Wittenberg University history

17, 1849 Samuel Sprecher accepted the presidency and remained president for the following 25 years.

In 1866 Phi Kappa Psi was founded as Wittenberg's first fraternity.

In June of 1869 The Alumni Association was formed.

In 1874, women were admitted to the college, and, the following year, blacks were admitted.

Broadwell Chinn is first black student admitted to Wittenberg in 1875.

M. Alice Geiger became the first woman graduate in 1879.

1889 Doctor Hamma makes a $30,000 gift to Wittenberg for the creation of a new seminary building.

In 1892 Zimmerman Library (now Zimmerman Hall) opened on June 22.

Luther Alexander Gotwald, Professor of Theology in the Hamma Divinity School that served as the theological department of the college, was famously tried for and unanimously acquitted of heresy by the board of directors at Wittenberg on April 4–5, 1893.

In 1909 Carnegie Science Hall opened through a gift of more than $35,000 from Andrew Carnegie.

In 1915 the Myers family of Ashland gave a $20,000 gift to remodel the original College Building, called Old Wittenberg at that time, and rename it Myers Hall.

Nine make the supreme sacrifice.On May 25, 1918 former President Theodore Roosevelt visits campus.

July 1, 1920 Doctor Rees Edgar Tulloss '06, is named seventh President of Wittenberg and embarks on a $1.5 million campaign.

In 1922 WCSO was founded as first college radio station and had a broadcasting power of 1,000 watts.

March 11, 1924 was the first celebration of Founder's Day.

21, 1927 Koch Hall opens with a gift of $250,000 from Judge and Mrs.

June 1928 Board of Directors authorize the granting of Bachelor of Science degree.

1929 the Wittenberg Choir formed under the direction of Prof.

1930 Health and Physical Education building opens, now known as the old field house, or the west wing of the HPER Center.

1931 Weaver Observatory opens with $80,000 gift from Mr.

April 28, 1934 William McClain wins national oratorical contest, first African American to gain such an honor.

Field Hockey becomes first officially recognized women's sport in 1935.

Between the years 1941-45 nearly 1,500 Wittenbergers served in the armed forces, and 65 make the supreme sacrifice.

The Tiger becomes official mascot in 1945 when a student, John Norris, drew the first Wittenberg Tiger in an issue of the Torch.

In 1946 President Tulloss announces the receipt of a $500,000 gift for a new college chapel from Mr. and Mrs.

1, 1949 Clarence C. Stoughton assumes duties as president following the retirement of Doctor Tulloss after 29 years.

Sara Hasty Ignatz becomes the first woman member of the Board of Directors on June 4, 1951.

Leamer Hall is opened on April 14, 1953 as a dormitory for Hamma Divinity School students.

On June 11, 1955 the Wittenberg Guild begins a drive to raise $100,000 to convert Zimmerman Library into a classroom building.

27, 1956, Weaver Chapel-Thomas Library was dedicated.

In the winter and spring of 1959 the men's basketball and baseball teams win Ohio Conference Championships and later NCAA Mid-East Championship.

9, 1960, Hanley Hall opens and is named after long-time benefactor Stanley Hanley.

Student Union is completed in 1963 at a cost of $1.25 million.

Krieg Hall opens in the fall of 1966.

14, 1969, the students formed a walk-out that lasted for two days.

The East Asian Studies Program is created in 1972.

The administration offices move from Ferncliff Hall to Recitation Hall in 1978, ending the period of "recitation" in the 95-year-old building.

The Campaign for Wittenberg, a $16.7 million capital campaign, was launched in November 1979.

In 1981 the Thomas Library addition was completed, as well as renovations to Weaver Chapel at a cost of $5.5 million.

When the campaign came to an end in 1982, $20 million had been raised.

Construction of a new football field and track began in March 1993.

Jane Hollenbeck '39 makes a lead gift for a new humanities facility in December of 1997 that would be named Hollenbeck Hall.

The Defining Moments Campaign kicks off in 1998 with the university's most ambitious fundraising goal ever of $70 million.

Richard Kuss gives lead gift for an addition to the Science Hall in December of 2001.

On March 1, 2005, plans are announced for a new residence hall that will cost approximately $9 million and will house 195 students.

28.A new strategic plan, Distinctively Wittenberg: A Vision for Excellence, is approved by the Board of Directors in March 2006.

On June 11, 2008, four student interns begin a newly created eight-week summer internship program with the city of Springfield.

Founders, Wittenberg's premiere gathering space, performance venue and pub, opens in the fall of 2009 in the Benham-Pence Student Center.

In 2010, Wittenberg adopts a new energy policy to reduce campus consumption by 20 percent.On Oct.

20, Wittenberg's first NCAA Championship in 34 years.In 2011, Blair Hall becomes Clark County's first LEED Certified Building.

On July 1, 2012, Laurie M. Joyner begins her tenure as Wittenberg's 14th president, the first woman to hold the position.