1848
Trustee John Wilder establishes the University of Rochester endowment with a $10,000 gift.
1853
Martin Brewer Anderson is appointed the University’s first President. He will serve a herculean 35 years as a teacher, mentor, administrator, fundraiser and lobbyist.
1871
Theodore Thanbyah, a native of Rangoon, Burma, is the University’s first Asian graduate.
1881
Lewis Henry Morgan dies; he leaves his fortune to the University for the establishment of a College for Women, but his estate will not be settled until 1909.
1891
Charles Augustus Thompson becomes the first African-American graduate of the University.
1906
The Eastman Laboratory Building opens; George Eastman states that he does not plan to give the University any additional funds. By the time of his death in 1932, his gifts will total more than $50 million.
1912
The University’s trustees agree to raise $1 million, $250,000 of which will be dedicated to the newly established College for Women. George Eastman donates $500,000 (the largest single gift to the University at the time). The campaign successfully concludes in 1913, having exceeded its fundraising goal by $60,000.
1921
The Eastman School of Music opens to students.
1924
The $10 million campaign, with the theme “A Greater University for a Greater Rochester,” begins and is successfully completed in ten days. More than 13,500 people contribute to the effort, which will provide funds for the expansion of the University.
1926
Strong Memorial Hospital treats its first patient.
1929
The Institute of Optics is founded and is the first program of its kind in the United States.
1931
The class of 1931 is the first to graduate from the new River Campus. Joseph C. Wilson is among the graduates.
1935
Alan Valentine is appointed the University’s fourth President.
1948
“R” wing – a new building for psychiatry at the Medical Center – is dedicated, the gift of Helen Rivas.
1951
Cornelis de Kiewiet is appointed the University’s fifth President.
1955
The separate colleges for men and women merge into the College of Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
1959
Joseph Wilson ’31, president of Haloid Xerox, becomes Chair of the Board of Trustees during the same week that the Xerox 914 photocopier is announced.
1968
A $38 million campaign is successfully completed; it will add much needed buildings for sciences and engineering, an expansion of the library, professorships and scholarships.
1971
Former Board Chair and Xerox CEO Joseph Wilson dies suddenly, and the University closes for two days in his honor. The gifts of Wilson and his family to the University – for facilities, scholarships and professorships – exceed $40 million.
1974
Charles Force Hutchison, class of 1898, bequeaths $25 million to the University, after a lifetime of generosity and service. Hutchison Hall, opened in 1972, is the largest academic building on the River Campus.
1985
Dennis O’Brien is appointed the University’s eighth President.
1991
The five-year, $375 million “Campaign for the 90’s” is launched.
1996
The Campaign for the 90’s concludes; more than 78,000 donors help surpass the initial fundraising goal by $46 million.
2005
Joel Seligman is appointed the University’s tenth President. He launches the Meliora Challenge.
2014
The endowment surpasses $2 billion, and the University launches the One Rochester faculty and staff giving campaign. The Brooks Crossing, Riverview Apartment and College Town complexes open.
2016
The Meliora Challenge capital campaign is officially completed, exceeding campaign goal by 14%. The campaign results in significant support for faculty and students including 103 new endowed professorships, deanships, and directorships, and 406 new scholarships and fellowships across the University and the Medical Center.
1850
The University of Rochester reaches its first fundraising goal – $130,000 in subscriptions to meet the NYS Regents’ requirement for granting a charter. Classes begin on November 5 in the former US Hotel, on what is now West Main Street.
1861
The campus moves to University Avenue (where the Memorial Art Gallery is still located). The first building is Anderson Hall, which stands to this day.
1889
David Jayne Hill is appointed the University’s second President and serves as an important change agent in positioning the curriculum to move into the 20th century.
1876
Sibley Hall, named in honor of donor Hiram Sibley, is dedicated and houses the University’s library and scientific museum.
1900
Rush Rhees is appointed as the University’s third President. During his presidency, the University of Rochester is transformed from a small regional college into an authentic national university. Following a campaign led by renowned suffragist Susan B. Anthony and others, female students are enrolled at the University on the same basis as male students.
1911
The Carnegie Building, used by the engineering courses, opens; its construction is funded by Andrew Carnegie.
1913
The Memorial Art Gallery is founded; the building is the gift of Emily Sibley Watson.
1922
The Eastman Theatre, designed by McKim, Mead and White, opens for performances “for the enrichment of community life.”
1925
The first class of students enters the School of Medicine and Dentistry. The first University of Rochester PhD is awarded to Warren Sperry in biochemistry.
