History of Yale University in Timeline
Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is a private Ivy League research university. Established in 1701, it stands as the third-oldest higher education institution in the United States. As one of the nine colonial colleges predating the American Revolution, Yale has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence and research contributions.
1900: Frederic Remington at Yale
In 1900, Western painter Frederic Remington, a Yale alumnus, was an artist whose heroes gloried in the combat and tests of strength in the Wild West.
1900: Establishment of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
In 1900, Yale University established the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, expanding its academic offerings.
1903: Second Wing of Skull and Bones Completed
In 1903, the second wing of the Skull and Bones secret society building was completed, enhancing its Egypto-Doric architectural style.
1905: Football Reform Attempts
In 1905, reforms were implemented to solve the problem of serious injuries in football, but they ultimately failed.
1908: Berzelius Tomb Erected
Around 1908 or 1910, the Berzelius secret society building, designed by Donn Barber, was erected in an austere cube with classical detailing, contributing to Yale's distinctive architectural landscape.
1909: Founding of The Whiffenpoofs
In 1909, The Whiffenpoofs a cappella group was founded.
1909: William Graham Sumner's Tenure Ends
In 1909, William Graham Sumner's tenure as a professor at Yale ended. He taught economics and sociology, and faced opposition from President Noah Porter due to Sumner's use of a textbook by Herbert Spencer.
1909: Football Reform Efforts
In 1909, a crisis in football led the presidents of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton to develop reforms to reduce injuries, though their attempts were undermined by rebellion and the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
1909: Triangular Debate of Harvard/Yale/Princeton
In 1909, the first Triangular Debate of Harvard/Yale/Princeton occurred, using rhetoric, symbolism, and metaphors from athletics. Debates were covered on front pages of college newspapers and emphasized in yearbooks, and team members received the equivalent of athletic letters for their jackets.
1910: Berzelius Tomb Erected
Around 1908 or 1910, the Berzelius secret society building, designed by Donn Barber, was erected in an austere cube with classical detailing, contributing to Yale's distinctive architectural landscape.
1910: Establishment of Aurelian Honor Society
In 1910, the Aurelian Honor Society was established.
1911: Neo-Gothic Towers Completed at Skull and Bones
In 1911, Neo-Gothic towers in the rear garden of the Skull and Bones secret society building were completed, adding to the building's architectural complexity.
1912: St. Elmo Tomb Designs Inspired by Elizabethan Manor
In 1912, Kenneth M. Murchison designed the St. Elmo secret society building with designs inspired by Elizabethan manor style.
1912: Publication of 'Stover at Yale'
In 1912, the novel 'Stover at Yale' questioned the business mentality prevalent at the school, featuring Dink Stover.
1915: Establishment of the Yale School of Public Health
In 1915, Yale University established the Yale School of Public Health, further expanding its academic programs.
1916: Establishment of the Yale School of Architecture
In 1916, Yale University established the Yale School of Architecture, adding to its professional schools.
1916: Establishment of the Torch Honor Society
In 1916, the Torch Honor Society was established.
1917: Collegiate Gothic Construction Begins
From 1917 to 1931, many of Yale's buildings were constructed in the Collegiate Gothic architecture style, financed largely by Edward S. Harkness, including the Yale Drama School.
1920: Milton Winternitz Becomes Dean
In 1920, Milton Winternitz became the dean of the Yale School of Medicine, implementing the "Yale System" and strengthening the faculty.
1923: Wolf's Head Tomb Erected
From 1923 to 1924, the Wolf's Head secret society building, designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, was erected in Collegiate Gothic style, complementing Yale's architectural heritage.
1923: Establishment of the Yale School of Nursing
In 1923, Yale University established the Yale School of Nursing, expanding its offerings in the health sciences.
1924: Wolf's Head Tomb Erected
From 1923 to 1924, the Wolf's Head secret society building, designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, was erected in Collegiate Gothic style, complementing Yale's architectural heritage.
1924: Yale Crew Wins Olympic Gold Medal
In 1924, Yale's crew team won an Olympic Games Gold Medal for men's eights.
1929: Georgian-Style Buildings Erected
From 1929 to 1933, Georgian-style buildings including Timothy Dwight College and Pierson College were erected at Yale, contributing to the campus's architectural diversity.
1930: Steel Framing Used in Collegiate Gothic Buildings
Around 1930, during the construction of Collegiate Gothic buildings at Yale, steel framing was commonly used, simulating solid stone blocks.
