Scroll down to learn more about events and milestones on each timeline panel and view related links.

1824 - 1831

Learn more about Bishop Philander Chase, Kenyon's second president Charles Pettit McIlvaine, the construction of Old Kenyon and Rosse Hall and meet Kenyon's first graduates.
Bishop Chase President McIlvaine Old Kenyon and Rosse Hall First Graduates

1832 - 1849

Learn more about Kenyon presidents David Bates Douglass and Sherlock Anson Bronson, including Douglass's response to his removal, Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, Class of 1834, and the histories of Bexley Hall and Matriculation.
President Douglass Edwin Stanton Bexley Hall Matriculation

1850 - 1863

Learn more about Kenyon presidents Thomas Mather Smith, Lorin Andrews and Charles Short, and explore the first issues of the Reveille and the Collegian.
Presidents Smith, Andrews and Short Publications Launch Reveille Archive Collegian Archive

1864 - 1879

Learn more about presidents James Kent Stone, Eli Todd Tappan and William Budd Bodine, the construction of the Church of the Holy Chapel, the Gambier railroad and the inauguration of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, a member of the Class of 1842.
Presidents Stone, Tappan and Bodine Church of the Holy Spirit Gambier Rail Station Inauguration of Hayes

1880 - 1901

Learn more about Founders’ Day and campus libraries, presidents Theodore Sterling, who increased enrollment from a low of 33, and William Foster Peirce, the longest-serving president at 41 years, and the devastating Rosse Hall fire.
Founders' Day Kenyon Libraries Presidents Sterling and Peirce Rosse Hall Fire

1902 - 1925

Learn more about campus construction, the impact of World War I and the College's centennial celebration in 1924, which included a visit from Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, 4th Baron Kenyon.
Colburn Hall Cromwell Cottage and Ransom Hall World War I Celebrating a Century

1926 - 1936

Learn more about the construction of Peirce Hall, the first publication of the literary magazine HIKA, the Kenyon School of Aeronautics and the dedication of Shaffer Pool, which launched the College's legendary swimming and diving program.
Peirce Hall HIKA Archive School of Aeronautics Shaffer Pool

1936 - 1945

Learn more about President Gordon Keith Chalmers, the Flying Club, the launch of the Kenyon Review literary magazine and how U.S. Army soldiers were housed in Old Kenyon during World War II.
President Chalmers The Flying Club The Kenyon Review Housing for Soldiers

1946 - 1948

Learn more about the opening of the Village Inn, prefabricated building construction, including student housing and the Wertheimer Fieldhouse, and Kenyon's first Black graduates, Allen B. Ballard Jr. and Stanley L. Jackson.
The Village Inn Prefabricated Buildings First Black Graduates

1949 - 1959

Learn more about the devastating Old Kenyon fire, new residence halls for freshmen, the beginning of the First Year Sing tradition and the arrival of President F. Edward Lund.
Old Kenyon Fire First Year Sing New Freshman Dorms President Lund

1960 - 1963

Learn more about the creation of the Kenyon Fund, how President Lund required students to make their own beds following the dissolution of the campus maid service in 1962, noted in a timely Collegian article, the "book brigade," and Kenyon's winning streak on a nationally televised quiz show.
The Kenyon Fund "Students Promise Gloom and Grime Without Our Maids" The Book Brigade Quiz Bowl Dominance

1964 - 1968

Learn more about the founding of the Chasers and the Kokosingers, a Bob Dylan concert in Rosse Hall, documented by Collegian writer John "Jay" Cocks '66, the construction of Farr Hall and President William Goff Caples.
Chasers and Kokosingers "A Day with Bob Dylan" Farr Hall President Caples

1969

Learn more about this watershed year, which includes Kenyon enrolling its first full class of women and the founding of the Black Student Union.
Women at Kenyon Black Student Union

1969 - 1971

Learn more about Kenyon's response to the Kent State shooting, a visit from Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme '48, which was documented in a 1975 edition of the Collegian (page 4), and the first three female graduates.
Kent State Shooting "Palme Became Socialist Here" First Female Graduates

