Timeline
UNI’s 150th anniversary is more than a milestone — it’s a chance to celebrate our past and look ahead to the future.
This timeline traces the moments, people and progress that have defined UNI and continue to inspire generations of Panthers.
*Historical content was provided by UNI Special Collections & University Archives.
Our Beginning
1865: Soldiers' Orphans' Home opens in Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls resident Peter Melendy presents the city's desire to have a Soldiers' Orphans' home in the community to the state legislature. It opens in 1865 at the corner of 5th and Main Street and is soon filled with 96 children of Civil War soldiers.
1869: First Normal School classroom building opens on site of UNI campus
In the fall, 300 orphans crowd into the new Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home on 40 acres of land donated by the City of Cedar Falls. Just north of today’s Maucker Union, the structure — later called Central Hall — would become the first academic building for the new Normal School.
Iowa State
Normal School
1876-1909
Iowa State
Teachers College
1909-1961
State College
of Iowa
1961-1967
University of
Northern Iowa
1967-present
1876
MArch 17
The Iowa General Assembly establishes the State Normal School
Iowa General Assembly passes law to establish the state normal school: "A school for the special instruction and training of teachers for the common schools of the state."
1876
James C. Gilchrist begins tenure as principal of the Iowa State Normal School
James C. Gilchrist serves as ISNS' first leader, at the time called "principal," and later "president."
1876
September 6
First classes are held
Wednesday, September 6, 1876, marks the first day of classes for the Iowa State Normal School with 27 students.
1878
First student organizations established
Literary societies serve as an early form of student organizations, established and organized by students themselves to pursue learning and engagement with texts outside of the university curriculum.
1878
Student newspaper begins publication
The first iteration of the student newspaper, The Students' Offering, is created. It is later called the Normal-Eyte (1892), the College Eye (1911) and the Northern Iowan (1967).
Normal Eyte article:
Other publications:
1883
First new campus building is constructed
The Iowa State Normal School outgrows Central Hall, its original instructional space, and the first new building, South Hall, is added to the campus. It would later be renamed Gilchrist Hall.
1886
Homer Seerley becomes president of Iowa State Normal School
Homer Seerley begins a presidency that spans 42 years, the longest of any UNI president.
1892
1894
Students form first school band
Eight students form a cadet band. By 1901, it is a 24-piece band complete with a drum major.
1895
Football program begins
Iowa State Normal School beats Coe 12-10 in the school’s first football game.
1899
Official school colors are selected
Students and committees meet to settle on purple and gold as the official school colors.
Normal Eyte article:
1900
Lang Hall completed
The Auditorium (now Lang Hall) building is completed at a cost of $120,000. The building is renamed to honor beloved faculty member William C. Lang on September 8, 1994.
1905
School yearbook begins publication
The first student yearbook, The Normal Eye, is published. In 1907, it becomes the Old Gold.
Normal Eyte article:
1909
July 1
Iowa State Normal School renamed to the Iowa State Teachers College
1911
Library is built and combined with the Museum
Library (now Seerley Hall) is dedicated. The combined Library and Museum house a book collection of 30,000, exhibits and specimens for the teaching of natural sciences, and laboratories for the teaching of mineralogy, taxidermy and other sciences.
1912
Building of the Campus School, present day Sabin Hall
This school is built to function as a training school for teachers training at ISTC.
Normal Eyte article:
Other publications:
1913
Wright Hall completed
The Vocational Building, now known as Wright Hall, is part of a major program of facilities development aimed at meeting the needs of a growing enrollment and expanded curriculum. The total cost of the building is $109,566. Students hail the new building as a symbol "that marks this school as a pioneer in the field of vocational education and interest." The first floor is devoted to agriculture, the second houses manual training, the third houses domestic science and the fourth floor houses art classes.
1915
New buildings dedicated to important figures
Two new buildings are dedicated to two important figures in the life of the school: M. W. Bartlett, the first person elected to serve on the faculty, and J. C. Gilchrist, the first principal. Phase one of Bartlett Hall for women opens; men continue to live in rooming houses until 1936.
1920
October 30
First Homecoming celebration
About 225 alumni and a large number of students enjoy pep assemblies, meals, football game and a big party.
Other publications:
1924
November 18
Campanile Groundbreaking
At 3:30 p.m., the senior class, led by the College Band, marches from the Auditorium steps to the building site. Hundreds of students and faculty members join the group. Eliza Rawstern, wife of David Sands Wright and a member of the first four-year graduating class of the Normal School in 1880, turns the first shovelful of soil.
1926
First recital of the chimes in the Campanile
The first recital of chimes in the Campanile celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the College.
College Eye article:
1928
Orval Ray Latham begins service as ISTC's third president
College Eye articles:
1931
Purple panther is adopted as the mascot
The College Eye holds a contest to choose a new mascot (photo from 1957).
1933
The Commons is completed
The Commons serves as a student dining center and recreation facility with a jukebox, live bands, bridge tables and more.
