Timeline

1880s

Bethel’s beginnings were in the Emmental School near what is now Goessel, Kan., and the Halstead (Kan.) Seminary. In 1887, the charter was filed to start Bethel College. The Administration Building cornerstone was laid Oct. 12, 1888 (right).

1877

• Dec. 14: first meeting of Kansas Conference

1882

• Sept. 14: Emmental school opens

1883

• Sept. 17: Halstead Seminary opens

1886

• Newton Street Railway organized

1887

• May 23: Bethel College charter filed

1888

• Oct. 12: Administration Building cornerstone laid

1890s

The Administration Building (right) was dedicated Sept. 20, 1893, and classes began. Cornelius H. Wedel became the first president of Bethel College.

1890

• Nov. 20: Newton Street Railway discontinued

1893

• Sept. 20: Administration Building dedicated; classes begin

1896

• September: Art department established, along with the first Bible Institute and Evangelists’ Course

1898

• September: Commercial department and Department of Elocution and Physical Culture established

1899

• Normal Training Course started

1900s

Maroon and gray were adopted as the school colors. A gift from Carnegie was used to build a women’s dormitory. Goerz House (right), the first private residence on the campus, was built in 1893.

1907

• Maroon and gray selected as college colors
• April 17: gift from Andrew Carnegie for women’s dormitory received

1908

• Publication of first annual (yearbook), Echoes

1909

• Curriculum becomes departmentalized
• First Baccalaureate service is held in May

1910s

During this decade, the four-year college course was introduced and the first class graduated. Agriculture classes and intercollegiate football became a part of Bethel. The interurban line reached campus (right), connecting the college to the city of Newton.

1910

• First student handbook published
• August: J. H. Langenwalter becomes acting president

1911

• Four-year college course introduced
• Bethel College’s first song published
• Sept. 12: J. W. Kliewer assumes presidency

1912

• First class graduates
• First organization of faculty committees
• Electric power and water mains extended to campus

1913

• Agricultural courses introduced
• Oct. 25: Interurban line reaches campus

1915

• First intercollegiate basketball game

1916

• Feb. 29: “Alma Mater” adopted as official college song

1917

• Home economics department established
• First intercollegiate football game

1918

• January: First issue of student paper, Bethel Breeze, published
• September: Teaching of German language temporarily suspended

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. The college held its first homecoming and added the Science Hall to its campus (right).

1920

• June 4: J. E. Hartzler assumes presidency
• Bible school division established

1921

• Bethel Breeze becomes Bethel Collegian
• J. H. Langenwalter elected president

1922

• June 6: First homecoming held

1924

• Oct. 12: Science Hall cornerstone laid

1924-25

• Science Hall erected

1925

• J. W. Kliewer begins second term as president

1926

• Interurban line to Bethel discontinued

1930s

The college acquired the dairy adjacent to the college (right). 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
• Western District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church affirms support for Bethel as a liberal arts college
• Bethel dairy established

1934

• Spring: Women’s Association organized
• Addition of college farm and equipment
• June: Office of public relations established
• August: Print shop added
• College motto adopted: “Bethel College Building Character”

1935

• September: Commerce department established
• October: News Service established
• First Buffalo Barbecue

1936

• Spring: Chimes tower completed
• Historical Library and Archives established

1938

• Oct. 12: Cornerstone of Memorial Hall laid
• April 7: Bethel accredited through North Central Association

1939

• September: Quarter system introduced

1940s

Kauffman Museum became part of the Bethel campus. Franz Shop was dedicated, and the library cornerstone laid (right).

1940

• Summer: Kauffman Museum acquired

1942

• Alumni Office created
• March 23: Memorial Hall dedicated

1947

• November: Franz Shop dedicated

1948

• Cornerstone laying for new library

1950s

Two new dormitories were built on campus, Goering Hall (right) and the Women’s Residence Hall (later named Haury). The college produced its first opera and began an exchange program with the Bergische-Universität-Gesamthochschule-Wuppertal in Germany

1950

• Aug. 17: Menno Simons Lectureship established

1951

• April 2: Kidron Kottage dedicated

1952

• Oct. 12: D. C. Wedel inaugurated as president
• August: Annual faculty retreats begin

1953

• Jan. 30: Move-in day for new library
• First opera performed at Bethel, The Secret Life of Menno Hansheimer

1954

• Sept. 21: Groundbreaking for Goering Hall
• Wuppertal Exchange Program begins

1956

• First KCAC Men’s Basketball Championship

1957

• April 2: Construction of Women’s Residence Hall (later called Haury Hall) begins; dedication Oct. 13, 1958

1959

• May 19: First Thresher Award given

1960s

With the changing of the mascot, the Bethel College Graymaroons became Threshers. Dancing was finally allowed on campus, and the first commercial food service was hired. The Fine Arts Center was built, along with the brick walkway between it and the Administration Building (right).

