| AU Timeline |
| 1890 |
Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst buys some ninety acres of farmland on which to build a nonsectarian, national university. |
| 1891 |
University is incorporated as "The American University" under laws of District of Columbia.
Bishop Hurst is elected chancellor. |
| 1893 |
AU chartered by Act of Congress. |
| 1896 |
Bishop Hurst breaks ground for College of History (Hurst Hall). |
| 1902 |
Cornerstone of McKinley Building is laid by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Bishop Charles Cardwell McCabe becomes AU's second chancellor. |
| 1907 |
Franklin E. Hamilton becomes AU's third chancellor. |
| 1914 |
First class admitted (28 students, including 4 women). |
| 1916 |
First class graduated.
Bishop John W. Hamilton, Franklin Hamilton's brother, becomes AU's fourth chancellor. |
| 1917 |
AU's Board offers use of campus and facilities for war effort. Campus turned intoCamp AU and Camp Leach. |
| 1920 |
Downtown graduate schools opened on "F" Street, NW. |
| 1922 |
Lucius C. Clark becomes AU's fifth chancellor. |
| 1924 |
Chancellor's House (President's Building) is constructed. |
| 1925 |
College of Arts and Sciences established, 75 students enrolled.
First women's dormitory opened (Mary Graydon Building).
AU organizes intercollegiate football team.
AU organizes intercollegiate women's and men's basketball teams.
Student newspaper, The American Eagle, is first published. |
| 1926 |
Clendenen opened (gym, theatre, assembly hall).
Battelle Library opened.
First yearbook, The Aucola, is published. |
| 1927 |
AU's Alumni Association is formed.
First undergraduate class of College of Liberal Arts graduates. |
| 1929 |
First journalism student graduates. |
| 1930 |
First men's dormitory opened (Hamilton House). |
| 1933 |
Joseph M.M. Gray becomes sixth chancellor. |
| 1934 |
School of Public Affairs organized. |
| 1937 |
Board of Trustees votes to admit black students, making AU one of the first universities in a segregated city to do so. |
| 1941 |
Paul Douglass becomes AU's seventh leader; title changes from chancellor to president. |
| 1943 |
First university flag introduced; featuring the Lodestar, the flag was designed by art department chair Charles Watkins.
University celebrates 50th anniversary. |
| 1946 |
AU acquired World War II WAVE barracks (Leonard Learning Center) from the United States War Department; building is later renamed Cassell Center. |
| 1947 |
Radio station WAMC (WVAU-AM) established. |
| 1949 |
Washington College of Law merged with AU. |
| 1952 |
Hurst Robins Anderson becomes AU's eighth president. |
| 1954 |
Radio/television building opened. |
| 1955 |
AU's new School of Business Administration, first in area, moved into McKinley. |
| 1956 |
Yearbook is renamed The Talon. |
| 1957 |
The first Tompkins addition to Battelle completed.
School of Government and Public Administration established. |
| 1958 |
School of International Service opened in its new building.
The Center for Technology and Administration established. |
| 1960 |
Asbury Building completed. |
| 1962 |
Watkins Art Building opened. |
| 1963 |
First University Senate convenes. |
| 1964 |
John Sherman Myers Law Building and second Tompkins addition to Battelle completed. |
| 1965 |
Kay Spiritual Life Center opened.
Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing and College of Continuing Education established. |
| 1966 |
Kreeger Music Building opened. |
| 1967 |
Beeghly Chemistry Building opened. |
| 1968 |
New Lecture Hall opened.
George H. Williams becomes AU's ninth president.
Kennedy Political Union (KPU), student-run lecture series is established.
Catherine H. Sweeney donates a house on Nebraska Avenue for president's residence. |
| 1969 |
School of Government and Public Administration moved into new Ward Circle Building.
Downtown Center closed. |
| 1972 |
College of Public and International Affairs established. |
| 1973 |
Eagles' basketball team is invited to National Invitational Tournament. |
| 1975 |
School of Education established.
Commuter plane hits WAMU radio tower and crashes into backyard of AU president William's residence on Nebraska Avenue. |
| 1976 |
Joseph Sisco becomes AU's tenth president.
Cooperative education program begins. |
| 1977 |
Alumni magazine, American, is first published. |
| 1979 |
Jack and Dorothy Bender Library opened.
School of Business Administration is renamed Kogod College of Business Administration.
College of Public Affairs is renamed College of Public and International Affairs. |
| 1980 |
Richard E. Berendzen becomes AU's eleventh president.
AU selected to serve as a host institution for Humphrey Fellows. |
| 1981 |
New official university seal is adopted. |
| 1982 |
New university logo is adopted. |
| 1984 |
Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies establishes bi-annual Lobbying Institute
Department of Communication becomes School of Communication under the wing of College of Arts and Sciences |
| 1985 |
AU's flag is redesigned.
Clendenen razed. |
| 1986 |
School of Communication establishes American Forum. |
| 1987 |
Abbey Joel Butler Pavilion opens.
AU purchases Immaculata School of Tenley Campus. |
| 1988 |
Bender Arena opens.
College of Public and International Affairs dissolved; School of Government and Public Administration is renamed School of Public Affairs.
School of International Service becomes independent. |
| 1991 |
Joseph Duffey becomes twelfth president.
Eric A. Friedheim Quadrangle is dedicated. |
| 1993 |
School of Communication becomes independent. |
| 1994 |
Benjamin Ladner becomes thirteenth president.
Washington Interns for Native Students (WINS) program established. |
| 1995 |
AU's International Institute for Health Promotion hosts first annual Global Meeting. |
| 1998 |
Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) established.
Ward Building classrooms renovated to feature the latest technology, including multimedia ports and video projectors. |
| 1999 |
Experimental College established.
Kogod College of Business Administration is renamed Kogod School of Business.
Kogod School of Business moved into its new home in the former Myers-Hutchins building.
AU links with Peace Corps to offer new Masters Degree.
Five year international management agreement signed with American University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates). |
| 2000 |
AU leaves Colonial Athletic Association to join Patriot League athletics conference.
AU receives Easter Island statue (Moai) as a gift from the Embassy of Chile. |
| 2001 |
AU President Ladner's 15 Point Plan: "Ideas in Action, Action into Service" adopted by Board of Trustees.
WAMU celebrates station's 40th anniversary.
AU Atheltics snagged two Patriot League Championships and automatic berths in the NCAA tournaments for men's soccer and women's volleyball. |
| 2002 |
AU Board of Trustees adopts University Wage Policy.
AU creates Emergency Management Procedures Manual.
Battelle Building renovated & becomes new home of the College of Arts and Sciences.
World Capitals program celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Mary Graydon Center renovated, now includes Cyber Café.
WAMU wins a 2002 D.C. Mayor’s Arts Award. |
| 2003 |
Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre opened.
Katzen Arts Center project begins.
Bender Court dedicated to Pop Cassell.
School of International Service celebrated the 45th anniversary of its founding. |
| 2004 |
AU becomes First T-Mobile HotSpot Campus.
Jack I. and Dorothy G. Bender Library and Learning Resources Center celebrates its 25th anniversary.
WAMU 88.5 FM Receives $250,000 Bequest; Largest Gift in Station's History. |
