Loyola University New Orleans history

The School of Dentistry was organized in 1914 with Doctor C. Victor Vignes as first dean.

The roots of educating adult students date back to 1919 when evening courses were first offered at Loyola for students who were unable to pursue full-time degree programs.

In 1986, a 115-000-square-foot Communications/Music Building was dedicated. It was incorporated into Loyola University in 1932 as the College of Music.

In 1945 the basketball team won the National Intercollegiate Basketball Championship Tournament.

In 1947, the Department of Commerce expanded into the full-fledged College of Business Administration.

By 1949, the demand for such evening courses had grown to an extent that the university decided to establish an Evening Division to serve the educational needs of working adults.

Benson’s investment of $8 million in the university will go toward the renovation of the 36,000 square foot building, originally constructed in 1950, which will house the Jesuit Center and a new chapel.

Norman Francis entered the Law School in 1952, becoming the first African-American admitted to the university.

More expansion continued in 1964, with the addition of the Joseph A. Danna Student Center; Albert Biever Hall, a student residence hall named after the first university president; and a central heating/cooling plant.

Built soon after in 1967 was Henrietta Buddig Hall, a student residence that is Loyola's tallest building at twelve stories.

In 1969, the university completed the largest academic structure in its history, the 180,000-square-foot J. Edgar Monroe Memorial Science Building.

In 1983, the college was renamed the Joseph A. Butt, S.J., College of Business Administration in honor of the Jesuit priest who taught generations of Loyola business students.

In 1984, the university purchased the 4.2-acre Broadway campus, formerly the campus of St Mary’s Dominican College.

The Activities Quad, between Bobet Hall and the Danna Center, was renamed the Plaza De Los Martires De La Paz in 1989 to honor the six Jesuits, their cook, and her daughter who were slain in El Salvador.

In 1993, Loyola purchased Mercy Academy, which now houses the Office of Human Resources, the Office of International Student Affairs, and Physical Plant.

The facility was renovated in 1994 – 95 and a number of departments moved in including the Office of Human Resources, the Office of International Student Affairs, the Women’s Resource Center, and Physical Plant.

In 1996, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities granted exclusive branding rights to Loyola University Chicago to call itself Loyola University.

The 150,000-square-foot J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library opened its doors in January 1999.

Following cleanup, classes resumed with the start of the spring 2006 semester on Monday, January 9, 2006.

In 2007, the College of Law opened its Wendell H. and Anne B. Gauthier Family Wing.

In 2008, Loyola completed an extensive renovation of the Danna Student Center.

In fall 2010, the university rededicated the former university library as the new Tom Benson Jesuit Center.

The College of Law expanded its reach in 2011 with the renovation of the former Dominican Conference Center.

The student-run online news service, Pack News, was established in 2012.

In 2018, President Wildes announced his intention to resign as president of the University.