By John A. Lent and Robert W. Moore
June 1959

A History of the First One-Hundred Years of the
Ohio University Alumni Association

• “This University was built in the wilderness for the education of the people who were to come and stands here today as a grand monument to our forefathers’ love of learning.”  pg. 30

• Archibald Green Brown sat at his huge desk—his quill in his hand.  “Circular meeting of Students of the Ohio University.”  By consultation and request, a general meeting of the early Students and the Alumni of the Ohio University has been appointed to be held in Athens at 3 o’clock, p.m., on Wednesday, August 3rd 1853.  pg. 24

• The preparations will be simple, but it is hoped ample and satisfactory.  A cordial invitation to be present is extended to all who at any time have been connected with the University as Students, instructors or Patrons, and who have its prosperity and welfare at heart.  Pg. 24

• It is known that the alumni had met at a general meeting in 1849 to discuss plans for commencement, but June 29th, 1853 was the first recorded attempt to organize the alumni of the university.   Pg. 24

• 1859, “a number of the alumni met in College Hall and effected the permanent association.”  “On the second of June, 1859, a number of Alumni met in the Chapel, West Wing (McGuffey Hall now) and organized by electing Honorable Archibald Green Brown of the class of 1822 chairman, and Professor W. H. Young, class of 1853 as secretary.”  Pg. 25

• A constitution was adopted, which with but few changes, remains the organic law of the Alumni Association; and officers were elected.  Constitution on page 25-26.

• First Alumni address was to be by the first Alumnus, Thomas Ewing, which was accordingly done on Wednesday, June 20, 1860.  The program included an “Alumni Re-union” at 8 p.m. and the degrees had been conferred at 10 a.m.  pg. 26

• 1904 demonstrated the necessity of having a permanent department, which would keep in touch with the Alumni, enlist their help and co-operation for the upbuilding of the University—this because nothing was done to keep track of the whereabouts of the Alumni.  Pg. 27

• 1872, Brown attempted to set up an endowment fund in the amount of $25,000 to promote education.  This first fund raising campaign however was unsuccessful, but the avowed purpose of the Association is to secure a permanent fund to aid in the endowment of the University.  Pg. 27

• Fund raising seemed to keep the alumni in touch.  In 1877 a letter was sent to the “Alumni and Friends of the Ohio University.”  Its purpose was to raise a minimum of $2,000 for physics and chemistry apparatus, the fitting up of a suitable room for the library, and general purposes.  Pg. 28

• Article changes in the constitution in 1875-76.  Expands the role of the Association and now reads “The objects of this Association shall be to cultivate fraternal relations among the Alumni of the University, and to promote the interests of our Alma Mater by the holding of social reunions, by literary exercise, or by such other means as the Association my from time to time deem best.”  Pg. 28

• Miss Margaret Boyd was the first woman graduate of Ohio University, and later became the first woman to reside over the Alumni Association holding the position in 1894-1895.  pg. 29

• An alumni directory of the graduates of the classes of 1885-1894 was added to the 1895 catalogue.  Pg. 29

• In 1906, the first alumni chapter was established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, “The Ohio University Alumni Association of Pittsburgh.”  Pg. 29

• June 15, 1906 the Board of Trustees of the University created the position of Alumni Secretary.  “The object of this department, is to assist in the work of the Alumni Association, to organize clubs of alumni and former students, to secure data concerning the history and the alumni of the University, and to publish bulletins from time to time denoting the progress made.”  Pg. 30

• As of 1908, only 635 persons had received bachelor’s degrees from Ohio University up until that time.  Pg. 30

• In 1908, Clement L. Martzolff collected material on all of the alumni, living and dead, and has preserved the records in the archives of the University.  He also published a monthly bulletin, which aims to herald the doings of Alumni and record their achievements.   Pg. 30

• The second alumni chapter was set up in 1908, the Loan Fund was created (see next bullet), and the list of alumni was brought up to date.  Of the 643 people that graduated from the university up to 1909, only twenty five had not been accounted for.  Pg. 30

• The one thing that distinguished the year 1910 from any other year in the life of the Ohio University Alumni Association was the establishment of the Alumni Loan Fund.  Its actual beginning was in 1907 when Dean Edwin watts Chubb called a meeting of interested alumni and others to discuss an Alumni Loan Fund “to aid college students in Ohio University to finish their four-year courses.”  12 students were benefited by this in 1910.   pg. 31

• Three more alumni chapters were established in 1914, Southwestern Ohio, Eastern Ohio, and the Athens Campus.  Pg. 31

• The Gateway, donated from alumni contributions and “presented by the Ohio University Alumni commemorating the centennial anniversary of the first graduation in the Old Northwest, 1815, was dedicated on Wednesday, June 16, 1915.  The incoming inscription reads “so enter that daily thou mayest grow in knowledge, wisdom and love,” and the outgoing reads “so depart that daily thou mayest better serve thy fellowmen, thy country, and thy God.”  Pg. 32

• 1921-22, the first Alumni Board of Control was set up with 12 individuals serving on the board.  Pg. 32

• In 1922, Clark E. Williams became the first full-time alumni secretary of Ohio University, and his first activity was to run the campaign to raise funds for the Alumni Memorial Auditorium.  Pg. 34

• In October1923, the first issue of the Ohio Alumnus appeared.  Pg. 34

• “The generosity of the state legislature in voting the Alumni Memorial Auditorium Committee an appropriation of $160,000 at its last session has saved the day for the biggest effort ever made by the alumni and friends of Ohio University in behalf of their Alma Mater and school.”  Pg. 34

• 1925, the Bobcat was chosen as the School’s mascot.  Pg. 37

• 1926, survey showed there were 4,514 alumni in all parts of the world.  Pg. 38

• Dedication of the auditorium held on January 20, 1929.  pg. 39

• 1930, Charleston, West Virginia created an alumni chapter, followed by another one in Detroit, and also Zanesville  pg. 40

• 1932-33, the alumni association took on recruiting new students as another service and responsibility  pg. 40

• 1937, there were 11,484 alumni counted  pg. 41

• 1940’s the certificate of Merit program was introduced.  At this time ten alumni were awarded an annual award for achievement distinction in various fields of professional, scientific, or artistic endeavor, or who have demonstrated a loyal and active interest in their alma mater.  Pg. 42

• 1949, two people were added to the alumni office staff.  One position was assistant editor of the Alumnus Robert McCreanor, and Martin L. Hecht was appointed assistant alumni secretary.   Pg. 46

• 1950, the Ashland-Richland chapter was founded, and Lancaster chapter also in the same year.  Pg. 46

• 1950, also saw the first Alumni Conference held in Athens  pg. 46

• 1954, a goal was set for $150,000 to fund the Alumni Sesquicentennial Scholarship Fund.  The scholarships were available to high school graduates and would attract persons of character and ability and young men and women who desire higher education that need financial assistance. The amount raised for this scholarship fund equaled $364,724.74, which more than doubled their goal.  At this time the alumni totaled 22,691.  pg. 47 & 50

• 1955, two more alumni chapters established, one in Southern California, and the other in Tampa, Florida.  Pg. 51

• 1956, four more alumni chapters established. Honolulu, Hawaii, Perry County, Pickaway County, and Philadelphia.   Pg. 51

• The Helen Mauck Galbreath Memorial Chapel was dedicated in 1958.  This chapel was the largest single donation ever made to the University.   Pg. 52

• 1958, the inauguration of the Thomas Ewing Society.  Its purpose being to honor the people closely related to the Association, the Society is made up of past officers and former members of the Association’s Board of Directors and its predecessor organization, the Executive Committee.  Pg. 52