History of Wesleyan University in Timeline

Wesleyan University, established in 1831 in Middletown, Connecticut, is a private liberal arts university. Originally founded as a men's college with Methodist affiliations, it has since become a secular institution. The university is known for its open curriculum and strong programs in the arts and sciences.

1901: Publication of The Wesleyan Song Book

In 1901, "The Wesleyan Song Book" by Karl P. Harrington and Carl F. Price was published.

The Wesleyan Song Book

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1901: Glee Club Performance at the White House and Publication of Song Book

In 1901, the Wesleyan glee club was received at the White House by President McKinley, and the first edition of "The Wesleyan Song Book" was published by university alumni.

The Wesleyan Song Book

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1909: Judd Hall built

In 1909, Judd Hall was constructed and named after alumnus Orange Judd. It became one of the earliest academic buildings on any American college or university campus dedicated exclusively to undergraduate science instruction.

1909: North College Replaced After Fire

In 1909, North College, an original core building of the campus, was replaced after a fire with the current North College.

1909: Wesleyan stops admitting women as undergraduates

In 1909, Wesleyan stopped admitting women as undergraduates, fearing the school was losing its masculine image and that women would not be able to contribute financially after graduation as men could. This decision marked a shift back to being an all-male college until 1970.

1910: Student body size

In 1910, the Wesleyan student body numbered about 300 students.

1910: Mention of the year 1910

The book, Wesleyan University, 1831–1910: Collegiate Enterprise in New England, by David B. Potts, mentions the year 1910.

1912: Wesleyan operates as all-male college

From 1912, Wesleyan operated again as an all-male college until 1970.

1923: Publication of The Goose-Step: A Study of American Education

In 1923, Upton Sinclair published "The Goose-Step: A Study of American Education."

The Goose-step: A Study of American Education

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1925: Olin Library built

Olin Library was built between 1925 and 1927 and was dedicated in 1928.

1927: Olin Library built

Olin Library was built between 1925 and 1927 and was dedicated in 1928.

1928: Glee Club Performance at the White House

In 1928, the Wesleyan glee club was received at the White House by President Coolidge.

1928: Olin Library dedication

Olin Library was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead & White, built 1925–1927, and dedicated in 1928.

1932: Publication of Wesleyan's First Century With an Account of the Centennial Celebration

In 1932, Carl F. Price published "Wesleyan's First Century With an Account of the Centennial Celebration."

Wesleyan's first century,: With an account of the centennial celebration

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1957: Tradition of stealing the cannon begins

In 1957, the tradition of stealing the Douglas Cannon began in earnest.

1963: Publication of Night and Silence Who is Here?

In 1963, Pamela Hansford Johnson's comedic novel, "Night and Silence Who is Here?", was published, which is thought to be patterned after Wesleyan's Institute for Advanced Studies.

Night and Silence Who is Here?

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1968: Inception of the Watson Fellows Program

Since the inception of the Watson Fellows program in 1968, Wesleyan University has had at least 87 Watson Fellows.

1970: Wesleyan operates as all-male college

From 1912 to 1970, Wesleyan operated again as an all-male college.

1970: Mention of the year 1970

The book, A History of the Eclectic Society of Phi Nu Theta, 1837–1970, by William B.B. Moody, mentions the year 1970.

1991: Wesleyan wins ECAC soccer championship

In 1991, Amos Magee helped lead Wesleyan University to an ECAC soccer championship and school-best record of 15–1–1.

1992: Amos Magee named All-American

In 1992, Amos Magee was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-American.

1994: Release of PCU

In 1994, the cult comedy film "PCU" was released, which was based on and filmed in part at Wesleyan University, the alma mater of the screenwriters. It portrays an exaggerated view of contemporary college life, focusing on a fictionalized version of the Eclectic Society.

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1995: Publication of Thinker, Sailer, Brother, Spy: A Novel

In 1995, John Maher's "Thinker, Sailer, Brother, Spy: A Novel" featured a fictional look at the life of a professor at Wesleyan University.

