Commencement Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection includes documents relating to commencement exercises at Elon University, beginning in 1891 and continuing to present day. Materials included in the collection (but are not limited to) are: newspaper clippings, programs, brochures, speeches and addresses, press releases, schedules of events, and invitations. The collection is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by type of material. Please see the sections below titled "Detailed Description of the Collection" and "Historical Note" for more informatio
Dates
- Creation: 1891-ongoing
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research
Copyright Notice
The nature of the Archives and Special Collections of Belk Library means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of Belk Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research of otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical / Historical
The first commencement at Elon College took place June 2-3, 1891. Commencement exercises were held in the Old Main Administration building and included a Baccalaureate Sermon by the Reverend C.J. Jones of Norfolk, Virginia and an annual address by Judge T.B. Womack of Pittsboro, North Carolina. The class of 1891 included three graduates: N.G. Newman, C.C. Peel, and Herbert Scholz. Irene Johnson Cook was the only student and first female to graduate from Elon College in 1892. Commencement exercises were held in the Old Main Administration building, until it was destroyed by fire on January 18, 1923. The tradition of Commencement Under the Oaks began in 1923, as there was no other viable space option on campus to hold graduation after the Old Main building was consumed by fire. As stated in the May 18, 1923 issue of the student newspaper The Maroon and Gold, “This commencement promises to be the best of all Elon’s commencements, but the thing which makes it unique is the fact that it will mark the end of an old era and the beginning of a new in the history of the college.”
After the Old Main Administration building burned in 1923, five new buildings were constructed and are still standing on campus today. The buildings that were constructed between 1923-1925 included: Alamance, Carlton, Whitley, Mooney, and Duke. Beginning in 1924, commencement exercises were held in Whitley Auditorium. Over the next several years, graduations were held in different places on campus including, Whitley Auditorium and Alumni Gymnasium. Commencement Under the Oaks was reinstated on May 23, 1987 and has continued ever since to be a long-standing tradition known at Elon today.
Extent
6 Linear Feet (11 archival boxes, .5 linear feet of bound materials)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection includes documents relating to commencement exercises at Elon University, beginning in 1891 and continuing to present day. Materials included in the collection (but are not limited to) are: newspaper clippings, programs, brochures, speeches and addresses, press releases, schedules of events, and invitations. The collection is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by type of material. Please see the sections below titled "Detailed Description of the Collection" and "Historical Note" for more information.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by type of material.
Physical Location
The collection is located in the Carol Grotnes Belk Library Archives and Special Collections at Elon University. Please contact the Archivist and Special Collections Librarian for further details about the location.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Unknown. Materials collected and assembled over many years to form collection.
Processing Information
Processed by Juliana Siler
Subject
- Elon University--Students. (Organization)
- Elon University--Commencement. (Organization)
- Author
- Juliana Siler
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Belk Library Archives & Special Collections Repository