Today in University History

Events by Month

• January

  January 2009
  UNC opened a satellite campus at Centerra (a master-planned community developed by McWhinney Enterprises) in Loveland, Colorado.

  January 1, 1954
  Frasier Hall dedicated.

  January 6, 1970
   Library Classroom Building (Michener) fire.

  January 15, 1954
   First theatrical presented in Frasier Hall. "Point of No Return".

  January 17, 1970
   Student protest in Gunter Hall intended to prevent wrestling match between UNC and BYU.

  January 22, 1907
  Dr. Thomas Gray, 1st President (1890-1891), died at Tonopah, Nevada.

  January 25, 1928
  Gunter Hall of Health dedicated.

  January 30, 1924
  President John Grant Crabbe, 3rd President (1916-1924), died in Greeley; buried in Linn Grove Cemetery.

  January 31, 1893
  Annie McCowen's birthday.

• February

  February 1, 1968
   Colorado State College Library began using the Library of Congress rather than the Dewey classification system.

  February 4, 1975
   Butler-Hancock Hall dedicated.

  February 7, 1933
  Men's dormitory on East campus named Hadden Hall .

  February 11, 1957
  Act approved changing the name of the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley to Colorado State College.

  February 16, 1935
  Act approved changing the name of the State Normal School at Greeley to the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley.

  February 18, 2001
  Dr. Darrell Holmes, 6th President (1964-1971) died in his hometown, Blanco, Texas.

  February 28, 1919
  Mirror. v.1 no.1

• March

  March 1980
  Music Library moved from Carter to basement of McKee.

   March 7, 1983
  William Ross, 5th President (1947-1964) died.

  March 13, 1976 
  Foundation Hall dedicated.

  March 14, 1951 
  First winter quarter commencement held.

  March 26, 1991 
  Ross Hall Laboratory wing dedicated.

  March 27, 1969 
  McKee Hall of Education dedicated.

• April

  April 1, 1889 
  Governor Job A. Cooper signed Senate Bill 104 to establish the State Normal School at Greeley.

  April 3, 1947
  In a faculty meeting, George Frasier announced his resignation as President. He had been president for 24 years.

  April 14, 1970
  Act approved changing the name of Colorado State College to the University of Northern Colorado.

  April 17, 1936 
  President George W. Frasier announced names for three new women's residence halls (Snyder, Sabin and Tobey-Kendel).

  April 30, 1970
  KCBL-FM became KUNC at midnight on April 30, 1970 at the same time that CSC became UNC.

• May

  May 1, 1970
  Name of school as University of Northern Colorado effective.

  May 3, 1951
  Guggenheim fire.

  May 6, 2005
  Music Library renamed Skinner Music Library, honoring Dr. Howard Skinner.

  May 10, 1973
  Genevieve Lawrenson Hall dedicated.

  May 10, 2002
  Trustees voted to move UNC athletics to Division I.

  May 13, 1962
  Bishop-Lehr Hall dedicated.

  May 18, 1955
  Annie McCowen went to the Sterling Theater in Greeley to see "Bridges at Toko-Ri".

  May 27, 1953
  First commencement at which an AFROTC officer was commissioned.

  May 28, 1967
  Constance Trimmer (author Connie Willis) graduated with a BA English/Elementary Education.

  May 30, 1940
  Annie McCowen diary: "Memorial Day with half the world slaughtering human beings while the other half pay homage to the victims of previous slaughters."

  May 30, 1965
  6th President: Darrell Holmes inaugurated (1964-1971).

• June

  Summer 1986
  Helen Langworthy Theatre dedicated.

  Summer 1968
  The College of Business Administration was established.

  June 2, 1953
  Elizabeth Lehr (Bishop-Lehr) went to London, England, and paid $90 for her seat to view the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 

  June 3,1890
  1st President: Thomas J. Gray.  Dr. Gray was selected by the Board of Trustees to serve as Principal of the State Normal School at Greeley with a salary of $3,000/year. On April 30, 1891, the Trustees changed his title from Principal to that of President when they adopted the trustee bylaws.

  June 4, 1891
  First commencement exercises held in Hunter Opera House at 9:30a.m. Twelve students graduated.

  June 5, 1911
  Colorado Legislature passed an act to make the State Normal School at Greeley  the State Teachers College of Colorado.

  June 7, 1950
  First commencement at which an USMC officer was commissioned.

  June 9, 1933
  Board of Trustees authorized closure of driveway north of Gunter running from 8th to 10th Avenue.

  June 9, 1933
  Harry V. Kepner received the school's first honorary degree (Ed.D.)

  June 11, 1937
  James A. Michener received MA in Secondary Education.

  June 13, 1890
  Cranford cornerstone laid.

  June 13, 1936
  Residence halls dedicated (Sabin, Snyder, Tobey-Kendel). 

  June 13, 1990
  Cranford Park dedicated.

