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Honoring Our Past
Timeline
1880s |
The beginnings of Bethel were present in the Emmental School and the Halstead Seminary. In 1887, the charter was filed to start Bethel College, and the Administration Building’s cornerstone was laid on Oct. 12, 1888. |
| 1977 | December 14 is the first meeting of the Kansas Conference. | |
| 1882 | On September 14, the Emmental school opens. | |
| 1883 | Halstead Mennonite Seminary opens on September 17th. | |
| 1886 | Newton Street Railway organized | |
| 1887 | Bethel College charter filed on May 23. | |
| 1888 | On October 12, the Administration Building cornerstone is laid. |
1890s |
The Administration Building was dedicated on September 20, 1893, and classes began. Cornelius Wedel became the first president of Bethel. |
| 1890 | Newton Street Railway discontinued on the 20th of November. | |
| 1893 | Administration Building dedicated on September 20 and classes begin | |
| 1896 | Art Department established in September, along with the first Bible Institute and Evangelists' Course | |
| 1898 | In September, the Commercial Department and Department of Elocution and Physical Culture established | |
| 1899 | Normal Training Course started |
1900s |
Maroon and gray are adopted as the school colors. A gift from Carnegie is used to build a girls’ dormitory, and Goerz House, the first private residence on the Bethel College campus, is built in 1893. |
| 1907 | Maroon and gray selected as college colors | |
| 1907 | Gift from Andrew Carnegie for ladies' dormitory is received on April 7. | |
| 1908 | Publication of first annual, Echoes | |
| 1909 | Curriculum becomes departmentalized | |
| 1909 | First Baccalaureate service is held in May. |
1910s |
J.W. Kliewer becomes Bethel’s second president. It is during this decade that the four-year college course is introduced, and the first class graduates. Agriculture classes and intercollegiate football also become a part of Bethel. The interuban line reaches campus, connecting the college to the city of Newton. |
| 1910 | First Students' Handbook published | |
| 1910 | J. H. Langenwalter becomes acting president in August. | |
| 1911 | Four-year college course introduced | |
| 1911 | Bethel College's first song is published | |
| 1911 | J. W. Kliewer assumes presidency on the 12th of September. | |
| 1912 | First class graduates | |
| 1912 | First organization of faculty committees | |
| 1912 | Electric power and water mains are extended to campus | |
| 1913 | Agricultural courses are introduced | |
| 1913 | Interurban line reaches campus on the 25th of October. | |
| 1915 | First intercollegiate basketball game | |
| 1916 | On February 29, "Alma Mater" is adopted as official college song | |
| 1917 | Home Economic Department established | |
| 1917 | First intercollegiate football game | |
| 1918 | First issue of student paper Bethel Breeze published in January | |
| 1918 | Teaching of German temporarily suspended in September |
1920s |
Several presidents held office during this period including J.E. Hartzler, J.H. Langenwalter, and J.W. Kliewer, who was selected for a second term. During these years the college held its first homecoming and added the Science Hall to its campus. |
| 1920 | On the 4th of June, J. E. Hartzler assumes presidency | |
| 1920 | Bible school division established | |
| 1921 | Bethel Breeze becomes Bethel Collegian | |
| 1921 | J. H. Langenwalter elected president | |
| 1922 | First homecoming is held on June 6. | |
| 1924 | Old Science Hall cornerstone laid on October 12 | |
| 1924-1925 | Erection of old Science Hall | |
| 1925 | J. W. Kliewer's second term as president | |
| 1926 | Interurbran line to Bethel discontinued |
1930s |
E.G. Kaufman presided as president of the college. Also during this time period, the college acquired the dairy adjacent to the college. The Women’s Association and the historical library and archives were established, and Bethel received accreditation through the North Central Association. |
| 1932 | E. G. Kaufman assumes presidency | |
| 1932 | Western District affirms support for Bethel College as a liberal arts college | |
| 1932 | Dairy established | |
| 1934 | Women's Association organized in the spring | |
| 1934 | Addition of college farm and equipment | |
| 1934 | Office of public relations established in June | |
| 1934 | Print shop added in August | |
| 1934 | College motto adopted—"Bethel College Building Character" | |
| 1935 | Commerce Department established in September | |
| 1935 | News Service established in October | |
| 1935 | First annual buffalo barbecue | |
| 1936 | Chimes tower completed in spring | |
| 1936 | Historical Library and Archives established | |
| 1938 | Cornerstone of Memorial Hall laid on October 12th | |
| 1938 | Bethel is accredited through the North Central Association on April 7 | |
| 1939 | Quarter system introduced in September |
1940s |
Kauffman Museum joined the Bethel campus. The Franz shop is dedicated, and they lay the cornerstone for the library. |
| 1940 | Kauffman Museum acquired in the summer | |
| 1942 | Alumni Office created | |
| 1942 | Memorial Hall dedication held on March 23 | |
| 1947 | Franz Shop dedicated in November | |
| 1948 | Cornerstone laying for new library |
1950s |
D.C. Wedel became president of the college. Two new dormitories were built on campus–Goering Hall and the Women’s Residence Hall (later named Haury). The college produced its first opera and began the Wuppertal exchange program with the German university. |
| 1950 | Menno Simons Lectureship established on the 17th of August | |
