The following is a condensed timeline of the history of Wittenberg University. Much of the early research should be attributed to Ken Dickerson '51, William Kinnison '54 and Harold Lentz '32.
1840s
Feb. 14 Board meets in Springfield, forwards second request for charter to legislature, this time to be named Wittenberg College.
Founded by the Lutheran Church's English Synod of Ohio, the college was incorporated by its Board of Directors as an educational institution that would "Americanize" the growing number of Lutherans coming to the New World.
Feb. 17 Springfield selected as site.
March 11 Legislature grants charter. Wittenberg College is founded, and the first president is Ezra Keller, an 1835 graduate of Gettysburg.
Nov. 3 Classes began in the First Lutheran Church on West High Street in the fall of 1845. There were eight students in the first class, one professor (Sauerweine) and two tutors (Officer and Kirby).
Wittenberg finished its first year with 71 male students.
The college was begun on 17 acres of land located just north of Buck Creek and donated by the cemetery association.
The east wing of Myers Hall opens. At that time Myers Hall was called the College Building.
Dec. 29, 1848 Ezra Keller dies at the age of 35 from typhoid fever.
On Jan. 17, 1849 Samuel Sprecher accepted the presidency and remained president for the following 25 years.
1860s
In 1866 Phi Kappa Psi was founded as Wittenberg's first fraternity.
In June of 1869 The Alumni Association was formed.
The first women enrolled on Sept. 4, 1874.
Broadwell Chinn is first black student admitted to Wittenberg in 1875.
M. Alice Geiger became the first woman graduate in 1879.
1880s
May 24, 1883 the cornerstone of Recitation Hall was laid and the building was formally dedicated on June 16, 1886.
1889 Dr. Hamma makes a $30,000 gift to Wittenberg for the creation of a new seminary building.
1890s
In 1892 Zimmerman Library (now Zimmerman Hall) opened on June 22.
In 1909 Carnegie Science Hall opened through a gift of more than $35,000 from Andrew Carnegie.
1910s
1914 Ferncliff Hall opens as an all women's dorm.
In 1915 the Myers family of Ashland gave a $20,000 gift to remodel the original College Building, called Old Wittenberg at that time, and rename it Myers Hall.
Between 1917-1918 more than 400 students served in the armed forces. Nine make the supreme sacrifice.
On May 25, 1918 former President Theodore Roosevelt visits campus.
1920s
July 1, 1920 Dr. Rees Edgar Tulloss '06, is named seventh President of Wittenberg and embarks on a $1.5 million campaign.
June 6, 1921 W.L. Blair of Nevada gives an $80,000 gift for the building of a new academic building because he was convinced that " Wittenberg gets more for its dollar than any college in the State of Ohio."
In 1922 WCSO was founded as first college radio station and had a broadcasting power of 1,000 watts.
1923 First athletic stadium completed.
March 11, 1924 was the first celebration of Founder's Day.
Sept. of 1924 first Honors Course Program inaugurated.
Oct. 21, 1927 Koch Hall opens with a gift of $250,000 from Judge and Mrs. John H. Koch of Ohio City.
June 1928 Board of Directors authorize the granting of Bachelor of Science degree.
1929 the Wittenberg Choir formed under the direction of Prof. John Thomas Williams.
1930s
1930 Health and Physical Education building opens, now known as the old field house, or the west wing of the HPER Center.
1931 Weaver Observatory opens with $80,000 gift from Mr. And Mrs. Elgar Weaver of Brookville, Ohio.
1931 Woodlawn Hall was dedicated as the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.
Sept. 11, 1933 Dr. Benjamin F. Prince, class of 1865, Wittenberg's "Grand Old Man," associated with the college for more than 75 years dies at age 93.
April 28, 1934 William McClain wins national oratorical contest, first African American to gain such an honor.
Field Hockey becomes first officially recognized women's sport in 1935.
1940s
Between the years 1941-45 nearly 1,500 Wittenbergers served in the armed forces, and 65 make the supreme sacrifice.
The Tiger becomes official mascot in 1945 when a student, John Norris, drew the first Wittenberg Tiger in an issue of the Torch. The Tiger's name was Ezra, named after Wittenberg's first president.
In 1946 President Tulloss announces the receipt of a $500,000 gift for a new college chapel from Mr. and Mrs. Elgar Weaver.
Nov. 20, 1947 Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Firestine of Findlay made a $250,000 gift. The Board of Directors voted to name a new dormitory for men in their name. This dormitory was located on the north side of Woodlawn Hall, but it has since been razed.
Sept. 1, 1949 Clarence C. Stoughton assumes duties as president following the retirement of Dr. Tulloss after 29 years.
1950s
Mrs. Sara Hasty Ignatz becomes the first woman member of the Board of Directors on June 4, 1951.
Leamer Hall is opened on April 14, 1953 as a dormitory for Hamma Divinity School students.
On June 11, 1955 the Wittenberg Guild begins a drive to raise $100,000 to convert Zimmerman Library into a classroom building.
The School of Community Education was formed on Nov. 29, 1956.
On Sept. 27, 1956, Weaver Chapel-Thomas Library was dedicated. It cost $1.7 million to build.
The first Honor Code was established in 1956.