1999: Publication of Wesleyan University, 1831–1910: Collegiate Enterprise in New England

In 1999, David B. Potts published "Wesleyan University, 1831–1910: Collegiate Enterprise in New England."

Wesleyan University, 1831–1910: Collegiate Enterprise in New England

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2000: Publication of Hidden Ivies: Thirty Colleges of Excellence

In 2000, Howard Greene and Matthew Greene published "Hidden Ivies: Thirty Colleges of Excellence."

Greenes' Guides to Educational Planning: The Hidden Ivies: Thirty Colleges of Excellence

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2002: Publication of The Gatekeepers: Inside The Admissions Process of a Premier College

In 2002, Jacques Steinberg published "The Gatekeepers: Inside The Admissions Process of a Premier College."

The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College

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2006: Publication of One Hundred Semesters: My Adventures as Student, Professor, and University President, and What I Learned along the Way

In 2006, William M. Chace published "One Hundred Semesters: My Adventures as Student, Professor, and University President, and What I Learned along the Way."

One Hundred Semesters: My Adventures as Student, Professor, and University President, and What I Learned along the Way (The William G. Bowen)

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2007: Fulbright Program Scholarships

From 2007 through 2011, 42 Wesleyan students and alumni received scholarships under the Fulbright program.

2007: Gary Yohe Wins Nobel Peace Prize

In 2007, Gary Yohe, a current professor of economics at Wesleyan, won a Nobel Peace Prize.

2007: Publication of A History of the Eclectic Society of Phi Nu Theta, 1837–1970

In 2007, William B.B. Moody published "A History of the Eclectic Society of Phi Nu Theta, 1837–1970."

A History of The Eclectic Society of Phi Nu Theta, 1837–1970

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2008: Wesleyan's Film Program Recognized by Vanity Fair and Variety

In 2008, Vanity Fair noted Wesleyan's disproportionate number of Hollywood alumni, while Variety recognized Jeanine Basinger's contribution to the film industry through Wesleyan's Film Studies program.

2008: Olla Podrida ceases publication

Until 2008, the student body published the Olla Podrida which was originally a quarterly newspaper in the late 1850s, but was the college yearbook since the Civil War.

2009: Publication of Hidden Ivies: 50 Top Colleges that Rival the Ivy League

In 2009, Howard Greene and Matthew Greene published "Hidden Ivies: 50 Top Colleges that Rival the Ivy League."

The Hidden Ivies: 50 Top Colleges—from Amherst to Williams —That Rival the Ivy League (Greene's Guides)

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2009: Creation of the Bailey College of the Environment

In 2009, the Bailey College of the Environment was created. It integrates curricular components, a Think Tank of Wesleyan faculty and scholars, and the Collaborative Research Initiative to encourage environmental research.

January 2010: Premiere of The Eclectic Society Play

On January 27, 2010, "The Eclectic Society", a play based upon the Eclectic Society at Wesleyan University during the early 1960s, premiered at the Walnut Street Theatre.

2010: Publication of Music at Wesleyan: From Glee Club to Gamelan

In 2010, Mark Slobin published "Music at Wesleyan: From Glee Club to Gamelan."

Music at Wesleyan: From Glee Club to Gamelan (Garnet Books)

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2010: Renaming of the Wesleyan Concert Choir

In 2010, the Wesleyan Concert Choir was renamed The Wesleyan Ensemble Singers.

2010: Doonesbury Comic Strip Featuring Wesleyan University

In the autumn of 2010, the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip "Doonesbury" by Garry Trudeau featured Wesleyan University in a series of daily strips.

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February 2011: Wesleyan recognized for student involvement

In February 2011, U.S. News & World Report described Wesleyan as one of "20 Colleges Where It's Easiest to Get Involved" with a "Students per Club" ratio of "11.66".

