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Minnesota State University History
Chronology
1861-1865 Civil War
1866 A state normal school is authorized at Mankato, so long as a donation is received within 3 years.
1868 Mankato is chartered as a city.
1868, July 15 Donation received through bonds. 2nd State Normal School authorized in Mankato.
1868-1872 George M. Gage is principal of Mankato
State Normal School. 
1868, October 7 First Classes are held in the basement of the Methodist/Episcopal Church.
1868, October 26 School moved to the top floor of the Shaubut Building.
1869 Mahatma Gandhi is born.
1869, May Construction begins on permanent building.
1869, June 21 Cornerstone laid, time box sealed in.
1870 Classes first held in part of the permanent building in Spring; full occupancy in Fall.
1870, June 29 1st class graduated with 10 students.
1871 Permanent building is dedicated.
1872-1873 Julia A. Sears served as principal of Mankato State Normal School.
1873 "Sears Rebellion": 40 students walk out in protest of decision not to rehire Sears as principal.
1873-1880 David Clarke John served as principal of Mankato State Normal School.
1874 The Alumni Association was organized.
1880-1898 Edward F. Searing served as principal of Mankato State Normal School.
1880, June 5 A windstorm destroyed the roof of the Normal School Building.
1885 Prototype for 1st practical automobile by built by Karl Benz of Germany
1888-1889 Normal School connected to the city water and sewer access.
1889 1st Football team organized
1889-1890 Library is erected out of the Old Main School. Additional lots purchased for Model School.
1892 Purple and Gold adopted as school colors.
1894, August 15 Two new wings are added and dedicated to the Normal School Building.
1898 , October 22 Death of Searing while attending State Normal School Board Meeting in St. Paul.
1899-1930 Charles H. Cooper serves as president.
1903 Orville Wright made the first flight in an airplane at Kitty Hawk, NC,
1907 Library constructed for $115,000.
1908 Henry Ford's Model T first built in Detroit.
1909, February 6 Laboratory School completed, dedicated, and occupied.
1912 Revolutionary leaders topple the last Chinese Dynasty.
1913 June Daniel Buck Hall (women's dormitory) completed and occupied in the Summer Session.
1916 High School Diploma required for admission.
1917 Czar Nicholas II of Russia assassinated by Bolshevik revolutionaries.
1917-1918 World War I
1921, April 13 Normal School becomes Teacher's College. Four-year curriculum authorized.
1922 1st Men's Basketball team organized.
1922, February 5 Normal School Building is destroyed by fire.
1922 Last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire overthrown.
1923 Second Women's dormitory -- Cooper hall -- is occupied for Summer Session.
1924, April 8 The rebuilt Normal School Building (Old Main) is dedicated.
1927 1st Bachelor's Degree (in Education) granted to Valentine Aurit of Mankato.
1928 1st Homecoming.
1930-1946 Frank D. McElroy serves as President.
1932 Registrar's office opened.
1935 Athletic teams' name and mascot changed to 'Indians'.
1935 Student newspaper name changed to Reporter.
1936 1st radio programs broadcast.
1936 "Purple and Gold" adopted as school song.
1937 State Legislature approved $240,000 for a Physical Education Building.
1938 Academic units organized into Four Divisions.
1938, October 7 Ground breaking for Physical Education Building held in correlation with 70th anniversary
1939 Valley Gym completed.
1939 1st Bachelor of Science awarded (Bachelor of Education discontinued).
1940 Hemmingway published For Whom the Bell Tolls.
1941-1945 World War II.
1943, October 7 75th Anniversary observed.
1943-1944 Program offered for Navy Aviation Cadets.
1947 Married housing provided.
1947 1st Bachelor of Arts degree awarded.
1947 Student Union opens in the basement of the Valley Gym.
1947 A full city block is purchased as the future site of Nichols Hall.
1948 Mahatma Gandhi assassinated.
1952 Searing Center (first men's dormitory) and Old Main completed.
1953 Additions and interconnections to Buck and Cooper Halls completed.
1953 Master of Science degree program authorized.
1953 Nursing program authorized.
1953, June 26 Nichols Hall dedicated
1954 1st Master of Science Degree awarded to Sexton Larson.
1957 Teacher's college becomes State College.
1959 3 wings of Crawford opened.
1959 Wilson Campus School (now Wiecking Center) opened.
1961-1963 Construction of Highland Center.
1961 1st two wings of McElroy completed.
1962 Nelson, Crawford d-wing and the Heating Plant are completed.
1962-1963 Completion of Blakeslee Stadium.
1964 Armstrong Hall opened along with two new wings in McElroy.
1964 Divisions replaced by Schools: Arts and Science, Business, Education, and Graduate Studies.
1965 Gage A tower completed.
1965-1966 Melvin A. Scarlett serves as Interim President.
1966-1972 James F. Nickerson serves as President.
1966 Gage Center and B tower completed.
1967 Performing Arts building and the original phases of the Student Union and Memorial Library opened.
1968 McElroy completed.
1968 Morris Hall opened.
1969 First man on the Moon.
1972-1973 Kent G. Alm serves as Acting president.
1972 Trafton Center and the Student Union Addition Opened.
1973-1978 Douglas P. Moore serves as President.
1975 By Legislative decree, Mankato State College becomes a State University.
1977 School replaced by Colleges.
1978-1979 Edward R McMahn served as acting President.
1979-1992 Margaret R. Preske served as President.
1979 The Administration Building, Morris Hall and Highland additions and Conkling Art Gallery opened.
1982, May 1 Standeford Observatory is dedicated.
1986 Pennington foundation completed.
1987, October 11 Bell Tower site dedicated.
1988 Wissink Building opened.
1989 Warren Street Center ( now the Alumni and Foundations Building) completed.
1990 Andreas Observatory completed.
1992 John B. Davis served as interim president.
1992, September 1 Richard R. Rush begins term as President.
1992 Memorial Library completed.
1998, September 19 Institution name changed to Minnesota State University, Mankato.
1999, September Dr. Harry Coonce retires from the Mathematics Department.
2000, October Open House for the New Taylor Center.
2001, June Dr. Richard Rush leaves Minnesota State University, Mankato for a new position in California.
2001, June Karen Boubel becomes the Interim President of Minnesota State University, Mankato.
*Thank you to the staff at the University Archives and Historical Center, and most especially to Dr. William Lass of the MSUM History Department, whose extensive research provided most of my information.*
