History of Swarthmore College in Timeline

Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1864, opening its doors in 1869. A pioneering institution, it's among the first coeducational colleges in the United States. Initially established under the Religious Society of Friends, Swarthmore gradually distanced itself from its religious roots, officially becoming non-sectarian by 1906. This transformation reflects its evolution as a leading academic institution committed to intellectual inquiry and diverse perspectives.

1900: National Championship in Men's Lacrosse

In 1900, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's lacrosse.

1904: National Championship in Men's Lacrosse

In 1904, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's lacrosse.

1905: National Championship in Men's Lacrosse

In 1905, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's lacrosse.

1906: Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity chapter on campus

From 1906 to 1991, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity maintained a chapter on the Swarthmore campus.

1906: Swarthmore drops religious affiliation

In 1906, Swarthmore College dropped its religious affiliation and officially became non-sectarian.

1910: National Championship in Men's Lacrosse

In 1910, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's lacrosse.

1921: Frank Aydelotte appointed as president

In 1921, Frank Aydelotte was appointed as president of Swarthmore College and he began developing the school's current academic focus, including his vision for the Honors program.

1922: Introduction of the Honors Program

In 1922, Swarthmore introduced its Oxbridge tutorial-inspired Honors Program, which allows students to take double-credit seminars from their third year and often write honors theses.

1935: Wolfgang Köhler joins Swarthmore

In 1935, Wolfgang Köhler, a noted psychologist, came to Swarthmore College after leaving Nazi Germany and served until his retirement in 1958.

1936: Hans Wallach joins Swarthmore

In 1936, Hans Wallach, a Jewish psychologist, joined Swarthmore College as a researcher after leaving Nazi Germany. He began teaching from 1942 until 1975.

1937: Christian B. Anfinsen Graduated

In 1937, Christian B. Anfinsen graduated from Swarthmore. He later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1972.

1942: Hans Wallach begins teaching

In 1942, Hans Wallach, who had joined Swarthmore College as a researcher in 1936, began teaching until 1975.

1944: Death of Helen Magill

In 1944, Helen Magill, who was in the first class to graduate from Swarthmore and the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D., passed away.

1947: Solomon Asch joins Swarthmore

In 1947, Solomon Asch joined the faculty at Swarthmore College and served until 1966, conducting his conformity experiments.

1954: John Hopfield Graduated

In 1954, John Hopfield graduated from Swarthmore. He later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024.

1955: Howard Martin Temin Graduated

In 1955, Howard Martin Temin graduated from Swarthmore. He later won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975.

1958: Wolfgang Köhler retires

In 1958, Wolfgang Köhler retired from Swarthmore College after having been a professor of psychology since 1935.

1960: David Baltimore Graduated

In 1960, David Baltimore graduated from Swarthmore. He later won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975.

1962: Edward Prescott Graduated

In 1962, Edward Prescott graduated from Swarthmore. He later won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2004.

1964: Sharples Dining Hall construction

In 1964, Sharples Dining Hall was constructed at Swarthmore College.

1965: Worth Health Center construction

In 1965, the Worth Health Center was constructed at Swarthmore College.

1966: Solomon Asch leaves faculty

In 1966, Solomon Asch left the faculty at Swarthmore College after having been a professor since 1947.

1967: Dana/Hallowell Residence Halls construction and College Review

In 1967, the Dana/Hallowell Residence Halls were constructed. Also in 1967, a review of the college was initiated by President Courtney Smith.

1968: John C. Mather Graduated

In 1968, John C. Mather graduated from Swarthmore. He later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006.

1969: Black protest movement

In 1969, African-American students conducted an eight-day sit-in in the admissions office to demand increased black enrollment. The sit-in abruptly ended after President Smith's death.

1969: WSRN Covered Black Protest

In 1969, WSRN had a significant news department, and covered events such as the black protest movement extensively.

1970: Black Cultural Center established

In 1970, Swarthmore College established a Black Cultural Center.

1972: Christian B. Anfinsen Nobel Prize

In 1972, Christian B. Anfinsen (class of 1937) won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

1973: Lang Music Building construction

In 1973, the Lang Music Building was constructed at Swarthmore College.

1974: Women's Resource Center established

In 1974, Swarthmore College established a Women's Resource Center.

1975: David Baltimore and Howard Martin Temin Nobel Prize

In 1975, David Baltimore (class of 1960) and Howard Martin Temin (class of 1955) won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

1975: Hans Wallach ends teaching

In 1975, Hans Wallach ended teaching at Swarthmore College, after having been a professor of psychology since 1942.

