in the History of UMass Amherst
1845-1875
1852
Wilder elected first President of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture.
1862
1863
Governor John A. Andrew signs charter of Massachusetts Agricultural College on April 29; the trustees of MAC are created.
MIT is designated as the Commonwealth's “mechanical” land grant college.
1864
Town of Amherst holds special town meeting and votes to raise $50,000 by taxation and $25,000 by subscription. The Trustees vote to locate the college in Amherst; campus 310 acres and existing buildings, $34,999.50.
First president,
Henry Flagg French, elected by the Board of Trustees on November 29; serves till September 29, 1866.
1865
1866
1867
October 2, four buildings receive first class of 56 students and faculty of four with
William Smith Clark as first seated president; serving from August 7, 1867 till May 1, 1874.
Tuition is $36.00.
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1868
1869
Faculty increases to 10.
Major Henry E. Alvord, an officer in the U.S. Army, assigned to Campus by the War Department. The first officer ever detailed to give instruction in an agricultural college.
First yearbook, The Index.
Washington Irving Literary Society established.
1870
1871
Twenty-seven students receive B.S. degrees at first commencement.
Trustees empowered to fill their won vacancies.
On July 21st M.A.C. defeated Brown and Harvard at the Intercollegiate regatta at Springfield.
Social Union (society & library).
The Senior Register (1871-1976).
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
William S. Clark invited by the Imperial Government of Japan to assist in the establishment of an agricultural college and experimental farm in the province of Hokkaido.
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1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
President Levi Stockbridge succeeds in bringing together the Governor and Council, the Board of Agriculture and the College Board of Trustees to consider the issue of aid to students.
1882
Legislature makes its first appropriation for an experiment station (State Station, 1882-95).
Paul Chadbourne appointed president for the second time, serves January 1, 1882-February 23, 1883.
Funds made available for new construction and scholarships; curriculum now includes liberal arts (1882-1884).
1883
1884
1885
1886
Campus connects to town water.
M.A.C. Football Team's first formal uniform.
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New York Alumni Club formed.
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1887
1888
Experiment Station established; called Hatch Experiment Station, 1888-1906.
Out of 278 living graduates, 123 are in agricultural pursuits.
1889
1890
Entrance standards raised from 50% to 65%.
The 2nd Morrill Act: $20,000 annually for M.A.C.
Aggie Life, a fortnightly newspaper, appears.
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
There are now 20,000 books in library.
Admission by certificate.
Free tuition for U.S. citizens.
1900
1901
State dairy law.
A recorded pond party.
Terms replaced by semesters.
Aggie Life (1890-1901) becomes College Signal (1901-14).
Legislative grant of $400 for Band.
Alla Frances Young enrolls in the Short Winter Course, becomes the first woman to complete her program at MAC.
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1902
1903
Draper Hall erected as a dormitory for women and a dining facility (1903-1905).
Change in curriculum requirements-the elective feature was introduced into the program for Junior year.
Majors first introduced for students: Agriculture, Horticulture, Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Landscape Gardening.
1904
Grand Prix for exhibit at St. Louis Fair.
Phi Kappa Phi.
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Matthew Washington Bullock, a graduate of Dartmouth, is hired as football coach, becoming the first African American to coach at a predominantly white college. Bullock also coached in 1907-1908.
1905
Wilder Hall designed for the study of market gardening, floriculture, greenhouse management, and landscape gardening.
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1906
Kenyon L. Butterfield starts a long stay as president, beginning January 2, 1906 and continuing till August 31, 1924.
Dairy building burns.
Station becomes “Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station”.
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Cranberry Substation established in Wareham.
Asparagus Substation established in Concord.
1907
Clark Hall constructed for science teaching and research, particularly Botany.
M.A.C. first college to organize a separate Department of Pomology.
Dairy Barn rebuilt at a cost of $41,000.
Summer School.
Divisions of Humanities, Horticulture, & Agriculture established.
Department of Agricultural Education.
French Hall erected for instruction particularly in Floriculture, and Market Gardening (1907-1908).
1908
Graduate School established as a separate unit.
Rifle Range purchased, 20 acres for $500.
First college to organize a separate Department of Floriculture.
First college to organize a separate Department of Landscape Gardening.
1909
The College Signal becomes weekly.
Entrance requirements raised to prevailing collegiate standards.
Dickinson stage-manages The Toastmaster, first dramatic production.
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Theta Nu Epsilon (1909-1913).
Kappa Gamma Phi (1909-1928).
1910
First varsity debating team.
Alumni Field, $5,868.
Farming Special (trolley).
Roister Doisters.
M.A.C. Literary Monthly.
Experiment Station at Wareham established.
1911
Theta Chi.
Curry Hicks comes to campus as Assistant Professor of Physical Education and also as Health Officer.
Polish farmers’ day.
1912
1913
Trustee recognition of Athletic Board.