1931: Collegiate Gothic Construction Completed
From 1917 to 1931, many of Yale's buildings were constructed in the Collegiate Gothic architecture style, financed largely by Edward S. Harkness, including the Yale Drama School.
1933: Georgian-Style Buildings Erected
From 1929 to 1933, Georgian-style buildings including Timothy Dwight College and Pierson College were erected at Yale, contributing to the campus's architectural diversity.
1933: Establishment of Yale's Residential College System
In 1933, Yale's residential college system was established by Edward S. Harkness, modeled after Oxford and Cambridge.
1934: Founding of the Yale Political Union
In 1934, the Yale Political Union (YPU) was founded as a debate society.
1935: Winternitz Resigns as Dean
In 1935, Milton Winternitz resigned as dean of the Yale School of Medicine due to antisemitism from colleagues.
1954: Class of 1954 Donation
In 1954, the Yale Class of 1954, led by Richard Gilder, donated $70 million in commemoration of their 50th reunion.
1955: Establishment of the Yale School of Drama
In 1955, Yale University established the Yale School of Drama, adding to its arts programs.
1956: Yale Crew Wins Olympic Gold Medal
In 1956, Yale's crew team won an Olympic Games Gold Medal for men's eights.
1956: Sheffield Scientific School Discontinued
In 1956, the Sheffield Scientific School, which was the engineering and sciences school at Yale, was discontinued.
1957: Journal of Music Theory Founded
In 1957, the Journal of Music Theory was founded at Yale.
1959: Ingalls Rink Dedicated
In 1959, Ingalls Rink, designed by Eero Saarinen, was dedicated at Yale University, marking a new architectural landmark on campus.
1964: Harkness Tower Reinforced
In 1964, Harkness Tower was reinforced to allow the installation of the Yale Memorial Carillon, enhancing its structural integrity.
1966: Merger Discussions with Vassar College
In 1966, Yale began discussions with Vassar College about a merger to foster coeducation, but Vassar ultimately declined.
1968: Strikes Since 1968
There have been at least eight strikes since 1968, and The New York Times wrote that Yale has a reputation as having the worst record of labor tension of any university in the U.S.
1969: Introduction of Coeducation
In 1969, Yale independently introduced coeducation, with Amy Solomon being the first woman to register as an undergraduate.
1969: Jack Langer Plays in Maccabiah Games
In 1969, Yale's Jewish center Jack Langer played for Team United States at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, with the approval of Yale President Kingman Brewster, later leading to controversy with the NCAA.
1970: Elimination of Admission Preferences
Beginning with the class of 1970, Yale eliminated admission preferences designed to maintain the proportion of white Protestants from notable families in the student body.
1970: NCAA Bans Yale from Sports
In 1970, the NCAA banned Yale from participating in all NCAA sports for two years after Yale played its Jewish center Jack Langer, who had previously played for Team United States at the 1969 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
1972: Yale Alumni in Presidential Elections
Starting in 1972, Yale alumni were represented on either the Democratic or Republican ticket in every U.S. presidential election between 1972 and 2004.
1973: First Coeducational Freshman Class
In 1973, Yale's undergraduate class was the first to have women starting from freshman year, and all undergraduate women were housed in Vanderbilt Hall.
1976: Jerry Brown Runs for President
In 1976, Jerry Brown, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
1976: Establishment of the Yale School of Management
In 1976, Yale University established the Yale School of Management, expanding its professional schools.
1977: Report on Sexual Harassment
In 1977, Ann Olivarius authored "A report to the Yale Corporation from the Yale Undergraduate Women's Caucus", which was used as the basis for the lawsuit Alexander v. Yale, concerning sexual harassment.
1977: Hanna Holborn Gray Appointed Interim President
In 1977, Hanna Holborn Gray, then Yale Provost, was appointed interim president of Yale. She later became president of the University of Chicago, being the first woman to hold either position at each school.
1980: Increased Diversity in Faculty
By 1980, Yale's faculty had significantly increased in diversity, with more members from underrepresented groups holding positions.
1980: Jerry Brown Runs for President
In 1980, Jerry Brown, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
1984: Gary Hart Runs for President
In 1984, Gary Hart, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
1986: Publication of the Yale Herald
In 1986, the weekly Yale Herald newspaper was first published.
