Humboldt State University history

The first graduate awarded their degree in 1915 was local historian Susie Baker Fountain, who went on to catalog much of Humboldt County history from 1850 to 1966. It opened on April 6, 1914, in the former Arcata Grammar School building with 78 students and 5 faculty.

By May of 1915, the school would celebrate its first graduating class of 15 women.

The school was put under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Education, renamed Humboldt State Teacher's College and Junior College, and moved to its current location in 1921.

In 1924, the school came into its own, establishing Associated Students and the alumni organization.

Bachelor's degrees began being offered in 1927.

Lavina left to open her own business in 1934 and within six weeks she had opened an office, hired three employees and had a substantial amount of work.

The school was renamed Humboldt State College in 1935 and the next year the Lumberjack was adopted as its mascot.

In 1937, the students opened a cooperative bookstore and soda fountain, which would exist for the next 40 years as the center of student life.

Graduate programs began being offered in 1947.

Under President Siemens in 1952, HSU continued expanding by accepting students from abroad, including some from Yugoslavia, Germany, the Near East as well as US territories such as Samoa, Guam and Hawaii.

New dormitories and academic buildings popped up across campus and in 1959 Lucky Logger was adopted as the school’s mascot.

In 1960, the college joined the newly formed California State College system.

David Philips (HSU alum) established the Humboldt Film Festival in 1967.

After a 10-year absence, the Marching Lumberjacks reformed in 1968 as a scatter band, modeled after the school bands of Ivy League universities.

In 1972, the college was renamed California State University, Humboldt.

Enrollment first reached 7,500 in 1974, and though it has increased to near 8,000 in years since, the university remains one of the smallest in the CSU system.

The Dwight and Lavina Bancroft Scholarships were established in 1986 by Lavina Bancroft in memory of her recently deceased husband.

In 1987 students and activists founded the optional Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility.

Lavina continued on until 1990, completing some 56 years of business.

When Lavina passed away in 1995, the funds increased by $200,000.

In 1996 the annual Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum workshop began being held on the campus every July.

The campus garnered national media attention in 1998, when the Schatz Energy Research Center debuted the country’s first hydrogen powered person vehicle, dubbed the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.

Humboldt State recently renovated many of its facilities, including improvements to the women’s locker rooms, a new boathouse and dock system on the waterfront, and a new softball facility that opened in February 2003.

April 2014 event marking 100 years since formal opening