Scarlet Fever epidemic on campus, 25 cases, 4 of which are fatal.
Alpha Sigma Phi.
Hampden County Improvement League.
Zabriskie’s Roister Doisters in New Jersey.
1914
The College Signal (1901-14) becomes The Massachusetts Collegian (1914-67).
Smith-Lever Act ($10,000 increasing to larger sums, for extension)
Adelphia.
President Sato (Sapporo Agricultural College, Japan) visits M.A.C.
1915
Academics Board.
Two buildings ready for use as an Infirmary, $15,000.
M.A.C. has more federal entomologists than any other college.
Non-Athletic Activities Board formed.
The Squib (comic, 1915-1924).
1916
Three term plan (by intention four).
Mt. Toby, 755 acres, $30,000.
Market Garden Sub-station at Lexington.
Worthley’s joint concert with Amherst College.
1917
The discovery of the presence in this country of the Gypsy Moth and the European Corn-Borer first made by members of college staff.
Caswell’s Brief History of the Massachusetts Agricultural College published.
Library’s Bibliography of the College.
Thirty women attend campus for fall term.
F. K. Baker’s design for our seal.
1918
Station building in Lexington.
Power Plant renovated, $54,500.
The Corps, established at M.A.C. on October 1, with 351 enrolled, has a short existence here. War ends on November 11th and The Corps disbands by December 21, 1918.
First award of medals for academics.
1919
World Aggie Night.
Women’s Student Council.
1920
1921
John Epps-anniversary play.
The Alumni erects
Memorial Hall, a center for student activities, with offices for the Alumni Association for a cost of $117,500.
Alumni committee investigates College.
In the fall 194 disabled veterans enroll.
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1922
Old Chemistry building burns.
Goessmann Chemical Laboratory constructed.
Inter-church student secretary.
1923
Waltham land, 55 acres, $21,000 (gift).
Maroon Key.
U.S. Forestry Experiment Station locates in French Hall (1923-1932)
College catalog mentions curriculum credit for campus activities.
1924
1925
Evelyn Davis Kennedy’s first coed glee club.
Joint concert with Smith College.
Cavalry Barn burns and is rebuilt.
College buys “Revelation,” second to grand champion at International Live Stock Exposition.
Purnell Act ($20,000, with increasing annuities, for economic research).
1926
Edward M. Lewis becomes president on June 14, 1926 after serving two prior years as acting president. Serves as president until April 24, 1927.
First interfraternity sing.
Tuition $60 (Mass residents).
Wareham Substation burns & rebuilt, $9,000.
The Ynkhorne (1926-1928)
1927
1928
Capper-Ketcham Act ($20,000 for extension).
Outing Club.
The name “Stockbridge School of Agriculture”
Alumni Club awards first honorary medal to Griggs (Class of 1913).
1929
Girls’ Glee Club has 35 voices and 10 concerts.
Volunteer group of students start the Agitation Committee, because they want a broader curriculum to permit the granting of an Arts degree.
Depression starts; larger student body, but no physical growth. budget is reduced.
Five year course in Landscape Architecture.
Seniors’ honor course given by Ray Ethan Torrey. Departmental honor work.
1930
Horticultural Manufacturers Laboratory, $70,000.
Extension Service sends 163,000 bulletins to 37,000 people in response to requests.
Tercentenary Celebration exhibit in Boston & Springfield.
1931
On March 26th Governor Ely signs a bill into law changing the official college name to Massachusetts State College.
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Sigma Beta Chi, Lambda Delta Mu, and Alpha Lambda Mu.
Twelve performances of “The Americans Come.”
1932
Hugh Potter Baker assumes presidency on May 20, 1932 and leads the college through difficult years until June 8, 1946.
Total volume of books in Library at 90,000.
Over 7,000 people at Horticultural Show.
Holstein herd wins U.S. Production Contest, with average of 16,059 lbs. milk & 564 lbs. butter fat.
1933
Farley 4-H Clubhouse, $2,500.
Power Plant enlargement, $100,000.
Tuition at $100 for Massachusetts residents.
Hugh P. Baker formally inaugurated as 12th president, holds office for almost the entire period the institution is called Massachusetts State College (1933-1947).
Return to semesters.
1934
Student committee formed to study improvement of teaching and modernize curriculum, but it is not very successful in making changes.
Gaie Whitton’s coed debating team beats Boston University and Middlebury College, loses to Columbia.
1935
1936
1937
Debating trip to South Carolina.
Collegian Literary Supplement.
On May 1, Bernard Smith (Class of 1899) presents to the College a chime of bells in memory of his classmate Dr. Warren Elmer Hinds.
1939
1940
1941
The first Campus Community Chest organized and raises funds for local and national organizations.
Male enrollment plummets during World War II (1941-1945). Facilities used for military training programs.
1942
1943
Trainees of the 58th College Training Detachment (CTD) of the Army Air Force arrive on campus March 1st.