1972 - 1975

Learn more about Leonie (Silverman) Deutsch '73, the first woman editor of Reveille, President Philip Harding Jordan Jr., Kenyon's first coeducational Commencement, which featured an address by U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm, and the creation of the Owl Creek Singers, Kenyon's first all-female a cappella group.
Reveille Editor President Jordan Commencement Owl Creek Singers
1976 - 1983

1976 - 1983

Learn more about Friday Café, the rededication of Rosse Hall, a campus visit by Paul Newman '49, who directed student Allison Janney '82 in a Bolton Theater production, and the legacy of Coach Jim Steen.
Friday Café Rosse Hall Paul Newman Coach Steen

1984 - 1990

Learn more about Harlene Marley H'05, the first female faculty member to be awarded a full professorship, the College's first capital campaign, which led to the construction of Olin Library, the first Kenyon Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony and the founding of Latinx student group Adelante.
Harlene Marley The Campaign for Kenyon Athletics Hall of Fame Adelante

1991 - 1997

Learn more about President Robert Allen Oden Jr., the opening of the Franklin Miller Jr. Observatory and the Brown Family Environmental Center, and Kenyon's first alumna Commencement speaker, the Hon. Kathleen O’Malley ’79 H’95.
President Oden Franklin Miller Jr. Observatory Brown Family Environmental Center Judge O'Malley

1998 - 2001

Learn more about the creation of the Marilyn V. Yarbrough Dissertation/Teaching Fellowship and its first recipient, Marla Kohlman, the 1999 Founders' Day address given by the current Lord Kenyon, Storer Hall, and the creation of the Philander Chase Conservancy.
Yarbrough Fellowship Lord Kenyon Storer Hall Philander Chase Conservancy

2002 - 2006

Learn more about the dedication of the Science Quad, President Georgia Nugent, "This is Water," David Foster Wallace's famous Commencement address, and the opening of the Kenyon Athletic Center, which was renamed the Lowry Center in 2020.
Science Quad President Nugent "This is Water" Lowry Center

2007 - 2011

Learn more about the We are Kenyon campaign — which included extensive renovations of Peirce and Dempsey (now Thomas) halls and Finn House, the building of Lentz House, Hoehn-Saric House and Horvitz Hall, and the opening of the Gund Gallery (now The Gund) — and also about "Liberal Arts," filmed on campus and starring Josh Radnor '96 and Allison Janney '82.
We Are Kenyon Campaign "Liberal Arts"

2012 - 2017

Learn more about the establishment of the Kenyon Farm, President Sean Decatur, the Commencement address by best-selling author John Green '00 H'16, and the opening of the Wright Center in Mount Vernon, home to Kenyon's Office for Community Partnerships.
Kenyon Farm President Decatur John Green Wright Center

2018 - 2021

Learn more about the Our Path Forward campaign — which includes the West Quad and South Campus building projects and inspired more than $100 million in gifts for scholarships and financial aid — and about 50th anniversary celebrations for women and the Black Student Union.
Our Path Forward Anniversary Celebrations

2022 - 2023

Learn more about the final West Quad projects, Lowell House and Oden Hall, new endowed positions and a satellite location for The Gund in downtown Mount Vernon, President Decatur's departure and the arrival of President Julie Kornfeld.
West Quad Project The Gund President Decatur's Departure President Kornfeld

2024

Learn more about the renovation of Bexley Hall, the launch of bicentennial events on campus and around the country, and other activities celebrating 200 years of Kenyon.
Cheers to 200 Years! Bicentennial Website Get Involved in the Celebration Share Your Kenyon Story

Kenyon was founded 200 years ago on the generosity of those who believed in the power of education. That same belief sustains it today. Throughout the physical timeline, events noted in teal were powered by philanthropy. To continue this proud tradition, make your gift today.

Explore our full bicentennial timeline and learn more about Kenyon's presidents.

The timeline of Kenyon College’s first 200 years draws heavily from decades of work by Thomas Stamp ’73, retired College historian and keeper of Kenyoniana. It was compiled by the Office of Communications with generous assistance from Special Collections and Archives and the many other resources available via Digital Kenyon and the Office of the President. A version of the timeline is also available for purchase in the book “Place and Purpose: Kenyon at 200.” 

The physical timeline panels that have been installed along Middle Path were created by the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement and the Office of Communications in collaboration with Woodshed Stage Art.