1976: National Championship in Men's Tennis Doubles

In 1976, Swarthmore won a men's tennis doubles national championship.

1977: National Championship in Men's Tennis

In 1977, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's tennis.

1981: Sixteen Feet Founded

In 1981, Sixteen Feet, the college's oldest a cappella group and its first and only all-male group, was founded.

1981: National Championship in Men's Tennis

In 1981, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's tennis.

1983: Grapevine Founded

In 1983, Grapevine, Swarthmore's corresponding all-female a cappella group, was founded.

1985: National Championship in Men's Tennis

In 1985, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's tennis and a men's tennis doubles national championship.

1990: National Championship in Men's Tennis

In 1990, Swarthmore won a national championship in men's tennis.

1991: Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity chapter on campus

From 1906 to 1991, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity maintained a chapter on the Swarthmore campus.

1992: Environmental Studies program and Intercultural Center established

In 1992, Swarthmore College established the Environmental Studies program and the Intercultural Center.

1993: Spike Humor Magazine Founded

In 1993, Spike, Swarthmore's humor magazine, was founded.

1993: Lang Performing Arts Center opened

In 1993, the Lang Performing Arts Center was opened at Swarthmore College.

September 1995: The Phoenix appears online

In September 1995, The Phoenix newspaper first appeared online.

1996: Kohlberg Hall established

In 1996, Kohlberg Hall was established at Swarthmore College.

1996: The Daily Gazette published

The Daily Gazette has been published since 1996, and in May 2018, it merged with The Phoenix.

1999: Purchase of renewable energy credits

In 1999, Swarthmore College began purchasing renewable energy credits in the form of wind power.

2000: Football Eliminated

In 2000, Swarthmore's football team was controversially eliminated, along with wrestling and, initially, badminton, due to a lack of athletes and difficulty recruiting.

2000: Mock trial team success

In 2000, the Swarthmore mock trial team placed tenth at the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championship Tournament and was awarded 'Best New School'. Dennis Cheng '01 was awarded the 'Spirit of AMTA' award in 2000.

2001: Mock trial team places second

In 2001, Swarthmore's mock trial team placed second at the AMTA National Championship Tournament.

2001: "Meaning of Swarthmore" capital campaign begins

In the fall of 2001, Swarthmore began the "Meaning of Swarthmore" capital campaign.

2002: Construction of first green roof

In 2002, Swarthmore College constructed its first green roof.

2003: Construction of first green roof

In the 2002–2003 academic year, Swarthmore College constructed its first green roof.

2004: Edward Prescott Nobel Prize

In 2004, Edward Prescott (class of 1962) won the Nobel Prize in Economics.

2005: Erotica Magazine Published

In 2005, an erotica magazine, ! (pronounced "bang") was briefly published in homage to an earlier publication, Untouchables.

October 6, 2006: Completion of "Meaning of Swarthmore" capital campaign

On October 6, 2006, President Bloom declared the "Meaning of Swarthmore" capital campaign completed, three months ahead of schedule. The campaign had been underway officially since the fall of 2001.

2006: John C. Mather Nobel Prize

In 2006, John C. Mather (class of 1968) won the Nobel Prize in Physics.

2007: Elimination of student loans from financial aid packages

At the end of 2007, the Swarthmore Board of Managers approved the decision for the college to eliminate student loans from all financial aid packages, instead granting additional aid scholarships.

2008: Debut of Phineas the Phoenix

In 2008, Swarthmore College's first mascot, Phineas the Phoenix, made its debut.

2010: Mock trial competitive season

In 2010, all three of Swarthmore's mock trial teams competed at Regional Championships, two teams went on to Opening Round Championships, and one team qualified and competed at the 2011 National Championships.

February 2011: Mock trial team places first at Philadelphia Regional competition

In February 2011, the Swarthmore mock trial team placed first at the Philadelphia Regional competition.

September 2012: Reversal of ban on sororities

In September 2012, Swarthmore College announced that the ban on sororities would be reversed as of the 2013 term, citing Title IX regulations.

2013: Graduates earning Ph.D.s

Between 2013 and 2022, Swarthmore ranked third among all institutions of higher education in the United States as measured by the percentage of graduates who went on to earn Ph.D.s.

