Search More Items ACADEMICS EXPERIENCE ATHLETICS LIFE ADMISSION ABOUT APPLY NOW GIVE TO OU HISTORICAL TIMELINE Home AboutHistoryHistorical Timeline YEAR EVENT 1835 Oglethorpe University chartered near Milledgeville, Georgia, (the old state capital) President Beman, 1836-1840 1860-1861 Sidney Lanier graduates Oglethorpe University "dies at Gettysburg" as students enlist and endowment is lost in Confederate bonds. President Talmage, 1841-1865 1870-1872 First relocation of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta 1913 Reincorporation of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta Cornerstone laid and classes begin President Thornwell Jacobs, 1915-1943 1923 Dr. Jacobs discovers tomb of General Oglethorpe in England 1924-1930 Glory years in athletics at Oglethorpe In football, Petrels defeat Georgia Tech Southern Basketball Champions in 1924 and 1930 Historic part of Oglethorpe and quadrangle are completed 1929 Oglethorpe receives Silver Lake from William Randolph Hearst 1931-1935 Oglethorpe's first radio station was established in 1931 as WJTL, and for many years the station was dedicated to the broadcast of educational programming designed for the public to take additional instruction on various University subjects. (In 1935, WJTL was purchased by a private organization and moved to downtown Atlanta. The call letters were changed to WATL at this time.) 1932 Dr. Jacobs discovers oval portrait of J.E. Oglethorpe (hangs now in the President's Office). On May 22, 1932, New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt receives an honorary doctorate and gives his first "New Deal" speech as his commencement address for Oglethorpe graduates at Atlanta's Fox Theater. 1933 Oglethorpe survives Great Depression through the generosity of B. Baruch and J. T. Lupton 1940 Oglethorpe seals the Crypt of Civilization time capsule, not to be opened until 8113 A.D. 1945 The start of the Core Curriculum program Oglethorpe Idea: "A small college, superlatively good" created by President Philip Weltner, 1944-1953. 1959-1969 Coach Garland Pinholster leads Petrels to basketball championships 1968 Residential expansion of campus 1975-1988 Pattillo Era: Oglethorpe University becomes academically selective and gains national recognition 1988 - 1999 Stanton Era: Weltner Library renovations, Schmidt Center built, Conant Performing Arts Center built, academic quad placed on National Register of Historic Places. 1999 - 2005 Large Era: Robinson Hall renovations, Lupton Auditorium renovations, technology upgrades to classrooms, joined the Annapolis Group, campus master plan completed. 2005 - 2020 Schall Era: TLCC built, Cousins Center completed, Hammack School of Business opens 2013 Turner Lynch Campus Center built; A_LAB created 2016 Gables Brookhaven built 2019 I.W. “Ike” Cousins Center for Science and Innovation completed 2019 Q. William Hammack, Jr. School of Business opens 2020 Nicholas Ladany elected as the 17th president of Oglethorpe University CONNECT: Open Facebook in a new tab Open Twitter in a new tab Open Instagram in a new tab Open YouTube in a new tab Open Pinterest in a new tab Open LinkedIn in a new tab Open Flickr in a new tab CONTACT US APPLY NOW VISITORS A-Z Directory Campus Maps Calendar of Events Employment OU Museum of Art Facility Rentals ALUMNI & FRIENDS Alumni Website Shop OU Gear News & Stories Make a Gift Construction Progress CAMPUS USERS OU Email OASIS Canvas Library OUConnect CARES Act © 2021 Oglethorpe University 4484 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30319 404.261.1441 • 800.428.4484 Privacy Policy Title IX Accessibility Statement Equal Opportunity Policy