On this Day in NU History

Oct. 31, 1987: Gary Cummings, Assoc. Prof, Emmy winner, and chairman of Medill broadcast news program, dies.

Oct. 30, 1886: Football: Harvard Preparatory (Harvard, Ill.) defeats Northwestern, yet raises hopes of future success.

"The foot ball game on the campus, last Saturday, between the Harvard Preparatory eleven and N. W. U. eleven, showed that we have a foot ball team of which we may be proud. Though our boys were beaten, yet it was evident to every one that the individual playing of N. W. U. was as good, if not better, than that of the Harvard School. All that is necessary is steady practice in playing together and learning thoroughly all the tricks of the game. If N. W. U. is comelled to take a back seat in base ball, let her come to the front in foot ball." (The Northwestern, Vol. VI, No. 15, November 5, 1886, reprinted in The Northwestern, Vol. 6, 1886, Northwestern University Library, p. 204)

Oct. 29, 1894: Second mass meeting of students to discuss prevention of fraud in examinations.

Second mass meeting of students to discuss prevention of fraud in examinations. Resolution adopted signifying students' disapproval of "cribbing". (1894)

Oct. 28, 1894: Purple officially adopted as University color.

Purple is officially adopted as University color. (1894)

Oct. 27, 1893: Football: Northwestern, 12; Lake Forest, 12.

from The Northwestern, Nov. 3, 1893 (click for full article)

Oct. 26, 1894: University day, a forerunner of Homecoming. Recitations suspended; students march by classes, many in cap and gown, to meet students of NU's professional schools, at train station.

University day, a forerunner of Homecoming. Recitations suspended; students march by classes, many in cap and gown, and process to Methodist church. Address of welcome by Dr. Rogers. Addresses by faculty representatives of various departments. Supper and reception at Woman's Hall. (1894)

Oct. 25, 1920: Jacob Scher, NU professor, named general counsel for congressional subcommittee investigating charges of government suppression of information.

Jacob Scher, NU professor, named general counsel for congressional subcommittee investigating charges of government suppression of information. The subcommittee was formed after charges from leading editors that executive directives from President Eisenhower and President Truman had created a "paper curtain" preventing full reporting of Washington news. (1920)

Read the article in the Tribune (via ProQuest, subscription required)

Oct. 24, 1894: Psi Omega chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon established.

Sigma Alpha Epilon at the Rock, 1981

Oct. 23, 1875: Baseball game at Evanston. Northwestern, 9; Chicago, 6. Northwestern wins the silver ball and championship of the northwest.

Baseball Team, 1875

Oct. 22, 1889: Life-saving crew rescue twenty-nine persons from two vessels and a tug, aground off Wilmette.

Life-saving crew rescue twenty-nine persons from two vessels and a tug, run aground off Wilmette, making a total of over two hundred lives saved by the crew since 1878.

Oct. 21, 1854: Death of President Hinman, 35.

Death of Clark T. Hinman, Northwestern's first president, at age thirty-five, in Troy, N.Y. Hinman graduated from Wesleyan University (Conn.) in its class of 1839. (1854)

President Hinman

Oct. 20, 1900: $50,000 donated by Milton H. Wilson, Trustee, to the Northwestern University Settlement Association.

$50,000 donated by Milton H. Wilson, NU Trustee, to the Northwestern University Settlement Association. The Association, founded by NU President and Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers and alumni and students of the university, sought to aid the poor through social services and involvement in their lives.

Trustee Wilson

Oct. 1887: Dearborn telescope given to the University, observatory to be established.

Dearborn telescope given to the University on the condition that an observatory be erected and a professorship established, to be filled by action of Chicago Astronomical Society. J. B. Hobbs of Chicago gives $25,000 for construction of building, the Dearborn Observatory. (1887)

Oct. 18, 1884: Representatives from fraternities and sororities prepare constitution organizing "Pandora Association" to publish Northwestern's first yearbook, predecessor to the Syllabus.

Oct. 17, 1977: Frank A. Spencer, NU associate professor and retired airline pilot, donates $100,000 to launch fundraising for a new professorship in transportation, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Frank A. Spencer, NU associate professor and retired airline pilot, donates $100,000 to launch fundraising for a new professorship in transportation, reports the Chicago Tribune. The total sought to create the William A. Patterson Distinguished Chair is $1.25 million. Spencer believes the professorship will attract an expert "to enhance the quality of transportation education, and people will look to Northwestern as a real authority in the transportation field." ("Ex-pilot 'angel' helps fund N.U. transportation chair," Casey Banas, Chicago Tribune, Oct 17, 1977, p C11)

Read the full Tribune article (via ProQuest, subscription required)

Oct. 16, 1875: Baseball: Northwestern, 19; Chicago, 13.

