Baby parties, the first of which occurred in 1912, celebrated the rise from Junior to Senior status. They provided a chance to “let down one’s hair” — literally — and be silly one last time, before becoming a more sedate… Read More »
1912First Baby Party
1912Reverend Charles P. Dole Speaks at Commencement
The Reverend Charles P. Dole speaks at commencement.
1913Reverend George A. Gordon Speaks at Commencement for a Second Time
Reverend George A. Gordon, author and lecturer at Yale and Harvard, speaks at commencement for a second time.
1913 - 1940Grace F. Shepard
Grace F. Shepard was a member of the English Department from 1913 to 1940 and author of Reference History of Wheaton College (1931).
1914College Awards its First Degrees
Wheaton awards its first baccalaureate degrees to Margaret Gretchell and Eleanor Lord.
1914Reverend George Hodges Speaks at Commencement for the Third Time
Reverend George Hodges, dean of the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, speaks at commencement.
1915Field Hockey Team Formed
The first varsity field hockey team is chosen.
1915George Herbert Palmer Speaks at Commencement
George Herbert Palmer, professor of philosophy at Harvard University, speaks at commencement. Learn more about Palmer at Wikipedia.
1916First Yearbook Published
The first yearbook is published. The Junior class edits it for the Class of 1916.
1916Reverend George Harris Speaks at Commencement for a Second Time
Reverend George Harris speaks at commencement for a second time. He was the author of Moral Evolution (1896), Inequality and Progress (1897), and A Century’s Change in Religion (1914).
1917Cole Memorial Chapel
Designed by Ralph Adams Cram, and built by L.M. Witherell & Sons of Taunton for $61,693, the Chapel was constructed in 1917. It was dedicated on 16 October 1926 to the memory of the Rev. Samuel Valentine Cole, Trustee from… Read More »
1917 - 1979The Observatory
The Wheaton College Department of Physics and Astronomy now maintains an astronomical observatory located on the roof of the Mars Center for Science and Technology. When Wheaton was granted college status in 1912, the old “Cheese Box” observatory became inadequate. Designed and built… Read More »
1917Frederick P. Fish Speaks at Commencement
Frederick P. Fish, former president of AT&T and patent attorney to Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers, speaks at commencement. Learn more about Fish from Wikipedia.
1918Reverend George T. Smart Speaks at Commencement
Reverend George T. Smart, author and Wheaton College trustee, speaks at commencement.
1918Catherine Filene Shouse
Catherine Filene Shouse was a member of the class of 1918. Daughter of Lincoln and Theresa Filene, Catherine organized the first Intercollegiate Vocational Conference for Women at Wheaton in 1917, while still a junior. Vocational conferences were held at Wheaton… Read More »
1919Reverend Willard L. Sperry Speaks at Commencement
The Reverend Willard L. Sperry speaks at commencement.
1919Elizabeth Baker Lewis Attends Wheaton
In 1919 an African-American student named Elizabeth Baker Lewis attended Wheaton, and had little or no trouble gaining admission to the college.
1920First Endowment Campaign Begins
Wheaton announces its first endowment campaign. The “2-6-0 Campaign” has a goal of one million dollars.
1920Reverend Raymond Calkins Speaks at Commencement
Reverend Raymond Calkins speaks at commencement.
1921Wheaton News Published
On November 1, the first edition of the Wheaton News is published.