1927
Ground is broken for the new River Campus, beside the Genesee River M. Elizabeth Marsh is the first woman awarded a doctorate degree by the University, in physiology of nutrition.
1930
The College for Men moves to the new River Campus.
1934
Cutler Union, the gift of trustee James G. Cutler, opens on the Prince Street Campus. It is the first student union at an American women’s college. It is now part of the Memorial Art Gallery complex.
1942
The Navy V-12 program is announced. The purpose of the program is to give prospective Naval officers the benefits of a college education and to counteract the huge enrollment declines caused by World War II. The University participates, resulting in the largest class sizes in its history.
1950
The University celebrates its centennial.
1952
Ansel Adams is hired to photograph the University. His photographs will be used in the $10.7 million fundraising campaign to add facilities for the merging of the colleges for men and women. Frederick Fennell ’37, ’39 (MM) creates the renowned Eastman Wind Ensemble.
1958
The graduate schools of Business (now Simon), Education (now Warner) and Engineering (now the Hajim School) are founded.
1962
W. Allen Wallis is appointed the University’s sixth President.
1970
Robert Sproull is appointed the University’s seventh President. The Laboratory for Laser Energetics is founded.
1973
The University breaks ground on Wilson Commons, designed by famed architect I.M. Pei.
1980
Launched in the mid-1970s, “The Campaign for Rochester” concludes, having surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $102 million to achieve a total of $108 million in gifts to the University.
1986
The University commissions a study to determine if the name of the institution should be changed, either to “Eastman University” or “Rochester University.” After much opposition from students and alumni, the name “University of Rochester” is retained.
1994
Thomas Jackson is appointed the University’s ninth President. He launches the “Renaissance Plan” to create a more selective admissions process and overhaul the undergraduate curriculum.
1998
The endowment surpasses $1 billion.
2008
The University announces a $500 million strategic plan geared toward expansion of the Medical Center.
2015
The Meliora Challenge achieves its $1.2 billion goal. The Golisano Children’s Hospital, the largest project in University history, is dedicated. President Seligman announces his vision for 2020 – the University of Rochester as a top research university, with national leadership in data science, neuromedicine, and clinical and translational research.
2018
A new report by the Center of Governmental Research points to the growing economic impact of the University on local communities, confirming that the University of Rochester is the largest private employer in upstate New York and the 5th largest in the state overall.
1848
Trustee John Wilder establishes the University of Rochester endowment with a $10,000 gift.
1850
The University of Rochester reaches its first fundraising goal – $130,000 in subscriptions to meet the NYS Regents’ requirement for granting a charter. Classes begin on November 5 in the former US Hotel, on what is now West Main Street.
1853
Martin Brewer Anderson is appointed the University’s first President. He will serve a herculean 35 years as a teacher, mentor, administrator, fundraiser and lobbyist.
1861
The campus moves to University Avenue (where the Memorial Art Gallery is still located). The first building is Anderson Hall, which stands to this day.
1871
Theodore Thanbyah, a native of Rangoon, Burma, is the University’s first Asian graduate.
1889
David Jayne Hill is appointed the University’s second President and serves as an important change agent in positioning the curriculum to move into the 20th century.
1881
Lewis Henry Morgan dies; he leaves his fortune to the University for the establishment of a College for Women, but his estate will not be settled until 1909.
1876
Sibley Hall, named in honor of donor Hiram Sibley, is dedicated and houses the University’s library and scientific museum.
1891
Charles Augustus Thompson becomes the first African-American graduate of the University.
1900
Rush Rhees is appointed as the University’s third President. During his presidency, the University of Rochester is transformed from a small regional college into an authentic national university. Following a campaign led by renowned suffragist Susan B. Anthony and others, female students are enrolled at the University on the same basis as male students.
1906
The Eastman Laboratory Building opens; George Eastman states that he does not plan to give the University any additional funds. By the time of his death in 1932, his gifts will total more than $50 million.
1911
The Carnegie Building, used by the engineering courses, opens; its construction is funded by Andrew Carnegie.
1912
The University’s trustees agree to raise $1 million, $250,000 of which will be dedicated to the newly established College for Women. George Eastman donates $500,000 (the largest single gift to the University at the time). The campaign successfully concludes in 1913, having exceeded its fundraising goal by $60,000.
1913
The Memorial Art Gallery is founded; the building is the gift of Emily Sibley Watson.
1921
The Eastman School of Music opens to students.
1922
The Eastman Theatre, designed by McKim, Mead and White, opens for performances “for the enrichment of community life.”
1924
The $10 million campaign, with the theme “A Greater University for a Greater Rochester,” begins and is successfully completed in ten days. More than 13,500 people contribute to the effort, which will provide funds for the expansion of the University.
