Dickinson Traditions
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Transcript of Dickinson Traditions
Dickinson is proud of its status as the
16th-oldest college in America and the first char-
tered in the newly recognized United States (after
the signing of the Treaty of Paris). Tradition
is part of our foundation, and many traditions
remain relevant in our narrative today. Whether
we are quoting the original words of our founder,
Dr. Benjamin Rush, or appreciating his bronze
likeness which looks out across campus, whether
we are walking the halls of the oldest college
building, Old West, or watching the construction
workers erect the newest wing of the Rector
Science Complex, we are forever building upon that foundation and finding
common ties between then and now.
1773 Land was granted on which to build a grammar school, which would later become Dickinson College
1783 An Act for the Establishment of a College at the Borough of Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, in the State of Pennsylvania
1784 College seal adopted. A bronze replica of the college seal was embedded in Britton Plaza in 2003—legend has it that if a student steps on the seal, they will not graduate.
1803 Old West was designed by architect Benjamin Latrobe, including the addition of a mermaid weathervane in the cupola
1845 Dickinson was among the first colleges to use field study to take students out of the classroom thanks to Spencer Fullerton Baird, class of 1840 and professor of natural history
1868 First issue of Microcosm yearbook published
1783
1786-891886
1893-941872First secret societies,
Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical
Society, formed
First issue of The Dickinsonian
published
First copy of the D-Book published
1886 Dickinson established a Phi Beta Kappa chapter—the first in Pennsylvania
1920 The class of 1900 gave the first Dickinson College archway gate for its 20th reunion
1924 The first Homecoming celebration was held Oct. 31 – Nov. 1
1924 Wheel and Chain all-women senior honorary society founded
1938 The Little Brown Bucket was established as the prize for winning a rivalry football game against Gettysburg
1952 The ROTC program was started on campus and remains one of the longest-running programs in the nation
1962 The college gathered for the first time before the stone steps of Old West to celebrate Commencement
18961900
1920 1924 1930Raven’s Claw all-male senior honorary
society founded Red and white
established as the official Dickinson
colors
The Red Devil became the
official college mascot
circa
1963 Dickinson football defeated Franklin & Marshall to win the Conestoga Wagon trophy for the first time
1965 Launch of Dickinson’s first study-abroad program in Bologna, Italy
1967 After sitting atop Old West for more than 160 years and after numerous pranks and attempted thefts, the original mermaid was finally moved to a safe place in the library and replaced with a replica
1969 The foundation of the Sports Hall of Fame, honoring Dickinson legends such as Ben James ’34, a member of the 1931 football team that defeated Penn State 10-6
1970 Dickinson celebrates the first Earth Day with a Public Affairs Symposium titled “Science and Public Policy: Environmental Pollution”
1951
1965
19671999
Red Adirondack chairs became
an integral component of campus life
College Mace adopted and carried at the head of all academic processions
2000
circa 1979 Formal Thanksgiving dinners held in the Dining Hall quickly became one of the most anticipated culinary events of the academic year
1999 The act of signing in to the college at opening Convocation began
2000 John Dickinson’s lion became a fixture at Commencement and Convocation
2004 A bronze statue of Benjamin Rush was installed on campus and has become the site of numerous traditions itself, including having photos taken around the statue after Commencement, and dressing and decorating the statue to celebrate various occasions
2012 President William G. Durden ’71 honored our founder during the Senior Class Toast when he raised the pewter tankard that once belonged to Benjamin Rush
2004 2008 20102011 2012
First building on campus earned LEED
certificationClass icons created to promote
affinity among classmates
Charter Day established as an opportunity for the campus community
to commemorate the enactment of
Dickinson’s charter