Timeline of Meredith College History:
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. |
| 2011 | Dr. Jo Allen becomes Meredith's 8th president on July 1, 2011. Dr. Allen is the first Meredith graduate to hold the office. |
(from: Meredith College Carlyle Campbell Library)