Historical Timeline

Sunrise at Pulley Tower

New Miami, 1885–1941

Embracing Professionalism

1885

  • Miami reopens; Robert White McFarland (1885–88) assumes the presidency

1886

  • Oxford Female College confers baccalaureate degrees

1887

  • Five women admitted as "special students" by trustee resolution of June 21

1888

  • Ethelbert Dudley Warfield (1888–91) assumes the presidency
  • First football game played, against University of Cincinnati

1891

  • William Oxley Thompson (1891–99) assumes the presidency
  • Miami admits seventeen women students

1892

  • Brice Hall, first donated building, constructed for science instruction; Calvin Brice, donor
  • Alumnae Hall built at Western College, James Renwick Jr., architect; Olivia Meily (Mrs. Calvin) Brice, donor

1895

  • Miami builds a baseball field
  • Western College and Seminary confers baccalaureate degrees

1896

  • Miami Field constructed for football
  • Sleeper Bill provides first regular annual appropriation from State of Ohio

1897

  • Herron Gymnasium (later Van Voorhis Hall) constructed

1899

  • David Stanton Tappan (1899–1902) assumes the presidency

1900

  • Three of sixteen women at Miami awarded bachelor's degrees

1902

  • The Ohio State Normal College established in Oxford
  • Guy Potter Benton (1902–11) assumes the presidency
  • Delta Zeta, a fraternal organization for women, founded

1903

  • Nellie Craig, first African American woman, enrolls; earns Normal College diploma in 1905

1905

  • Hepburn Hall constructed as first residence hall for women

1908

  • New Administration/Auditorium Building (later Benton Hall, Hall Auditorium) constructed

1909

  • First Alumni Campaign matches a Carnegie Award to build Alumni Library
  • South Pavilion, Normal College (later McGuffey Hall), constructed

1910

  • Earl Kelley, first identified male African American enrolled (1902), earns Normal College diploma

1911

  • Raymond Mollyneaux Hughes (1911–27) assumes the presidency

1912

  • Bishop Hall constructed as residence for women

1917

  • United States enters World War I

1919

  • Miami "No-Horse Rule" replaced by "No-Car Rule"

1923

  • Wells Hall constructed as residence for women

1924

  • University Hospital (later MacMillan Hall) constructed
  • Ogden Hall constructed as residence for men, and student center
  • New Freshman Dormitory (later Swing Hall) constructed as residence for men

1925

  • Oxford Retreat main building (former Oxford Female College) purchased, renamed Fisher Hall
  • Irvin Hall, first fully neo-Georgian classroom building, constructed as recitation building

1928

  • Alfred Horatio Upham (1928–45) assumes the presidency
  • School of Business Administration (later Farmer School of Business) founded, located in Irvin Hall
  • Oxford College for Women acquired; main building renovated for women's residence

1929

  • School of Fine Arts founded

1931

  • Center section, Hughes Hall (later Kreger Hall), constructed for chemistry
  • Withrow Court constructed for men's athletics and physical education, and assembly hall

1937

  • North and South dormitories renovated in neo-Georgian style, named Elliott Hall and Stoddard Hall

1939

  • New Freshman Dormitory Number One (later Symmes Hall) constructed for men

1940

  • North Residence Hall (later Hamilton Hall) constructed as residence for women

1941

  • South Hall (later Richard Hall) constructed as residence for women
  • Beta Theta Pi Campanile constructed