| 1835 |
North Carolina Baptist State Convention appoints
a committee “to consider the establishment of a female
seminary of high order.” |
| 1838 |
Thomas Meredith, founder of the Biblical Recorder, calls
for an institution to provide "a first-rate course of
female education." History
link |
| 1889 |
After a delay due to the Civil War and Reconstruction as
well as the general lack of interest in women's education,
Leonidas Polk introduces a resolution to the Convention for
a Baptist female college. His resolution is adopted unanimously.
|
| 1891 |
The state legislature grants a charter for the Baptist Female
University. |
| 1893 |
To raise money for the school, Oliver
Larkin Stringfield begins traveling across the state and
Fannie E. S. Heck organizes the Woman's Executive Committee
of the Baptist Female University. Economic conditions in the
1890s make fundraising difficult and donations often are small,
many one dollar or less. |
| 1895 |
Construction begins at the corner of Edenton
and Blount streets in downtown Raleigh. Adolphus Bauer, who
designed the governor's mansion, is the architect. History
link |
| 1899 |
Baptist Female University opens in September
with nineteen faculty/staff members and more than 200 students.
James C. Blasingame is president. A college year is three
terms of three months each. Room and board costs $36 per term,
and tuition is $17.50, with additional fees for music and
art. |
1900
|
President Blasingame resigns after one year
and Richard Tilman Vann is chosen to lead the University.
An accident at a cane mill when he was a child resulted in
the loss of both hands and most of his arms. Despite this,
he obtained an education and was a respected pastor and teacher.
|
1902
|
The first ten students graduate in May; these
women are referred to as "The
Immortal Ten." History
link |
1904
|
Trustees change name from Baptist Female
University to Baptist University for Women. Students publish
the first yearbook, Oak Leaves. |
| 1905 |
Student
government, one of the first in
the South, is initiated. |
1906
|
The tradition of the hiding of the Crook
begins. History
link |
1907
|
In 1900, there had been a debt of $43,000,
but by 1907, the University has an endowment of $37,000 and
has grown to include six buildings and a library of 2,000
volumes. Students publish a literary magazine, The Acorn.
|
1909
|
To honor Thomas Meredith, trustees change
the name to Meredith College. History
link |
| 1915 |
After fifteen years, Dr. Vann (who wrote
the words and music to Meredith's "Alma Mater")
retires. During his presidency, enrollment increased to almost
400 and the endowment to $127,000. Charles Edward Brewer,
professor of chemistry at Wake Forest College, is selected
as third president. 1915 also is the first year of Stunt.
|
| 1919 |
Student handbook contains a welcome letter
to "Little Sis Class." |
| 1921 |
Meredith is admitted to Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools. The Twig, the student newspaper,
begins; it will be renamed Meredith Herald in 1986. |
| 1923 |
Kappa Nu Sigma, scholastic honor society,
is organized on campus by Dr. Helen Hull Law, professor of
Latin and Greek. |
| 1924 |
Graduates become eligible for membership
in the American Association of University Women. The faculty
presents Alice in Wonderland to entertain their students.
Construction of a new campus begins on Hillsborough Street,
despite the objections of some who think this site is too
close to State College. |
1926
|
In January, students return from Christmas
holidays to the new campus with six Georgian-style buildings
that form a quadrangle: an administration building, a cafeteria,
and four dormitories. |
| 1928 |
Association of American Universities places
Meredith on its list of approved colleges. |
| 1939 |
President Brewer retires. He oversaw the
construction of and move to the new campus; enrollment has
increased to almost 600. Dr. Carlyle Campbell is named fourth
president. |
| 1944 |
Baptist State Convention rejects proposals
to merge Meredith and Wake Forest College. |
| 1945 |
The first Cornhuskin' is held at Meredith.
History
link |
| 1947 |
The Honor Code is adopted. |
| 1949 |
Jones Auditorium is dedicated. |
| 1953 |
Grimmer Alumnae House is built. |
| 1956 |
Joyner Hall for liberal arts is completed.
|
1959
|
Hunter Hall opens for science classes. |
| 1960 |
Brewer House is built for students of home
economics; today it is used as an infant care teaching lab.
|
| 1962 |
Carroll Health Center and Poteat Residence
Hall are completed. |
| 1964 |
Dr. Norma Rose is the speaker at the first
Faculty Distinguished Lecture. The newly completed McIver
Amphitheater is used for Class Day. |
| 1966 |
Dr. Campbell steps down. During his twenty-seven
years, enrollment has increased to almost 1,000. Dr. Bruce
Heilman becomes Meredith's fifth president. |
| 1968 |
The first African American students enroll;
in 1971 Gwendolyn Matthews Hilliard becomes the first African
American to graduate. |
| 1969 |
The library moves from Johnson Hall to the
new Carlyle Campbell Library; a sixth dormitory, Heilman,
is added. History
link |
| 1970 |
Weatherspoon Physical Education Building
opens. |
| 1971 |
Dr. Heilman resigns as president. He is credited
with continuing high academic standards, increasing faculty
compensation and the number of faculty with doctorates, and
expanding the student body by 44%. |
1972
|
Dr. John E. Weems becomes president. Two
new buildings are added: Massey House President's Residence
and Barefoot Dormitory. The Continuing Education Program begins.
|
| 1973 |
Eric Charles Rust is the speaker at the first
Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar Lecture. |
| 1974 |
Cate Student Center is dedicated; Meredith
names first female vice-president, Dr. Sandra Thomas. This
is the first summer of Meredith Abroad. |
| 1977 |
Wainwright Music Building is dedicated. |
| 1978 |
Sir Harold Wilson is the speaker at the first
Lillian Parker Wallace Lecture. |
| 1979 |
The Paralegal Program begins. |
| 1982 |
Jones Chapel and Harris Building are completed.
|
| 1983 |
Meredith begins offering master's degrees
in business, education, and music. |
| 1984 |
The Honors Program begins. |
| 1985 |
Mary E. Yarbrough Research Center is dedicated.
|
| 1987 |
Gaddy-Hamrick Art Center opens. |
| 1988 |
Meredith is chosen to participate in North
Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. The Graduate Program is
named John E. Weems Graduate School. |
| 1993 |
CamCards are issued to Meredith students.
Campbell Library gets its first computerized online library
system. |
| 1994 |
Ledford Hall is dedicated. |
| 1996 |
Park Center opens. |
| 1997 |
Association for Black Awareness changes its
name to Association for Cultural Awareness. Meredith and Baptist
State Convention formally redefine their relationship. |
| 1999 |
The twenty-seven year Weems presidency ends;
during these years, the size of both the student body and
the faculty nearly double. Dr. Maureen A. Hartford is chosen
as first female president. History
link |
| 2001 |
Meredith Technology Initiative begins, providing
laptop computers for students. |
| 2002 |
Four men graduate from the M.B.A. program,
becoming the first men in the College's history to earn degrees.
|
| 2003 |
Science and Mathematics Building opens. Since
becoming president, Dr. Hartford has introduced four initiatives:
Science and Mathematics, Undergraduate Research Opportunities,
Meredith Technology, and Service Learning and Leadership.
Meredith remains the largest private college in the Southeast
for women. |
|
|
