Chester Nichols Ames (1871-1921)

Chester Ames was born in 1871 to William C. and Margaret Demory Ames. He first attended Western Maryland College before transferring to Dickinson in 1888. At the College, Ames was a member of the Belles Lettres Literary Society, and Phi Beta Kappa, and a founding member of the College’s chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Ames eventually graduated with the class of 1893. After a brief career as a journalist, Ames received his master's degree from Dickinson in 1896. That same year, Ames accepted the position of registrar of the College.

The appointment of Ames as the first registrar marked a modernization of in the conducting of official college business. Prior to this, college business was conducted by various faculty members who divided their time between these duties and teaching. Ames’ position marked a separation between administration and education at Dickinson that allowed the faculty to concentrate on their students rather than on paperwork. Ames served the college from 1896 to 1901, at which time the College abolished the office of the registrar.

In 1901, he was admitted to the Cumberland County Bar, and became editor of the Newville Times. Chester Nichols Ames died on February 21, 1921.