Rollins Through the Years

1885

Edward Payson Hooker presents paper to Congregational Association proposing founding a college in Florida (Jan. 15) ... Rollins College incorporated (April 28) ... Hooker named first president ... Rollins, Florida’s first college, opens (Nov. 4) ... the Library is composed of a Bible and a dictionary, scientific instruments total a ruler and a thermometer ... tuition, room, & board: $164.00 ...

1886

Knowles Hall dedicated; Pinehurst Cottage occupied ... Collegiate Dept. offers Classical Course or Scientific Course ... dining hall (on site of Chase Hall) dedicated ...

1887

“Each student boarding in the institution is required to bring two pairs of sheets, two pillow cases, two blankets, a comforter, towels and table napkins” ... faculty increases to 10 members … Lakeside Cottage completed … Dinky line opened …

1890

Gentlemen may call on ladies in the reception room on Friday evenings ... first graduates, Ida May Missildine and Clara Louise Guild, receive BA degrees; they present Rollins with U.S. flag at graduation ceremonies (May 28) ...

1891

Students not allowed to “loiter at billiard saloons or similar places of resort” ... tuition, room, & board: $181.50 ...

1892

President Hooker retires; Frederick W. Lyman takes over as acting president for three days, followed by John Howard Ford ... dedication of Cloverleaf Cottage ...

1893

Charles Grandison Fairchild becomes president ... Rollins boasts seven departments, including music and art ... students may enter at any time, though the beginning of the term is preferred ...

1894

The year’s improvements include dock with spring board, no studying in chapel, and “improved good looks of the girls”; suggested improvements: electric lights, telephone communications between cottages, moveable sidewalks ... first canoe regatta ... first issue of The Sand-Spur ...

1895

Freeze wipes out entire endowment ... President Fairchild resigns; John H. Ford resumes as acting president ... free one-way railway transportation available to students on Florida’s railroads ...

1896

George Morgan Ward becomes Rollins’ third president ...

1897

BA only degree offered ... new departments: moral & political science, natural sciences, modern languages ...

1898

Rollins College Alumni Association founded (May 25) ...

1899

Students play golf at Winter Park Country Club—free ... student body includes members from Cuba, Spain, the Philippines ...

1900

Two Rollins men ring in the 20th century with 1900 peals of the Knowles Hall Bell …

1901

First wedding on campus: two former students, President Ward officiates ... Winter Park Golf Club championship won by Rollins student ... tuition, room, & board: $190.00, plus $1.50-2.00/month for laundry expenses ... Latin and Greek no longer required ...

1902

President Ward resigns; William Fremont Blackman assumes the presidency … the School of Expression offers study in “the interpretation of literature; the theme of every lesson, sanity, freedom from affectation” ... baseball returns! ...

1903

Panama hat craze hits campus ... Alumni Association presents flagpole to College ... hope to start football team—next year ... 10 feet added to each end of the Dining Hall ... first honorary degree awarded to ex-Pres. Ward ...