Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts
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College History Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts

Robert Katende Receives Otis Social Justice Award

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1834Wheaton is born

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 »

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.

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