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
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- Dec. 14: first meeting of Kansas Conference
- 1882
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- Sept. 14: Emmental school opens
- 1883
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- Sept. 17: Halstead Seminary opens
- 1886
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- Newton Street Railway organized
- 1887
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- May 23: Bethel College charter filed
- 1888
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- 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
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- Nov. 20: Newton Street Railway discontinued
- 1893
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- Sept. 20: Administration Building dedicated; classes begin
- 1896
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- September: Art department established, along with the first Bible Institute and Evangelists’ Course
- 1898
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- September: Commercial department and Department of Elocution and Physical Culture established
- 1899
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- 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
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- Maroon and gray selected as college colors
- April 17: gift from Andrew Carnegie for women’s dormitory received
- 1908
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- Publication of first annual (yearbook), Echoes
- 1909
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- 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
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- First student handbook published
- August: J. H. Langenwalter becomes acting president
- 1911
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- Four-year college course introduced
- Bethel College’s first song published
- Sept. 12: J. W. Kliewer assumes presidency
- 1912
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- First class graduates
- First organization of faculty committees
- Electric power and water mains extended to campus
- 1913
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- Agricultural courses introduced
- Oct. 25: Interurban line reaches campus
- 1915
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- First intercollegiate basketball game
- 1916
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- Feb. 29: “Alma Mater” adopted as official college song
- 1917
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- Home economics department established
- First intercollegiate football game
- 1918
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- 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
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- June 4: J. E. Hartzler assumes presidency
- Bible school division established
- 1921
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- Bethel Breeze becomes Bethel Collegian
- J. H. Langenwalter elected president
- 1922
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- June 6: First homecoming held
- 1924
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- Oct. 12: Science Hall cornerstone laid
- 1924-25
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- Science Hall erected
- 1925
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- J. W. Kliewer begins second term as president
- 1926
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- September: Commerce department established
- October: News Service established
- First Buffalo Barbecue
- 1936
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- Spring: Chimes tower completed
- Historical Library and Archives established
- 1938
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- Oct. 12: Cornerstone of Memorial Hall laid
- April 7: Bethel accredited through North Central Association
- 1939
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- September: Quarter system introduced
1940s
Kauffman Museum became part of the Bethel campus. Franz Shop was dedicated, and the library cornerstone laid (right).
- 1940
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- Summer: Kauffman Museum acquired
- 1942
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- Alumni Office created
- March 23: Memorial Hall dedicated
- 1947
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- November: Franz Shop dedicated
- 1948
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- 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
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- Aug. 17: Menno Simons Lectureship established
- 1951
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- April 2: Kidron Kottage dedicated
- 1952
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- Oct. 12: D. C. Wedel inaugurated as president
- August: Annual faculty retreats begin
- 1953
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- Jan. 30: Move-in day for new library
- First opera performed at Bethel, The Secret Life of Menno Hansheimer
- 1954
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- Sept. 21: Groundbreaking for Goering Hall
- Wuppertal Exchange Program begins
- 1956
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- First KCAC Men’s Basketball Championship
- 1957
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- April 2: Construction of Women’s Residence Hall (later called Haury Hall) begins; dedication Oct. 13, 1958
- 1959
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- 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
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- Jan. 17: Martin Luther King, Jr., speaks at Bethel as part of Mem Hall Lecture Series
- Vernon Neufeld accepts presidency
- 1961
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- Radio station established
- Name of yearbook,Graymaroon, changed to The Thresher
- 1962
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- Goering Hall addition completed
- December: Haury Hall addition completed
- 1963
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- Oct. 13: Fine Arts Center groundbreaking held
- 1966
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- Orville Voth becomes president
- 1966
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- 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
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- Oct. 15: Warkentin Court (mods) dedicated
- Women’s Residence Hall renamed Haury Hall in honor of Linda Krehbiel Haury
- On-campus dancing approved
- 1968
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- First commercial food service hired
- 1969
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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
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- Harold J. Schultz inaugurated president
- First Fall Festival
- 1972
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- Social work department established
- 1974
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- Senior orals discontinued
- Peace studies department established
- 1977
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- 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
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- 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
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- Campus Granary opens
- 1983
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- Oct. 8: Reopening of Kauffman Museum in new building
- 1984-87
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- Centennial development drive and celebrations
- 1985
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- 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
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- Oct. 5: Mantz Library dedication
- 1987
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- 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
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- John E. Zehr becomes president
- 1994
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- Schmidt Track completed
- 1995
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- Douglas A. Penner becomes president
- 1999
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- 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
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- May 20: Krehbiel Science Center groundbreaking
- Oct. 7: Voth Hall dedicated
- 2002
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- June: Bethel alumni publication changes name from Bulletin to Context
- Oct. 12: Krehbiel Science Center dedicated
- Oct. 13: E. LaVerne Epp inaugurated president
- 2004
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- Sept. 6: Thresher Sports Complex groundbreaking held
- 2006
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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.