barclay Beach.”

Each was a descendant of the Treaty Elm, the tree under which William Penn made a pact of unity with the Lenni Lenape Nation in 1682. Though six fell victim over the years to Dutch elm disease, one majestic tree from the original seven still dominates the lawn.