1925
The first class of students enters the School of Medicine and Dentistry. The first University of Rochester PhD is awarded to Warren Sperry in biochemistry.
1926
Strong Memorial Hospital treats its first patient.
1927
Ground is broken for the new River Campus, beside the Genesee River M. Elizabeth Marsh is the first woman awarded a doctorate degree by the University, in physiology of nutrition.
1929
The Institute of Optics is founded and is the first program of its kind in the United States.
1930
The College for Men moves to the new River Campus.
1931
The class of 1931 is the first to graduate from the new River Campus. Joseph C. Wilson is among the graduates.
1934
Cutler Union, the gift of trustee James G. Cutler, opens on the Prince Street Campus. It is the first student union at an American women’s college. It is now part of the Memorial Art Gallery complex.
1935
Alan Valentine is appointed the University’s fourth President.
1942
The Navy V-12 program is announced. The purpose of the program is to give prospective Naval officers the benefits of a college education and to counteract the huge enrollment declines caused by World War II. The University participates, resulting in the largest class sizes in its history.
1948
“R” wing – a new building for psychiatry at the Medical Center – is dedicated, the gift of Helen Rivas.
1950
The University celebrates its centennial.
1951
Cornelis de Kiewiet is appointed the University’s fifth President.
1952
Ansel Adams is hired to photograph the University. His photographs will be used in the $10.7 million fundraising campaign to add facilities for the merging of the colleges for men and women. Frederick Fennell ’37, ’39 (MM) creates the renowned Eastman Wind Ensemble.
1955
The separate colleges for men and women merge into the College of Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
1958
The graduate schools of Business (now Simon), Education (now Warner) and Engineering (now the Hajim School) are founded.
1959
Joseph Wilson ’31, president of Haloid Xerox, becomes Chair of the Board of Trustees during the same week that the Xerox 914 photocopier is announced.
1962
W. Allen Wallis is appointed the University’s sixth President.
1968
A $38 million campaign is successfully completed; it will add much needed buildings for sciences and engineering, an expansion of the library, professorships and scholarships.
1970
Robert Sproull is appointed the University’s seventh President. The Laboratory for Laser Energetics is founded.
1971
Former Board Chair and Xerox CEO Joseph Wilson dies suddenly, and the University closes for two days in his honor. The gifts of Wilson and his family to the University – for facilities, scholarships and professorships – exceed $40 million.
1973
The University breaks ground on Wilson Commons, designed by famed architect I.M. Pei.
1974
Charles Force Hutchison, class of 1898, bequeaths $25 million to the University, after a lifetime of generosity and service. Hutchison Hall, opened in 1972, is the largest academic building on the River Campus.
1980
Launched in the mid-1970s, “The Campaign for Rochester” concludes, having surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $102 million to achieve a total of $108 million in gifts to the University.
1985
Dennis O’Brien is appointed the University’s eighth President.
1986
The University commissions a study to determine if the name of the institution should be changed, either to “Eastman University” or “Rochester University.” After much opposition from students and alumni, the name “University of Rochester” is retained.
1991
The five-year, $375 million “Campaign for the 90’s” is launched.
1994
Thomas Jackson is appointed the University’s ninth President. He launches the “Renaissance Plan” to create a more selective admissions process and overhaul the undergraduate curriculum.
1996
The Campaign for the 90’s concludes; more than 78,000 donors help surpass the initial fundraising goal by $46 million.
1998
The endowment surpasses $1 billion.
2005
Joel Seligman is appointed the University’s tenth President. He launches the Meliora Challenge.
2008
The University announces a $500 million strategic plan geared toward expansion of the Medical Center.
2014
The endowment surpasses $2 billion, and the University launches the One Rochester faculty and staff giving campaign. The Brooks Crossing, Riverview Apartment and College Town complexes open.
2015
The Meliora Challenge achieves its $1.2 billion goal. The Golisano Children’s Hospital, the largest project in University history, is dedicated. President Seligman announces his vision for 2020 – the University of Rochester as a top research university, with national leadership in data science, neuromedicine, and clinical and translational research.
2016
The Meliora Challenge capital campaign is officially completed, exceeding campaign goal by 14%. The campaign results in significant support for faculty and students including 103 new endowed professorships, deanships, and directorships, and 406 new scholarships and fellowships across the University and the Medical Center.
2018
A new report by the Center of Governmental Research points to the growing economic impact of the University on local communities, confirming that the University of Rochester is the largest private employer in upstate New York and the 5th largest in the state overall.