Baseball Team, 1875

Oct. 15, 1914: Music department of Northwestern Library is opened.

Music department of Northwestern Library is opened. (1914)

The Music Library in use, decades later

Oct. 14, 1890: Northwestern Association, literary society publishers of The Northwestern, is dissolved and replaced by an association of subscribers.

The Northwestern Association, publishers of the news circular The Northwestern, composed of members of the three literary societies, is dissolved for lack of steady support. A new publishing association is formed, consisting of the paper's paid-up subscribers. (1890)

"THE NORTHWESTERN in the hands of this association will not represent any particular clique, but will continue on its old-time broad gauge. Its columns will be open to free discussion of all college matters. Its editors and managers will be elected with the single point of qualification in view." (The Northwestern, Vol. X, No. 26, Oct. 17, 1890, reprinted in The Northwestern, Vol. 10, 1890, Northwestern University Library, p 250)

Oct. 13, 1894: Football: Northwestern, 6; Lake Forest, 24.

from The Northwestern, Oct. 18, 1894. (click for full article)

Oct. 12, 1861: Faculty discontinues evening prayers in College.

October 11, 1901: Dedication of Chapin Hall, new dormitory for women, on corner of University Place and Sherman Ave.

Dedication of Chapin Hall, new dormitory for women, on corner of University Place and Sherman Ave. Address by Bishop McCabe at Fisk Hall. (1891)

Chapin Hall

Sophomore-freshman cane-rush. Cane four feet long of seasoned ash, one inch in diameter. Time, 17 minutes. If, at the end of 17 minutes, the cane is broken, the victory is to the sophomores. If the cane is unbroken, the freshmen will win the right to carry canes. Sophomores emerge victorious. (1889)

Story from The Northwestern, October 18, 1889

Oct. 10, 1871: Great Chicago Fire. Mayor of Chicago declares martial law and places General Philip Sheridan in charge of maintaining order and military relief efforts.

Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Mayor of Chicago declares martial law and places General Philip Sheridan in charge of maintaining order and military relief efforts. Lack of major unrest leads to lifting of martial law a few days later. Sheridan Road, which borders the Northwestern campus, is named for the General, as are Sheridan Square in New York and Mt. Sheridan in Yellowstone. (1871)

Oct. 9, 1894: Recitations suspended on account of Chicago day at World's Columbian Exposition.

Oct. 1879: Football association formed.

Football association formed. Rugby rules to be learned. (1879)

Oct. 1874: Frances Willard resigns as Dean of Women.

Frances E. Willard resigns as Northwestern's Dean of Women. The resignation followed a tumultuous integration of Northwestern and the Evanston College for Ladies, of which Willard had been the head, as well as a strained period in Willard's personal relationships. Miss Ellen Soule is elected professor of French and Dean of Woman's College. (1874)

Frances Willard

Oct. 6, 1884: Meeting of students to organize a Blaine and Logan club to support the Republican ticket in the 1884 presidential election.

Oct. 1873: College of Technology instituted.

A College of Technology instituted with Professor Oliver Marcy as Dean and W. A. Metcalf as Professor of Civil Engineering. Professor H. F. Fisk takes charge of Northwestern's preparatory department (high school). Professor J. G. Allyn becomes Professor of Chemistry. (1873)

Oct. 1871: Volunteer life saving crew organized by class of 1872.

Volunteer life saving crew organized by class of 1872, consisting of Lorin C. Collins, George Lunt, Edwin J. Harrison, Ettinge Elmore, George Bragdon, F. Roys and M. D. Kimball. Commodore Murray of U. S. Navy presents University a life-boat for use of crew. (1871)

Crew, 1896

Oct. 1872: College Cottage, a residence for women throughout the term of the Evanston College for Ladies and early NU co-education, is opened.

College Cottage, a "new and winning feature as a branch of the Ladies' College. Twelve to fourteen young ladies can be accommodated at rates surprisingly cheap." It is run under the auspices of the Women's Educational Aid Association. The residence housed students of the Evanston College for Ladies and then of Northwestern once co-education began. During this time it was re-named Pearsons Hall, in honor of Mrs. H. S. Pearsons, an active member of the WEAA. The building was passed to Northwestern's ownership in 1935. For the next seven years it was a men's dormitory, then served as administrative offices until its demolition in 1968 to make way for the Rebecca Crown Center. (1872)

The young ladies of College Cottage, 1899

Oct. 2, 1860: Students excused to go to Chicago to hear former NY Governor and future US Secretary of State W. H. Seward speak.

Students excused to go to Chicago to hear William H. Seward speak. Seward was a former Governor of New York, Whig and Republican Senator, and presidential candidate. In 1861, he would be appointed Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln (1860).

Oct. 1, 1902: Library hours extend from 8 A.M. to 9 P.M.