  June 13, 1940
  Leo Florio flag pole dedicated.

  June 13-17, 1940
  Golden Anniversary Celebration.

  June 14, 1940
  Garden Theatre dedicated.

  June 16, 1972
  Last day of Cranford Hall demolition.

  June 20, 1934
  Little Theatre of the Rockies first production. "The First Mrs. Frasier".

  June 23, 1948
  5th President: William Robert Ross inaugurated (1947-1964)--Colorado State College of Education.

  June 25, 1923
  "President of U.S. Pays Tribute to Teachers in Brief Address before Greeley Crowds Monday," Mirror,  June 27, 1923, p. 1. (U.S. President Warren G. Harding).

  June 28, 1940
  New Library dedicated (later renamed Carter Hall).

• July

  July 1915
  "Old Doc", the horse, replaced by a Colwell Roller and Motor Lawn Mower.

  July 1999
  The name of the College of Business Administration was changed to the Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business.

  July 1, 1996
  10th President: Howard M. Skinner (1996-1998).

  July 1, 1998
  11th President: Hank Brown (1998-2002).

  July 1, 2002
  12th President: Kay Norton (2002-  ).
  
  July 31, 1946
  Greeley Tribune announced year round operation of the Little Theatre of the Rockies.

• August

  August 2008
  The new West Campus Residence Hall welcomed its first residents in August. The new housing complex replaced McCowen Hall, which was built in 1963.

  August 1,1965
  Dedication of the William Robert Ross Hall of Science.

  August 4, 1974
  Lindou Auditorium dedicated in Michener Library.

  August 12, 1891
  2nd President: Trustees elected Z. X. Snyder (1891-1915).

  August 14, 1947
  George Willard Frasier received honorary degree, Sc.D.

  August 25, 1934
  First doctorates awarded, Summer 1934 commencement.

  August 31, 1916
  3rd President: Dr. John Grant Crabbe (1916-1924).

  August 31, 1988
  Academic year calendar based on semesters rather than quarters implemented.

• September

  September 1951
  Air Force ROTC established at CSCE

  September 20, 1996
  Gunman slain while holding hostages in McCowen

  September 24, 1948
  The cost for meals served in the Faculty Club went up to $1 each. (McCowen diary)

• October

  October 1, 1981
  8th President: Robert C. Dickeson (1981-1991).

  October 1, 2005
  Presidents Row (Bond Hall, Dickeson Hall, Lujan Hall, Brown Hall), 19th Street and 9th Avenue, dedicated.

  October 5, 1989
  Rededication of Lawrenson Hall.

  October 7, 1992
  9th President: Herman Lujan inaugurated (1992-1996).

  October 12, 1943
  President Frasier announced closing of Army Air Force Clerical Training School. 

  October 13, 1990
  Leo Florio Flagpole rededicated.

  October 14, 1973
  Mariani Gallery dedicated in Guggenheim.

  October 15, 1942
  President Frasier announced at faculty meeting that 800 secretaries and clerks (Army Air Force Clerical Training School) were to be trained at CSCE. 

  October 17, 1997
  Music Library building dedicated (renamed Skinner Music Library on May 6, 2005).

  October 20, 2003
  Totem Teddy repatriation ceremonies held on UNC campus.

  October 22, 1999
  Hansen-Willis and Scott-Willcoxon Halls dedicated.

  October 27, 1972
  James A. Michener received honorary L.H.D. degree.

  October 27, 1972
  University Library (Michener) dedicated.

  October 22, 1931
  Administration Building renamed Cranford Hall.

  October 22, 1931
  Training School renamed Kepner Hall.

  October 22, 1931
  Home Economics building renamed Crabbe Hall.

  October 22, 1931
  Second Building Men's Dormitory renamed Hays Hall.

  October 21, 2008
  Vice-presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden addressed a capacity crowd at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.

  October 30, 1971
  7th President: Richard Bond inaugurated (1971-1981).

• November

  November 6, 1966
  Harrison Hall dedicated.

  November 11, 1915
  Dr. Z. X. Snyder, 2nd President (1891-1915) died.

  November 19, 1891
  The Board of Trustees authorized President Snyder to establish a "model school".

  November 21, 1924
  4th President: Dr. George Willard Frasier inaugurated (1924-1947)

  November 24, 1923
  First homecoming celebrated.

  November 26, 1946
  College closed indefinitely because of coal strikes.

• December

  December 12, 1942
  Gas rations reduced to 4 1/2 gal./week.

  December 13, 1997
  Football team won Division II National Championship

  December 14, 1996
  Football team won Division II National Championship

  December 17, 1943
  Entry in Annie McCowen's diary about a camp for 3000 German POWs nine miles west of Greeley on the Loveland road.

  December 18, 1914
  First article about totem pole (later named Totem Teddy) appeared in the Christmas issue of The Crucible