1960

• Jan. 17: Martin Luther King, Jr., speaks at Bethel as part of Mem Hall Lecture Series
• Vernon Neufeld accepts presidency

1961

• Radio station established
• Name of yearbook,Graymaroon, changed to The Thresher

1962

• Goering Hall addition completed
• December: Haury Hall addition completed

1963

• Oct. 13: Fine Arts Center groundbreaking held

1966

• Orville Voth becomes president

1966

• Associated Colleges of Central Kansas (ACCK) established
• Feb. 6: Fine Arts Center dedicated
• Summer: Brick walk between Fine Arts Center and Ad Building laid
• Aug. 9: College dairy buildings and equipment auctioned
• Nov. 11: Peace Club protests Vietnam War

1967

• Oct. 15: Warkentin Court (mods) dedicated
• Women’s Residence Hall renamed Haury Hall in honor of Linda Krehbiel Haury
• On-campus dancing approved

1968

• First commercial food service hired

1969

• Vietnam Moratorium (bell tolls for the dead)

1970s

Annual Fall Festival celebrations began. Two new structures were added, Thresher Gymnasium and Schultz Student Center. Harold Schultz (right, ringing bell) became president.

1971

• Harold J. Schultz inaugurated president
• First Fall Festival

1972

• Social work department established

1974

• Senior orals discontinued
• Peace studies department established

1977

• Oct. 7: Thresher Gym cornerstone laid; Schultz Student Center groundbreaking held
• Dec. 3: Lady Threshers basketball team are first to play in new gym

1979

• Jan. 2: Student Center open for student use; dedication Feb. 25
• Nursing department established

1980s

The Mantz Library was built, as well as a new maintenance shop. KIPCOR (Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution) was established. The college celebrated 100 years of educating students and appeared on Good Morning America (right).

1981

• Campus Granary opens

1983

• Oct. 8: Reopening of Kauffman Museum in new building

1984-87

• Centennial development drive and celebrations

1985

• New maintenance shop dedicated
• Dobson pipe organ installed in chapel
• April 20: Mantz Library groundbreaking
• Nov. 1: Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) established

1986

• Oct. 5: Mantz Library dedication

1987

• Sept. 25: ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” visits campus to mark Bethel centennial year

1990s

John Zehr was inaugurated president. Schmidt Track was completed. Doug Penner (right – on the right in the photo, with Vernon Neufeld) assumed the presidency.

1991

• John E. Zehr becomes president

1994

• Schmidt Track completed

1995

• Douglas A. Penner becomes president

1999

• April 26: Voth Hall groundbreaking held

2000s

Voth Hall became the newest residence hall. Krehbiel Science Center (right) and Thresher Sports Complex were completed.

2000

• May 20: Krehbiel Science Center groundbreaking
• Oct. 7: Voth Hall dedicated

2002

• June: Bethel alumni publication changes name from Bulletin to Context
• Oct. 12: Krehbiel Science Center dedicated
• Oct. 13: E. LaVerne Epp inaugurated president

2004

• Sept. 6: Thresher Sports Complex groundbreaking held

2006

• Oct. 8: Barry C. Bartel inaugurated president

2010s

Perry White (right, with pink stole) began as Bethel’s 14th president. Discovery Adventure Course and Sand Creek Community Gardens became part of the Bethel campus.

2010

• Discovery Adventure Course completed
• Sand Creek Community Gardens opens with 32 plots
• Oct. 9: Ward Tennis Center dedicated
• Oct. 10: Perry D. White inaugurated president

2011

• Renovation of old Science Hall into new Academic Center begins
• Bethel is the only private liberal arts college in Kansas listed in the 2010-11 Forbes.com analysis of top U.S. colleges and universities
• Solar collectors installed on Voth Hall roof
• Sand Creek Trail on campus designated a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of Interior
• Core academic program (general education) named Common Ground
• Nov. 19: Bethel holds first (biennial) Worship & the Arts Symposium with resource people Thomas Long, Emory University, and John Ferguson, St. Olaf College

2012

• Bethel appears for the first time on the Washington Monthly list of “Best Baccalaureate Colleges,” at #4
• Kansas House and Senate pass resolution recognizing Bethel’s 125th year
• Major renovations to Schultz Student Center completed, marked with re-dedication honoring Harold Schultz, Bethel president 1971-91
• October 13: Seven-figure estate gift results in naming of James A. Will Family Academic Center and establishment of Will Scholarship, both announced at the building dedication during Fall Festival
• Bethel College of Kansas, 1887-2012 by Keith Sprunger, professor emeritus of history, published

2013

• Air conditioning installed in Thresher Gym and Memorial Hall
• Coordinator of First-Year Success position established in Student Life
• Shelby Howard is first recipient of Will Scholarship
• Oct. 26: Bethel hosts “Mothering Mennonite” symposium on campus

2014

• First Scholarship Day for incoming freshmen held on campus
• Bethel and Zengcheng College of South China Normal University sign exchange agreement
• Thresher National Disc Golf Course opens on campus
• Oct. 17-18: Social work celebrates 40 years as an accredited program with a symposium at Fall Festival
• Oct. 18: Fine Arts Center renaming, to Luyken Fine Arts Center, in honor of 17th-century Dutch engraver Jan Luyken, announced at Fall Festival

2015

• KCAC establishes a new team award based on service, with Bethel volleyball the first Champions of Character team in that sport
• Sophomore Jacob Miller is first Bethel student in 35 years to qualify for the Interstate Oratory Competition, the oldest and most prestigious tournament of its kind in the U.S.