1988: George H.W. Bush Comments on Yale's Reputation
During the 1988 presidential election, George H. W. Bush (Yale '48) distinguished Yale from Harvard, saying Yale's reputation was "so diffuse" and lacked the "liberalism and elitism" associated with Harvard.
1988: Gary Hart and Pat Robertson Run for President
In 1988, Gary Hart and Pat Robertson, both Yale-educated individuals, ran for President of the United States.
1990: Rise of Poverty and Violent Crime in New Haven
In 1990, poverty and violent crime rose in New Haven, which negatively impacted Yale's student and faculty recruiting efforts.
1992: Paul Tsongas and Jerry Brown Run for President
In 1992, Paul Tsongas and Jerry Brown, both Yale-educated individuals, ran for President of the United States.
1994: Judith Rodin Becomes President of University of Pennsylvania
In 1994, Provost Judith Rodin became the first permanent female president of an Ivy League institution, at the University of Pennsylvania.
1998: "Down the Field" Ranks Highly
According to College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology published in 1998, the Yale song "Down the Field" ranks as the fourth-greatest fight song of all time.
October 21, 2000: Dedication of the Gilder Boathouse
On October 21, 2000, Yale dedicated its fourth new boathouse in 157 years of collegiate rowing. The Gilder Boathouse is named to honor former Olympic rower Virginia Gilder '79 and her father Richard Gilder '54.
2000: Joseph Lieberman runs for Vice President
In 2000, Joseph Lieberman, a Yale-educated individual, ran for Vice President of the United States.
2001: Princeton Wins NCAA Lacrosse Championship
In 2001, the Princeton Tigers won the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. This is relevant to the Yale context, as Yale's 2018 win marked the first Ivy League school to win the title since Princeton's victory in 2001.
2002: Alison Richard Becomes Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge
In 2002, Provost Alison Richard became the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
2002: Yale Educates Nation's Top National Leaders
In 2002, The Boston Globe wrote that Yale is the school that can lay claim to educating the nation's top national leaders over the past three decades.
2003: Rebecca Chopp Appointed President of Colgate University
In 2003, Rebecca Chopp, dean of the Divinity School, was appointed president of Colgate University.
2004: Richard H. Brodhead Appointed President of Duke University
In 2004, Dean of Yale College Richard H. Brodhead was appointed as the president of Duke University, marking a significant career milestone.
2004: Howard Dean Comments on Yale's Transformation
In 2004, Howard Dean commented on the transformation of Yale, noting significant changes between the class of '68 and the class of '71, highlighting the introduction of women and efforts to recruit African Americans.
2004: Susan Hockfield Becomes President of MIT
In 2004, Provost Dr. Susan Hockfield became the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2004: Complaint Filed Against Yale for Under-reporting Sexual Assaults
In 2004, the non-profit watchdog group Security on Campus filed a complaint accusing Yale of under-reporting rape and sexual assaults.
2004: Yale Alumni in Presidential Elections
Through 2004, Yale alumni were represented on either the Democratic or Republican ticket in every U.S. presidential election since 1972.
2005: Yale Police Union Affiliates with Connecticut Organization
In 2005, the Yale Police Benevolent Association, representing officers of the Yale University Police Department, affiliated with the Connecticut Organization for Public Safety Employees.
December 2006: Yale University Art Gallery Reopens
In December 2006, the renovated Kahn building of the Yale University Art Gallery, Louis Kahn's first large-scale American work, reopened.
2006: New Haven Crime Rate Falls
By 2006, New Haven's crime rate fell by half since 1990, aided by community policing and making Yale's campus the safest among peer schools.
2006: Establishment of Joint Program with Peking University
In 2006, Yale and Peking University established a Joint Undergraduate Program in Beijing, facilitating student exchange.
2006: Ice Hockey Commemorative Game
Since 2006, Yale's ice hockey clubs have played a commemorative game, recalling the first known ice hockey game in the United States between Yale and Johns Hopkins in 1896.
2007: H. Kim Bottomly Named President of Wellesley College
In 2007, Deputy Provost H. Kim Bottomly was named president of Wellesley College.
2007: Levin's Characterization of Yale's Priorities
In 2007, outgoing Yale President Rick Levin highlighted Yale's commitment to excellence in undergraduate education and the education of leaders.
2008: Andrew Hamilton Becomes Vice Chancellor of Oxford
In 2008, Provost Andrew Hamilton was confirmed to be the vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, a notable achievement.
