About Clark

Historical Timeline

Choose a decade...

1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

1900 The Clark University Board of Trustees votes to confer doctoral degrees to men and women, or, as the Board put it, "without regard to the distinction of sex."

The University's founder Jonas Clark dies, leaving an endowment for the founding of Clark College, with a separate administration from the University. He ultimately gives $850,000 from his will and initial endowment for the University Library. This is estimated to be the largest independent endowment for any library in America at that time.

1902 Carroll D. Wright, U.S. Commissioner of Labor, is selected as the first president of Clark College.

Clark College opens on Oct. 1 with a class of 79 male undergraduates taught by 11 faculty members.

Honorary Degrees awarded to Henry Cabot Lodge (LL.D), United States Senator from Massachusetts and Carroll Davidson Wright (LL.D.), President of Clark College, Late U.S. Commissioner of Labor

1903 First separate library building, now the Jefferson Academic Center, is completed.

1905 President Theodore Roosevelt delivers the commencement address for Clark College's first public commencement ceremonies. Degrees are conferred on Clark's first class of 43 men.

The Clark Alumni Association is established. Today, the Clark University Alumni Association includes more than 25,000 members. Among its current activities, the Alumni Association runs an alumni mentor program with the University Park Campus School, helps new students move in to the residence halls each fall, and coordinates the Outstanding Secondary Educator Award presented at Reunion each year.

Honorary Degree awarded to Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, Commencement Speaker (LL.D).

1909 Programs celebrating Clark University's 20th anniversary bring eminent scholars to Clark, including Carl Jung and, of course, Sigmund Freud. It was Freud's only visit to America.

Edmund Sanford is selected as the second president of Clark College.

Honorary Degrees awarded to:

  • Carl Barus, Professor of Physics, Brown University (LL.D.)
  • Franz Boas, Professor of Anthropology, Columbia University (LL.D.)
  • Marston Taylor Bogert, Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry, Columbia (LL.D.)
  • Hermon Carey Bumpus, Director, American Museum of Natural History, and President of the American Association of Museums (LL.D.)
  • Leo Burgerstein, University of Vienna, Austria (LL.D.)
  • Andre Debierne, Director of Research in Radioacitivty, University of Paris (LL.D.)
  • Sigmund Freud, University of Vienna, Austria (D.Sc.)
  • Herbert Spenser Jennings, Professor of Experimental Zoology, Johns HopkinsUniversity (LL.D.)
  • Carl G. Jung, University of Zurich, Switzerland (LL.D.)
  • Percival Lowell, Non-resident Professor of Astronomy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (LL.D.)
  • Adolf Meyer, Director of the Pathological Institute of New York (LL.D.)
  • Arthur Michael, First Professor of Chemistry at Clark University (LL.D.)
  • Albert Abraham Michelson, Professor of Physics, University of Chicago (Phys.D.)
  • Eliakim Hastings Moore, Professor and Head of the Department of Mathematics (Math.D.)
  • Ernest Fox Nichols, President, Dartmouth College (LL.D.)
  • Arthur Amos Noyes, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Research Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (LL.D.)
  • William Albert Noyes, Head Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois (LL.D.)
  • William Fogg Osgood, Professor of Mathematics, Harvard University (LL.D.)
  • James Pierpont, Professor of Mathematics, Yale University (LL.D.)
  • Theodore William Richards, Professor of Chemistry, Harvard University (Chem.D.)
  • Ernest Rutherford, Professor of Experimental Physics, University of Manchester (Phys.D.)
  • William Stern, Extraordinary Professor of Philosophy, University of Breslau (LL.D.)
  • Julius Stieglitz, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chicago (D.Sc.)
  • Edward Bradford Tichener, Professor of Psychology, Cornell University (Litt.D.)
  • Edward Burr Van Vleck, Professor of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin (LL.D.)
  • Vito Volterra, Professor of Mathematical Physics, University of Rome (Phys.D.)
  • Charles Otis Whitman, Head of the Department of Zoology, Chicago University (Biol.D.)
  • Lebbeus L. Wilfley, First Judge of the United States Court for China (LL.D.)
  • Robert Williams Wood, Professor of Experimental Physics, Johns Hopkins University (LL.D.)

Fun Facts

  • 1902 Intramural football and basketball are established.
  • 1903 The first Spring Festival-currently known as Spree Day-is held in connection with St. Patrick's Day.
  • 1903 Scarlet and white are adopted as the official colors of Clark College.
  • 1905 The yearbook, called the Pioneer, is published. It is later renamed Pasticcio.
  • 1909 The Gryphon Honor Society is established.
  • 1909 Clark's alma mater "Fiat Lux," with words by E.L. Clark '08 and music by R. Fletcher '10, is copyrighted.