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