2013: Mock trial program successes

In 2013, Swarthmore's Mock Trial program had numerous accolades and boasted a team of over 25 members for the 2013–2014 season.

2013: Kappa Alpha Theta chapter reestablishment

In 2013, the four women who helped overturn the ban on sororities spearheaded the reestablishment of a Kappa Alpha Theta chapter. The sorority admitted its first pledge class in the Spring of 2013.

2013: Fraternity minutes

In April 2019, two student publications, Voices and The Swarthmore Phoenix, published leaked minutes from Swarthmore's chapter of Phi Psi dating from 2013 to 2016. The 116-page document contained a plethora of misogynistic, racist, and homophobic jokes and slurs as well as pornographic images and evidence of hazing.

2013: OffBeat Founded

In the fall of 2013, OffBeat was founded as a Swarthmore a cappella group open to all genders and identities.

February 2014: Mock trial team wins University of Massachusetts Amherst's invitational tournament

In February 2014, the Swarthmore mock trial team won the University of Massachusetts Amherst's invitational tournament.

2016: Student enrollment data for 2016-2017

In 2016, Swarthmore College had an undergraduate student enrollment of 1,620 for the 2016–2017 year.

2016: Admissions statistics for 2016-2017

In 2016, Swarthmore was considered 'most selective' with 10.7% of the 9,383 applicants accepted during the 2016–2017 admissions cycle.

2016: Individual Championship in Women's Track and Field

In 2016, Swarthmore won an individual championship in women's track and field.

2016: Operating revenue for 2016

In 2016, the operating revenue for Swarthmore fiscal year was $148,086,000, over 50% of which was provided by the endowment.

2016: Fraternity minutes

2017: Student enrollment data for 2016-2017

In 2017, Swarthmore College had an undergraduate student enrollment of 1,620 for the 2016–2017 year.

2017: Admissions statistics for 2016-2017

In 2017, Swarthmore was considered 'most selective' with 10.7% of the 9,383 applicants accepted during the 2016–2017 admissions cycle.

2017: Voices founded

In 2017, Voices was founded as "an online news publication solely dedicated to centering marginalized voices and creating space for them to tell their own stories".

2017: Average financial aid award

In 2017, the average financial aid award was $50,361 during the 2017–18 year at Swarthmore.

May 2018: The Daily Gazette merges with The Phoenix

In May 2018, The Daily Gazette, which had been published since 1996, merged with The Phoenix.

2018: Student Statistics

As of 2018, one thousand six hundred and forty-seven students attend Swarthmore. The median family income of undergraduates is $165,500, with 53% of students coming from the top 10% highest-earning families and 18.2% from the bottom 60%.

2018: Garnet Reached NCAA Division III Championship Game

In the 2018–19 season, the Garnet reached the NCAA Division III Championship Game for the first time but lost to the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh 96–82.

April 2019: Student publications leak fraternity minutes

In April 2019, two student publications, Voices and The Swarthmore Phoenix, published leaked minutes from Swarthmore's chapter of Phi Psi dating from 2013 to 2016. The document contained misogynistic, racist, and homophobic content.

April 30, 2019: Voluntary disbandment of fraternities

On April 30, 2019, both Delta Upsilon and Phi Psi announced their voluntary disbandment on the Swarthmore campus.

May 10, 2019: Greek letter organizations no longer allowed

On May 10, 2019, President Valerie Smith announced that Greek letter organizations were no longer allowed at Swarthmore.

2019: Swarthmore's endowment

In 2019, Swarthmore's endowment at the end of the fiscal year was $2.13 billion, with an endowment per student of $1,370,157.

2019: Garnet Ranked No. 1

The 2019–20 team began the season 26–0 and were the last unbeaten team remaining out of all of Division I, II and III. The Garnet were ranked No. 1 in the nation by D3hoops.com for the entirety of the season, becoming the first team to be ranked at the top of that poll from start to finish.

2019: Greek organizations on campus

Until 2019, Delta Upsilon and local Phi Psi fraternities existed on the Swarthmore campus.

2020: Kosmalski Named Coach of the Year

In 2020, Landry Kosmalski, coach of the men's basketball team, was named Division III's National Coach of the Year.

2021: Most popular majors

In 2021, data shows Swarthmore's most popular majors were...

2022: Graduates earning Ph.D.s

Between 2013 and 2022, Swarthmore ranked third among all institutions of higher education in the United States as measured by the percentage of graduates who went on to earn Ph.D.s.