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1835 Oglethorpe University chartered near Milledgeville, Georgia, (the old state capital)

President Beman, 1836-1840
 
1860-1861 Sidney Lanier graduates

Oglethorpe University "dies at Gettysburg" as students enlist and endowment is lost in Confederate bonds.

President Talmage, 1841-1865
 

1870-1872 First relocation of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta
 
1913 Reincorporation of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta

Cornerstone laid and classes begin

President Thornwell Jacobs, 1915-1943
 

1923 Dr. Jacobs discovers tomb of General Oglethorpe in England
 
1924-1930 Glory years in athletics at Oglethorpe

In football, Petrels defeat Georgia Tech

Southern Basketball Champions in 1924 and 1930

Historic part of Oglethorpe and quadrangle are completed
 

1929 Oglethorpe receives Silver Lake from William Randolph Hearst
 
1931-1935 Oglethorpe's first radio station was established in 1931 as WJTL, and for many years the station was dedicated to the broadcast of educational programming designed for the public to take additional instruction on various University subjects.  (In 1935, WJTL was purchased by a private organization and moved to downtown Atlanta.  The call letters were changed to WATL at this time.)
 
1932 Dr. Jacobs discovers oval portrait of J.E.Oglethorpe (hangs now in the President's Office).

On May 22, 1932, New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt receives an honorary doctorate and gives his first "New Deal" speech as his commencement address for Oglethorpe graduates at Atlanta's Fox Theater.
 

1933 Oglethorpe survives Great Depression through the generosity of B. Baruch and J. T. Lupton
 
1940 Oglethorpe seals the Crypt of Civilization time capsule, not to be opened until 8113 A.D.
 
1945 The start of the Core Curriculum program

Oglethorpe Idea: "A small college, superlatively good" created by President Philip Weltner, 1944-1953.
 

1959-1969 Coach Garland Pinholster leads Petrels to basketball championships
 
1968 Residential expansion of campus
 
1975-1988 Pattillo Era: Oglethorpe University becomes academically selective and gains national recognition
 
1988 – 1999 Stanton Era: Weltner Library renovations, Schmidt Center built, Conant Performing Arts Center built, academic quad placed on National Register of Historic Places.
1999 – 2005 Large Era: Robinson Hall renovations, Lupton Auditorium renovations, technology upgrades to classrooms, joined the Annapolis Group, campus master plan completed.
2005 - Present Schall Era begins


 

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