Sept. 1, 1957 Wittenberg College becomes Wittenberg University. The college is divided into a four-unit structure consisting of College of the Arts and Sciences, School of Professional Studies, Hamma Divinity School and School of Community Education.
In the winter and spring of 1959 the men's basketball and baseball teams win Ohio Conference Championships and later NCAA Mid-East Championship.
1960s
On Sept. 9, 1960, Hanley Hall opens and is named after long-time benefactor Stanley Hanley.
Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy visits Wittenberg to speak on ethics while on the campaign trail in 1961. He introduces concepts and ideas that would later form the Peace Corps.
The Tiger men's basketball team wins the NCAA College Division championship in 1961 and finishes second in 1963.
Synod Hall is dedicated April 11, 1961.
The football team reaches great heights. In the years 1962, 1964 and 1969 the Tigers were declared NCAA College Division Champions.
Student Union is completed in 1963 at a cost of $1.25 million.
North Hall, now Firestine Hall, was completed in 1963. It housed 220 men and was considered to be completely fire proof. It was the first building to receive air conditioning.
Krieg Hall opens in the fall of 1966.
With a government loan as its foundation, Tower Residence Hall for Men opens in the fall of 1966 at a cost of $1.9 million.
In 1969 Concerned Black Students (CBS) formed and elected Ron Woods '69 as the organization's first president.
African American students presented the university with a list of 13 demands to support racial equality and diversity on campus. When demands were not met on Jan. 14, 1969, the students formed a walk-out that lasted for two days.
Famed astronaut Neil Armstrong, an Ohio native who was the first man to walk on the moon, visits Wittenberg for the inauguration of Wittenberg's 10th president Dr. G. Kenneth Andeen.
1970s
During the height of the Vietnam War many students were in the armed services. In the year 1972 there were 64 veterans attending class. Eight Wittenberg students made the supreme sacrifice.
The East Asian Studies Program is created in 1972.
The football team wins the inaugural NCAA Division III Championship in 1973 and repeats the feat in 1975, both following victories in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The 1973 victory marked the first time a championship was award to an NCAA Division III team.
The Tiger men's basketball team wins the NCAA Division III championship in 1977.
The administration offices move from Ferncliff Hall to Recitation Hall in 1978, ending the period of "recitation" in the 95-year-old building.
The Campaign for Wittenberg, a $16.7 million capital campaign, was launched in November 1979. When the campaign came to an end in 1982, $20 million had been raised.
1980s
The HPER Center addition was completed in 1982, including a new natatorium, racquetball courts, training room, locker room space and a 3,000-seat basketball arena at a cost of $7.1 million.
In 1981 the Thomas Library addition was completed, as well as renovations to Weaver Chapel at a cost of $5.5 million.
The Benham-Pence Student Center undergoes a major facelift at a cost of $5 million. The renovations included the addition of windows on the front-side of the building. The building was dedicated on Parents Weekend 1989.
In 1989 all intercollegiate sports joined the North Coast Athletic Conference, which had formed in 1983.
On Dec 1, 1989, wittenberg.edu is born as the university registers for its permanent domain on the Internet.
Feb. 14 Board meets in Springfield, forwards second request for charter to legislature, this time to be named Wittenberg College.
March 11 Legislature grants charter. Wittenberg College is founded, and the first president is Ezra Keller, an 1835 graduate of Gettysburg.
The east wing of Myers Hall opens. At that time Myers Hall was called the College Building.
On Jan. 17, 1849 Samuel Sprecher accepted the presidency and remained president for the following 25 years.
M. Alice Geiger became the first woman graduate in 1879.
In 1909 Carnegie Science Hall opened through a gift of more than $35,000 from Andrew Carnegie.
Between 1917-1918 more than 400 students served in the armed forces. Nine make the supreme sacrifice.
March 11, 1924 was the first celebration of Founder's Day.
Sept. 11, 1933 Dr. Benjamin F. Prince, class of 1865, Wittenberg's "Grand Old Man," associated with the college for more than 75 years dies at age 93.
The Tiger becomes official mascot in 1945 when a student, John Norris, drew the first Wittenberg Tiger in an issue of the Torch. The Tiger's name was Ezra, named after Wittenberg's first president.
In 1946 President Tulloss announces the receipt of a $500,000 gift for a new college chapel from Mr. and Mrs. Elgar Weaver.
On June 11, 1955 the Wittenberg Guild begins a drive to raise $100,000 to convert Zimmerman Library into a classroom building.
On Sept. 27, 1956, Weaver Chapel-Thomas Library was dedicated. It cost $1.7 million to build.
Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy visits Wittenberg to speak on ethics while on the campaign trail in 1961. He introduces concepts and ideas that would later form the Peace Corps.
North Hall, now Firestine Hall, was completed in 1963. It housed 220 men and was considered to be completely fire proof. It was the first building to receive air conditioning.
With a government loan as its foundation, Tower Residence Hall for Men opens in the fall of 1966 at a cost of $1.9 million.
Famed astronaut Neil Armstrong, an Ohio native who was the first man to walk on the moon, visits Wittenberg for the inauguration of Wittenberg's 10th president Dr. G. Kenneth Andeen.
The Tiger men's basketball team wins the NCAA Division III championship in 1977.
In 1981 the Thomas Library addition was completed, as well as renovations to Weaver Chapel at a cost of $5.5 million.