Eliza Wheaton Strong, the only daughter of Judge and Mrs. Laban Wheaton, dies at the age of 39, on March 25. Eliza Baylies Chapin Wheaton, daughter-in-law of the Judge, convinces him to found a female seminary in memory of his… Read More »
1834Wheaton is born
1835Wheaton Female Seminary Opens
On January 23, the first public announcement of Wheaton Female Seminary appeared in the Boston Recorder. On April 22, the doors opened to fifty pupils, and a 22-week summer term commenced.
1839The Seminary’s First Commencement
Judge Wheaton presents the Seminary’s first degrees to four graduates.
1840Library Established
Fanny Morey Wheaton established the Seminary Library with a gift of $100.00. The money was used to purchase Harper & Brothers newly established and pioneering publisher’s series, the “Harper’s Family Library” of titles in travel, history, and biography.
1855The Rushlight is Created
The first Rushlight was published by the Senior Class in 1855. Founded by Lucy Larcom, it is one of the oldest college literary magazines in continuous publication.
1855Larcom Wins Prize
Lucy Larcom won a fifty dollar gold piece as first prize from the New England Emigrant Aid Society, for her abolitionist poem Call to Kansas. Set to the tune of Stephen Foster’s Nelly Bly, the song encouraged abolitionist emigrants to… Read More »
1878Photographer Visits Wheaton
A traveling photographer visits Norton, taking numerous pictures of Wheaton buildings and students’ room.
1885Wheaton Celebrates 50 years
Wheaton celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.
1898Electricity is Installed
Electric lights are installed in the Seminary buildings.
1911Wheaton’s Motto Changed
Trustees vote to change the name of Seminary Hall to Mary Lyon Hall.
1912Wheaton Becomes a College
Wheaton Seminary is granted a college charter by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and becomes Wheaton College.
1914College Awards its First Degrees
Wheaton awards its first baccalaureate degrees to Margaret Gretchell and Eleanor Lord.
1920First Endowment Campaign Begins
Wheaton announces its first endowment campaign. The “2-6-0 Campaign” has a goal of one million dollars.
1935Wheaton’s Centennial Celebrated
Wheaton celebrates its Centennial at Commencement, with two days of festivities.
1940 - 1941Walker Evans Visits Wheaton
Walker Evans, a noted photographer and recipient of several Guggenheim Fellowships, makes four visits to Wheaton during 1940-1941 to lecture and photograph the campus.
1950Amy Otis Memorial Lecture Series Established
The Class of 1931 establishes the Amy Otis Memorial Lecture series in honor of the portraitist, miniaturist, and member of Wheaton’s art department from 1914 to 1932.
1959Marjorie Otis Memorial Lecture Series Established
The Marjorie Otis Memorial Lecture Series in Religion is established through the generosity of Henry Witte Otis, in memory of his first wife, Marjorie Maxfield Otis
1968Wheaton Joins the Twelve-College Exchange
Wheaton joins Amherst, Bowdoin, Darmouth, Wesleyan, Williams, Connecticut, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Vassar in a student exchange program.
1974 - 1977Wheaton Forums on Women Held
The first of four annual Wheaton Forums on Women is held during the Spring semester.
1976Fine Arts Library Flooded
The Fine Arts Library in Watson is flooded when a pipe freezes, bursts, and sets off the sprinkler system.