College Eye articles:
1940
Malcolm Price becomes UNI's fourth president
College Eye article:
Other publications:
1942
Iowa State Teachers College becomes boot training camp
ISTC is designated as a boot training camp for 1,000 members of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). The Army Air Corps soon requests 400 cadets join them for pilot training. These additional people lead to crowding in dormitories, larger classes and difficulties acquiring food during rationing, but the college accepted these hardships as part of its contribution to the war effort.
1944
Nine former students received the Medal of Honor, among many others who served
By the end of the war, the Service Flag of ISTC shows 69 gold stars, representing 48 men who were killed in action and 21 who died as a result of accident or disease while in the service. Nine former students receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest recognition for heroism.
Other publications:
1950
James William Maucker becomes fifth UNI president
College Eye article:
Other publications:
1951
First graduate study program approved
First graduate study program is approved with a program leading to a Master of Arts in Education. Today there are nearly 60 graduate programs leading to master’s degrees and two doctoral programs.
College Eye article:
Other publications:
1953
The Laboratory School moves
The Laboratory School moves into a new facility named after former president Malcolm Price.
Other publications:
1961
July 4
Iowa State Teachers College becomes State College of Iowa
College Eye article:
Other publications:
1964
President and Mrs. Maucker support the student march and Civil Rights
President and Mrs. Maucker join students in their march to the Cedar Falls Post Office to mail letters of support urging Congress to pass the Civil Rights Bill.
College Eye article:
Other publications:
1965
Central Hall is destroyed by fire
Central Hall, the original building from the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, is destroyed by fire. The bell falls and cracks, and is now in the UNI Museum.
College Eye article:
Other publications:
1967
Name changed to University of Northern Iowa
College Eye articles:
Other publications:
1970
John J. Kamerick begins service as UNI's sixth president
College Eye article:
1973
Schindler Education Center is built
The Schindler Education Center (SEC) is built in two units to house four departments of the College of Education and Instructional Resources and Technology Services.
College Eye articles:
Other publications:
1973-1974
Women's athletics continues to grow
Northern Iowan articles:
1975
The Industrial Technology Center opens
The Industrial Technology Center, considered one of the outstanding facilities of its kind in the field of industrial technology, opens its doors. The building is now known as the Applied Engineering Building.
Northern Iowan articles:
Other publications:
1976
February 7
First event held in the UNI-Dome
The UNI-Dome, now one of the most recognizable campus landmarks, is completed. The first event is a wrestling match between UNI and the Univeristy of Iowa, drawing an attendance of 10,214. A strong Iowa team defeated UNI, 31-8. The first commencement ceremony in the UNI-Dome is May 15, 1976.
1983
Constantine William (Deno) Curris is named seventh president of UNI
Other publications:
1989
College of Business Administration created
Business education has existed at UNI dating back to 1906. The university's business programs were consolidated into a formal college in 1989 and the Curris Business Building opened the following year.
Inside UNI:
1995
Robert D. Koob begins service as eighth president of UNI
Northern Iowan article:
2000
January 30
Kurt Warner named Super Bowl MVP
Former UNI Panther Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams is named Super Bowl MVP afer leading his team to a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Northern Iowan articles:
2000
April
Gallagher Bluedorn opens
The opening celebration on April 6-19 includes local artists such as the UNI Symphony Orchestra, a Lyric Theatre performance, the Wind Symphony, the Jazz Band, the Varsity Men's Glee Club and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra.
Northern Iowan articles:
2001
UNI marks 125 years
The University of Northern Iowa celebrates 125 years of Students First with a school year of events, festivals and performances.
Northern Iowan articles:
2006
Benjamin J. Allen becomes 9th president
Northern Iowan article:
Other publications:
2006
November 18
The McLeod Center opens
The facility for UNI basketball, volleyball and wrestling goes on to host some of the most exciting moments in Panther sports history, welcome speakers and entertainers, and become a regular host for statewide student competitions and UNI Commencement ceremonies.
Northern Iowan articles:
Other publications:
2010
March 20
UNI upsets #1 Kansas
March Madness! The Panthers, led by Coach Ben Jacobson, upset #1 seed KU in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Northern Iowan article:
2010
November 3
The "Interlude Dance" is uploaded to YouTube
The viral dance’s origins are traced to the 4th floor of Campbell Hall. A how-to video, which quickly spread among students and even other colleges, is uploaded to YouTube on November 3, 2010, and has racked up nearly a million views since. The dance spreads around the world, including military units overseas, the Iowa governor and the First Lady of the United States.
Northern Iowan articles:
2010
Panther fans meet TK
UNI introduces TK, the “little sister” of UNI’s mascot TC, during the Homecoming football game in 2010. Since her debut, TK has become an integral part of UNI’s mascot team, sharing enthusiasm for supporting UNI school spirit! Go Cats!
Northern Iowan articles:
2013
May 31
2017
February 1
2023
October 20
Alum makes largest private gift in UNI history
David W. Wilson makes a $25 million gift to UNI, establishing the first-ever named college in institution history, the David W. Wilson College of Business.
Northern Iowan article:
Present
Tradition meets tomorrow.
UNI Presidents
For 150 years, UNI presidents have led the university with vision and purpose. Explore the leaders who helped build our traditions, expand our campus and prepare students for success.
