Case Western Reserve University history

Three faculty members began instruction in theology, ancient languages, and mathematics/natural philosophy and began to graduate students in 1830.

Hudson was active in the Underground Railroad effort and the college had enrolled its first African American student in 1832, just six years after opening.

In 1833, Western Reserve College organized the first abolitionist society in the former Connecticut Western Reserve.

The Cleveland Medical College was founded in 1843 in downtown Cleveland as an autonomous department of Western Reserve College.

In 1862 Zakrzewska founded the New England Hospital for Women and Children, which was devoted to clinical care and to the clinical training of women physicians and nurses.

In Hudson, President Cutler had declared the college open to women students in his inaugural address in 1872.

Industrialist Amasa Stone financed the college’s move to Cleveland’s University Circle in 1880.

A committee for the two institutions raised $119,400 from 56 donors by March 1881.

With funding from American industrialist Amasa Stone, the college moved in 1882 to “uptown” Cleveland, where it lives today, and assumed the name Western Reserve University.

1891 - Founding of Western Reserve University's School of Law

1892 - Western Reserve University creates Department of Dental Medicine; later renamed the School of Dental Medicine

1925 - Cleveland College is established

Meanwhile, WRU continued growing through the decades and into the 20th century with the addition of Schools of Law, Dentistry, Graduate Programs, Pharmacy, Applied Social Sciences, Nursing, Education, Architecture, Business/Management, and Library Science by 1941.

Four presidents: Cady Staley, Charles Howe, William Wickenden, and T. Keith Glennan guided Case School Applied Science into Case Institute of Technology by 1947.

In 1948, the Case School of Applied Science was renamed the Case Institute of Technology.

1952 - Western Reserve University creates a School of Business

Case Institute of Technology became the first engineering college to offer a program in computer engineering in 1963, and Case Western Reserve University, through its Case School of Engineering, continues to be a strong leader in a number of engineering fields today.

Robert Morse succeeded Glennan as president of Case on July 1, 1966, and one year later became president of Case Western Reserve University.

In 1967, Adelbert College and Case Institute of Technology merged, creating modern-day Case Western Reserve University.

1992 - Case School of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences established

2002 - Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine opens, providing full tuition for admitted students

Eight more presidents would lead the institution through 2017 which marked the 50th anniversary of the merger and a celebration of the benefits and growth of the University and its developmental impact upon the University Circle region of Cleveland.