2011: Fulbright Program Scholarships

From 2007 through 2011, 42 Wesleyan students and alumni received scholarships under the Fulbright program.

2012: Wesleyan partners to offer free online courses

Beginning in 2012, Wesleyan became the first small liberal arts college to partner with a private consortium to design and offer free public access online courses in subjects like Math, Computer Science, Law, Psychology, and Literature.

2012: Publication of Dream School

In 2012, Blake Nelson's novel "Dream School" was published, in which the protagonist attends Wellington College, an eastern liberal arts college modeled on Wesleyan.

Dream School

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February 2013: Wesleyan announces the creation of a new College of Film and the Moving Image

In February 2013, Wesleyan announced the creation of a new College of Film and the Moving Image, incorporating the Film Studies Department, the Center for Film Studies, the Cinema Archives and the Wesleyan Film Series.

September 2014: Order for Fraternities to Become Co-Educational

In September 2014, Wesleyan University mandated that all fraternities with on-campus housing become co-educational within three years.

2014: Wesleyan becomes test optional

Since 2014, Wesleyan has been test optional.

2015: Publication of Rolling Stone Article on Wesleyan's Drug Culture

In 2015, Rolling Stone published "Inside the Wesleyan Molly Bust", a long-form feature on Wesleyan's drug culture, detailing overdoses on tainted ecstasy and the subsequent expulsion of five students.

2015: Satoshi Omura Awarded Nobel Prize for Medicine

In 2015, Satoshi Omura, Max Tishler Professor of Chemistry at Wesleyan, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

2015: Closure of DKE Fraternity House

In 2015, Wesleyan University ordered the closure of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity house on High Street.

2016: Wesleyan listed among '10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech'

Wesleyan was listed on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education's 2016 "10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech".

2017: DKE Victory in Court Trial

In 2017, Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) won its claim against Wesleyan University in a court trial, with the jury awarding $386,000 in damages to the Kent Literary Club, DKE's Wesleyan alumni chapter.

2018: Men's Lacrosse team wins NCAA championship

Led by coach John Raba, the Wesleyan's Men's Lacrosse team won the Division III NCAA championship title in 2018. It was the first national championship in school history.

2019: Kiplinger ranks Wesleyan 16th for best value

In 2019, Kiplinger ranked Wesleyan 16th of the 149 best value liberal arts colleges in the United States.

2019: Davison Art Collection Relocated

Until 2019, the Davison Art Collection was housed in Alsop House, a U.S. National Historic Landmark, before being relocated to Olin Memorial Library.

2022: Washington Monthly ranks Wesleyan third

In 2022, Washington Monthly ranked Wesleyan third out of 203 liberal arts colleges in the U.S., based on its contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.

July 2023: Wesleyan ends legacy admissions

In July 2023, Wesleyan announced that it would no longer give preference in admission to applicants with family or donor ties to the school, officially ending legacy admission at the institution.

2023: International Student Body

In 2023, approximately 10 percent of the Wesleyan student body holds citizenship other than that of the United States. Financial aid is available for students from Africa and Asia.

2024: Active Fraternities on Campus

As of 2024, Alpha Delta Phi (ADP), Psi Upsilon (Psi U), and The Eclectic Society are the only active fraternities with society houses on the Wesleyan campus.

2024: Installation of "Minute/Year" sound-art work in Olin Library

In 2024, the sound-art work "Minute/Year" was installed in the main library stairwell of Olin Library.

2024: Wesleyan University rankings in U.S. News & World Report

In the 2024 edition, Wesleyan University was ranked first in "Best Colleges for Veterans", 16th in "Best Value Schools", and tied for 36th in "Top Performers on Social Mobility".

2024: Wesleyan University ranked among top American colleges by Forbes

In the Forbes ranking of the top 500 American colleges for 2024–25, Wesleyan University is ranked 54th overall and 12th among liberal arts colleges alone.