| 1951 | Kidron Kottage dedicated on April 2 | |
| 1952 | D. C. Wedel elected president in March, inauguration held on October 12, 1952 | |
| 1952 | Annual faculty retreats begin in August | |
| 1953 | Moved into new library on January 30 | |
| 1953 | First opera performed at Bethel—"The Secret Life of Menno Hansheimer" | |
| 1954 | Groundbreaking for Goering Hall on September 21 | |
| 1954 | Wuppertal exchange program began | |
| 1956 | First KCAC Men's Basketball Championship | |
| 1957 | Construction of Women's Residence Hall (later called Haury Hall) began on April 2nd, dedicated on October 13, 1958 | |
| 1959 | First Thresher Award given on May 19 |
1960s |
With the changing of the mascot, Bethel College Graymaroons became Threshers. Dancing is finally allowed on campus, and the first commercial food service is hired. Vernon Neufeld accepts the presidency, and later in the decade Orville Voth takes office. Also, the Fine Arts Center is built along with the brick walkway between it and the Administration Building. |
| 1960 | Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at Bethel in Mem Hall Series on January 21 | |
| 1960 | Vernon Neufeld accepts presidency | |
| 1961 | Radio Station established | |
| 1961 | Graymaroon changed to The Thresher | |
| 1962 | Goering Hall addition | |
| 1962 | Haury Hall addition complete in December | |
| 1963 | Fine Arts Center groundbreaking held on October 13 | |
| 1966 | Orville Voth becomes president | |
| 1966 | Associated Colleges of Central Kansas (ACCK) established | |
| 1966 | Fine Arts Center dedicated on February 6 | |
| 1966 | Brick walk between Fine Arts Center and Ad Building laid over the summer | |
| 1966 | College dairy buildings and equipment auctioned on the 9th of August | |
| 1966 | Peace Club protests Vietnam War on November 11 | |
| 1967 | Warkentin Court constructed, dedicated on October 15 | |
| 1967 | "Women's Residence Hall" renamed Haury Hall (in honor of Linda Krehbiel Haury) | |
| 1967 | On campus dancing approved | |
| 1968 | First commercial food service hired | |
| 1969 | Vietnam Moratorium, bell tolls for dead |
1970s |
The annual Fall Festival celebrations begin. Two new structures are added to the college campus–the Thresher Gymnasium and Schultz Student Center. Harold Schultz serves as the college president. |
| 1971 | Harold J. Schultz inaugurated as president | |
| 1971 | Fall Festival began | |
| 1972 | Social Work Department established | |
| 1974 | Senior orals were discontinued | |
| 1974 | Peace Studies Department established | |
| 1977 | Thresher Gym cornerstone and dedication on October 7 | |
| 1977 | Student Center groundbreaking on October 7 | |
| 1977 | Lady Threshers basketball team were the first to play in the new gym on December 3 | |
| 1979 | Student Center open for students on January 2, dedicated February 25 | |
| 1979 | Nursing Department established |
1980s |
The Mantz Library is built as well as a new maintenance shop. KIPCOR (Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution) is established. The college celebrates 100 years of educating students and appears on Good Morning America. |
| 1981 | Granary opened | |
| 1983 | Kauffman Museum reopens in new building, dedication program held on October 8 | |
| 1984-1987 | Centennial development drive and celebrations | |
| 1985 | New Maintenance Shop dedicated | |
| 1985 | Dobson pipe organ installed in chapel | |
| 1985 | Mantz library groundbreaking on April 20 | |
| 1985 | Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) established November 1st | |
| 1986 | Mantz Library dedication on October 5 |
1990s |
John Zehr is inaugurated as president. Schmidt track is completed, and Doug Penner assumes the presidency. |
| 1991 | John E. Zehr becomes president of Bethel College | |
| 1994 | Schmidt Track completed | |
| 1995 | Doug Penner becomes president | |
| 1999 | Voth Hall groundbreaking on April 26 |
2000s |
Voth Hall becomes the new dormitory on the campus. Krehbiel Science Center is completed, updating the science equipment used in classes. Two presidents served during this period–LaVerne Epp followed by Barry Bartel. |
| 2000 | Krehbiel Science Center groundbreaking on May 20 | |
| 2000 | Voth Hall dedicated on October 7 | |
| 2002 | In June Bethel publication changes name to Context from Bulletin | |
| 2002 | Krehbiel Science Center dedicated on October 12 | |
| 2002 | LaVerne Epp inaugurated as president on October 13 | |
| 2006 | Barry Bartel inaugurated as president on October 8 |
2010s |
Dr. Perry D. White begins his term as Bethel's 14th President. The Discovery Adventure Course and Sand Creek Community Gardens become a part of the Bethel campus. |
| 2010 | Discovery Adventure Course is completed, with more than 16 physical elements | |
| 2010 | Sand Creek Community Gardens open with 32 plots for students as well as families in the community | |
| 2010 | Ward Tennis Center completed and dedicated on October 9 | |
| 2010 | Dr. Perry D. White inaugurated as president on October 10 | |
| 2011 | Renovation for new Academic Center begins | |
| 2011 | Bethel College was the only private, liberal arts college in Kansas listed in the 2010-11 Forbes.com analysis of top colleges and universities in the United States and was in the first tier in its category in the U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of "America's Top Colleges" for 2011. | |
| 2011 | Solar collectors installed on the roof of Voth residence hall | |
| 2011 | Sand Creek Trail designated as a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of Interior | |