History of Davidson College in Timeline

Davidson College, located in Davidson, North Carolina, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1837. Established by the Concord Presbytery, it is named in honor of General William Lee Davidson, a Revolutionary War figure. The college offers a range of undergraduate programs and is known for its strong academic reputation and commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and responsible citizenship among its students.

1914: The Davidsonian Founded

In 1914, The Davidsonian, the main student newspaper on campus, was founded.

November 28, 1921: Chambers Building Destroyed by Fire

On November 28, 1921, the Chambers Building at Davidson College was destroyed by a fire.

1923: Phi Beta Kappa Chapter Established

In 1923, the Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in North Carolina was established at Davidson College.

1924: Duke Endowment Formed

In 1924, James Duke formed the Duke Endowment, which has provided millions of dollars to Davidson College.

1954: Joint Engineering Program Arranged

In 1954, the president of Georgia Tech and Davidson's president arranged the first-of-its-kind joint engineering program.

May 5, 1972: Trustees Vote to Admit Women

On May 5, 1972, the trustees voted to allow women to enroll at Davidson as degree students for the first time.

1973: First Woman Graduate

In 1973, Marianna "Missy" Woodward became the first woman to graduate from Davidson College.

2002: Royal Shakespeare Company Residency

In 2002, the Royal Shakespeare Company performed William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice in residency at Davidson College, inaugurating the Duke Family Performance Hall.

March 2005: Royal Shakespeare Company Residency

In March 2005, the Royal Shakespeare Company returned to Davidson and was in residency for most of the month, performing The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

2005: Board Votes to Allow Non-Christian Trustees

In early 2005, Davidson College's board of trustees voted to allow 20% of the board to be non-Christian.

February 2006: Royal Shakespeare Company Artist Directs Scenes

In February 2006, Royal Shakespeare Company artists directed scenes from Shakespeare's plays and other theatrical materials inspired by Shakespeare with Davidson students as actors.

March 2006: Belk Scholarship Tenth Anniversary

In March 2006, Davidson College celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of the Belk Scholarship.

February 2007: Royal Shakespeare Company Performances

In February 2007, the Royal Shakespeare Company performed Shakespeare's Pericles and The Winter's Tale, as well as Roy Williams's Days of Significance, in the Duke Family Performance Hall.

2007: Financial Aid Changes Announced

In 2007, Davidson College announced that all students would have their demonstrated financial need met by grants and student employment, with loans no longer included. The Duke Endowment pledged $15,000,000 to support the initiative.

2007: Elimination of Student Loans

In 2007, Davidson College eliminated the need for students to take out loans from the college to pay for their tuition.

2008: Royal Shakespeare Company Educational Programs and Play Development

In 2008, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) conducted educational programs at Davidson College, and playwright Rona Munro developed a new play, Little Eagles.