2008: Yale Purchases Former Bayer HealthCare Complex
In 2008, Yale purchased the 17-building, 136-acre former Bayer HealthCare complex in West Haven, Connecticut, to be used as laboratory and research space, expanding the university's facilities.
2008: Richard C. Levin's Salary
In 2008, Yale's former president Richard C. Levin's salary was $1.5 million, making him one of the highest paid university presidents in the United States at the time.
2009: Rebecca Chopp Becomes President of Swarthmore College
In 2009, Rebecca Chopp became the president of Swarthmore College, following her presidency at Colgate University.
2009: Initiatives and Partnerships
In 2009, Yale was selected for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation's United States Faith and Globalization Initiative. Also, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo became the director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, and former presidential candidate Howard Dean taught a seminar. Additionally, an alliance was formed among Yale, University College London, and their affiliated hospitals to conduct translational medicine research.
2009: Bladderball Game Revival
In 2009, students revived the Bladderball game at Yale, despite opposition from the administration due to safety concerns. Bladderball is a campus-wide game played with a large inflatable ball.
2010: Yale Freshman Class Demographics
In 2010, 10% of the incoming freshman class were non-U.S. citizens, and 54% attended public high schools.
2010: Yale Security Officers Join International Union
In late 2010, Yale security officers joined the International Union of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America, although the Yale administration contested the election.
2011: Yale Campus Listed as One of the Most Beautiful
In 2011, Travel + Leisure listed the Yale campus as one of the most beautiful in the United States, highlighting its architectural appeal and aesthetic environment.
2011: Title IX Complaint Filed Against Yale
In 2011, a Title IX complaint was filed against Yale alleging a hostile sexual climate, leading to the formation of a Title IX steering committee.
2011: Bladderball Game Revival
In 2011, students revived the Bladderball game at Yale, despite opposition from the administration due to safety concerns. Bladderball is a campus-wide game played with a large inflatable ball.
July 2012: End of Yale University-PKU Program
In July 2012, the Yale University-PKU Program in Beijing ended due to weak participation.
2012: Restoration of Machu Picchu Artifacts to Peru
In 2012, the artifacts brought from Peru by Yale history professor Hiram Bingham in 1912 were restored to Peru.
August 2013: Opening of Yale-NUS College
In August 2013, a partnership with the National University of Singapore led to the opening of Yale-NUS College in Singapore, a new liberal arts college in Asia.
2013: Charles B. Johnson Donation
In 2013, Charles B. Johnson, a 1954 graduate of Yale College, pledged a $250 million gift to support the construction of two new residential colleges named in honor of Pauli Murray and Benjamin Franklin.
October 2014: Yale Security Forms New Union
In October 2014, after deliberation, Yale security officers decided to form a new union, the Yale University Security Officers Association, to represent campus security officers.
2014: Rebecca Chopp Becomes Chancellor of University of Denver
In 2014, Rebecca Chopp became the first female chancellor of the University of Denver.
2014: Bladderball Game Revival
In 2014, students revived the Bladderball game at Yale, despite opposition from the administration due to safety concerns. Bladderball is a campus-wide game played with a large inflatable ball.
July 2015: Student Petition for Renaming Calhoun College
In July 2015, students signed a petition calling for Calhoun College to be renamed due to Calhoun's pro-slavery views.
August 2015: Yale President Addresses Calhoun College Controversy
In August 2015, Yale President Peter Salovey addressed the Freshman Class, explaining why Calhoun College would not be renamed despite Calhoun's controversial beliefs.
2015: Suicide of Luchang Wang
In 2015, Luchang Wang died by suicide after expressing concerns about being forced to medically withdraw from Yale for mental health issues, highlighting the challenges students face in seeking help.
April 2016: Salovey Announces Calhoun's Name to Remain
In April 2016, Yale President Salovey announced that Calhoun's name would remain on the residential college, but the title of "master" would be renamed to "head of college".
2016: Hillary Clinton Runs for President
In 2016, Hillary Clinton, a Yale-educated individual, ran for President of the United States.
2016: Yale's International Rankings
In 2016, Yale was ranked 11th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, tenth in the Nature Index, tenth in the CWUR World University Rankings, sixth in the Times Higher Education Global University Employability Rankings, and eighth in the Academic World Reputation Rankings.
2016: Yale Ranked Third Among U.S. National Universities
In 2016, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Yale third among U.S. national universities.