Fall enrollment drops to 738 from the previous year’s 1,410.
Congress provides for the rehabilitation of disabled veterans through higher education in an act approved March 24, 1943; and for aid to all who had been in their country’s service by a second law on June 22, 1944.
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
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On Jan.10th the newly erected Engineering Annex is destroyed by fire.
President Van Meter becomes 13th president of UMass; serves from April 29, 1948 till May 10, 1954.
School of Business administration founded.
WMUA student radio station begins broadcasting
1949
1950
Dean William L. Machmer brings in a report favoring the establishment of a five- year nursing program at the University.
1951
1952
1953
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In October Mary Maher appointed as Director of the Division of Nursing with the responsibility for developing the curriculum, selecting the field agencies and selecting a nursing faculty.
Eleanor Roosevelt addresses 89th opening convocation.
Omicron Nu Sorority initiated.
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1954
1955
North College, built in 1867, razed to make room for
Machmer Hall.
1956
“Freedom Bill” improves salary incentives for faculty.
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Major construction program results in some 110 instructional and dormitory facilities, many self-liquidating (1956-1963).
1957
1958
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School of Nursing graduates its first class.
Student Union – Games Area: 177,000 students participate in the games; of this number, 72,446 participate in bowling; 59,803 in billiards; 17,945 in ping pong; and 27,574 check out miscellaneous games available.
The Health Service enjoys a relatively quiet year as compared to 1957 with its Asiatic influenza epidemic. The staff remains the same: 2 doctors, 5 nurses, 3 cooks, 1 housekeeper and 1 clerk, all full time.
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1959
Public Health Center constructed with classrooms, research laboratories and an auditorium.
Bartlett Hall built on the site of the Old Drill Hall, named for former Trustee Joseph W. Bartlett (1959-1960).
1960
1961
1962
Fiscal Autonomy law gives University greater self-management of funds; fiscal authority to trustees.
Morrill Science Center completed.
The University of Massachusetts Medical Center at Worcester is founded.
1963
April 29th, celebration of 100th anniversary. University enrollment at an all-time high of 7,600.
Harold Cary's The University of Massachusetts: A History of One-Hundred Years, the official history of the University, is published.
Dedication of Holdsworth Hall, named for Professor Emeritus Robert P. Holdsworth.
In the School of Engineering, the first Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree is awarded in June.
In January, the University’s Master of Business Administration program is accredited by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business. The University is the only state University in New England to receive accreditation in this program.
November 16, Gorman House dedicated as a memorial to Edwin Daniel Gorman (1912-1961) who made outstanding contributions to the development of education in the Commonwealth as a Representative from Holyoke in the Massachusetts General Court.
Brett House dedicated December 9, 1962, as a tribute to Alden Chase Brett (Class of 1912), long time member of the University’s trustees and one of his alma mater’s most loyal, energetic and devoted sons.
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
Astronomy Building, Berkshire Dining Hall, Cance House,
Herter Hall, Moore House, Pierpont House and Thompson Hall are built.
Johnny Carson makes one of his rare college performances as the Saturday night highlight of Winter Carnival .
The School of Engineering awards its first doctoral degrees.
Dick Gregory criticizes “Our Insane Democracy;” addresses a capacity size crowd at the Cage.
1970
UMass Worcester Medical School enrolls its first class.
Enrollment stands at 23,389.
Robert C. Wood serves as President July 1, 1970-December 31, 1977, leading the expansion of the UMass system
To be more effective, the Office of the President is relocated to Boston from Amherst where it had been located since the founding of the institution.
The Office of Chancellor is established as the primary administrative position at each campus.
1971
Total enrollment stands at 22,500 students.
University Library constructed, 28 stories tall (1971-1973).
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
Holdings in University Libraries total 1,453,314 volumes.
Tuition in-state, undergraduate is $345.00.
1978
Franklin Patterson Acting President.
David C. Knapp President from Sept. 1, 1978 till March 16, 1990.
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
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Enrollment dips to 24,474.
In-state undergraduate tuition at $1,935.00
1991
E. K. Fretwell, Jr. serves as Interim President from July 1, 1991 till August 31, 1992.
Governor William F. Weld signs legislation creating a new five campus University of Massachusetts with a single President and Board of Trustees.
UMass Dartmouth and UMass Lowell added to University system.
1992
Michael K. Hooker serves as President Sept. 1, 1992 through May 31, 1995.
Enrollment drops to 23,028 students.
1993
In-state undergraduate tuition at $2,220.00.
Number of Library books: 2,575,292.
1994
1995
Sherry Penney serves as Interim President, June 1, 1995-Jan. 3, 1996.
Enrollment climbs to 24,125.
1996
William M. Bulger comes aboard as President, University of Massachusetts, on January 4th.
In-state undergraduate tuition at $2,109.00
1997