2016: Men's Basketball Team Wins Ivy League Championship
In 2016, the Yale men's basketball team won the Ivy League Championship title for the first time in 54 years, securing a spot in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and then beat the Baylor Bears 79-75 in the first round.
February 2017: Calhoun College Renamed for Grace Hopper
In February 2017, Yale announced that Calhoun College would be renamed in honor of computer scientist Grace Hopper.
2017: Calhoun College Renamed
In 2017, Yale University renamed Calhoun College, named for John C. Calhoun, to Hopper College, after Grace Hopper.
2017: Opening of Two New Yale Colleges
In 2017, Yale opened two new colleges near Science Hill.
2017: Average Need-Based Aid Grant for Yale Class
In 2017, the average need-based aid grant for the Yale Class was $46,395.
May 2018: Men's Lacrosse Team Wins NCAA Championship
In May 2018, the Yale men's lacrosse team won their first-ever NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship, defeating the Duke Blue Devils.
2018: Yale Ranked Worst in Ivy League for Mental Health Policies
In 2018, the Ruderman Family Foundation ranked Yale as having the worst mental health policies in the Ivy League, highlighting significant criticism for its handling of student mental health on campus.
2019: Yale's Ranking by SCImago Institutions Rankings
In 2019, Yale ranked 27th among universities worldwide by the SCImago Institutions Rankings.
2019: Criticism of Yale's Title and Name Changes
In 2019, former Dean of Yale Law School Anthony T. Kronman criticized the Calhoun College name change and the lack of support for targeted faculty in his book.
2020: Post-Graduation Data
According to 2020 data, around 71% of Yale undergraduates join the workforce, while 17% attend graduate or professional schools.
2020: Yale's greenhouse gas emission reduction target
By 2020, Yale committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 10% below 1990 levels, allocating renewable energy credits to offset energy use.
2020: Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer run for President
In 2020, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer, both Yale-educated individuals, ran for President of the United States.
2020: Peter Salovey's Salary
In 2020, Yale's president Peter Salovey's salary was $1.16 million, ranking him 40th among university presidents.
2020: #CancelYale movement begins
In 2020, the #CancelYale tag was used on social media platforms, driven by right-wing figures, to demand the removal of Elihu Yale's name from Yale University due to his involvement with the East India Company and the Indian Ocean slave trade. Critics argued that Yale University's early funding relied on money derived from slavery.
2020: U.S. Justice Department Sues Yale
In 2020, the U.S. Justice Department initiated a lawsuit against Yale University, alleging discrimination against Asian and white candidates in its undergraduate admissions process through affirmative action policies.
April 2021: Yale Requires COVID-19 Vaccine for Students
In April 2021, Yale announced that it would require students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of being on campus during the fall 2021 term.
2021: Yale's Research and Development Expenditures Ranking
In 2021, The National Science Foundation ranked Yale 15th among American universities for research and development expenditures.
2021: Justice Department Withdraws Lawsuit Against Yale
In 2021, under the new Biden administration, the U.S. Justice Department withdrew the lawsuit filed in 2020 against Yale University, which had alleged discrimination against Asian and white candidates in admissions.
2021: Fulbright Scholars Ranking
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs ranked Yale fifth among research institutions producing the most 2020–2021 Fulbright Scholars.
2022: Establishment of the Jackson School of Global Affairs
In 2022, Yale University established the Jackson School of Global Affairs, further expanding its academic offerings.
2022: Yale's Acceptance Rate
In 2022, Yale accepted 2,234 students to the Class of 2026 out of 50,015 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 4.46%.
2022: Increased Mental Health Clinicians
In 2022, Yale increased the number of mental health clinicians on campus from 51 to 60 and promised further changes, following a Washington Post article about their medical withdrawal policies.
2023: Yale's Endowment Value
In 2023, Yale University's endowment was valued at $40.7 billion, making it the third largest of any educational institution.
2023: Medical Withdrawal Policy Changed
In 2023, Yale changed the name of "medical withdrawal" to "medical leave of absence" and allowed students on leave to participate in extracurricular activities, following a lawsuit alleging discrimination.
October 2024: Affiliations with Prominent Figures
As of October 2024, Yale University has been affiliated with 68 Nobel laureates, 5 Fields medalists, 4 Abel Prize laureates, and 3 Turing Award winners, along with numerous other notable alumni.
2024: Number of Registered Undergraduate Student Organizations
In 2024, Yale had 526 registered undergraduate student organizations.
