Founders Day Collection

Elon College's charter was granted on March 11, 1889. Through the years, Elon has celebrated the founding of the institution through celebrations and events such as Convocation, Chapel, College Coffee, etc. For many years Founders Day was celebrated in the month of Sepetember. However, after Dr. James Earl Danieley became President of Elon College in 1957, the date of Founders Day was changed to March 11, recognizing the date when Elon was chartered. The first Founders Day celebration was held September 14, 1939 as a way for Elon College to commemorate 50 years since the institution first opened its doors and to formally introduce a new fundraising organization called "Elon College Golden Anniversary Club." Individuals could donate $50 to become a member of this commemorative organization. During the first Founders Day celebration, a formal faculty convocation took place in addition to an address that was delivered by North Carolina's Govenor Clyde R. Hoey. A magnolia tree was planted on campus to honor the original faculty members of Elon College. The tradition of planting a tree for Founders Day has continued through the years.

Founders Day celebrations have taken place sporadically throughout Elon's history, but beginning in 2004 celebrations have taken place every year. Below is a listing of previous Founders Day honorees, speakers, dates, and other important facts.

September 14, 1939. Address given by: The Honorable Clyde R. Hoey, Governor of North Carolina. Title of address: "The Church's Contribution to Higher Education."

September 14, 1939. Address given by: Dr. W.H. Boone of Durham, North Carolina.

September 14, 1939. Address given by: Dr. William S. Long, Jr. Title of address: "The College is Founded." September 14, 1939. Address given by: W.E. MacClenny of Suffolk, Virginia.

September 14, 1939. Address given by: Colonel Junius H. Harden of Graham, North Carolina. Title of address: "The Provisional Committee and the Original Board of Trustees."

September 14, 1939. Address given by: Dr. Emmett Leonidas Moffitt. Title of address: "The Original Faculty of Elon College."

September 14, 1940. Address given by: The Honorable J. Dolph Long. Title of address: "Dr. Long's Contribution to Education."

September 16, 1946. Address given by: Dr. John G. Truitt, Sr., Pastor of The Christian Church in Suffolk, Virginia. Title of address: "Elon College-Past, Present and Future."

September 16, 1946. Address given by: Dr. Jesse H. Dollar, Pastor of First Congregational Christian Church in Newport News, Virginia.

September 16, 1946. Address given by: W.C. Elder. Title of address: "The Gymnasium-How to Finance It."

September 16, 1946. Address given by: James F. Darden, Secretary to the Elon General Alumni Association. Title of address: "We Will-We Commit Ourselves."

September 16, 1952. Address given by: Howard Scott Hardcastle.

September 16, 1952. Address given by: Walter Judd, Congressman from Minnesota.

September 16, 1952. Honoring: William Allen Harper.

September 27, 1955. Address given by: Harold W. Tribble, President of Wake Forest College.

September 27, 1955. Address given by: William Tate Scott, Superintendent of the Southern Convention.

September 27, 1955. Address given by: Wyatt Millard Stevens, Pastor of Christian Temple in Norfolk, Virginia. September 27, 1955. Honoring: Howard Braxton Holmes.

October 15, 1956. Address given by: Luther H. Hodges, Governor of North Carolina.

March 15, 1959. Address given by: Walter J. Peterson, Dean of the Graduate School at North Carolina State College.

April 6, 1960. Address given by: Theodore A. Distler, Executive Director of the Association of American Colleges. Title of address: "Unwedgeable Oaks."

March 9, 1961. Address given by: Arthur S. Flemming. Title of address: "The Pursuit of Excellence."

March 8, 1962. Address given by: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Vice President of the United States.

March 21, 1963. Address given by: Ben M. Herbster, President of the United Church of Christ. Title of address: "The Church Looks at the College."

March 11, 1964. Address given by: Franklin H. Littell, Professor at Chicago Theological Seminary.

March 11, 1965. Address given by: Ruben H. Huenemann, President of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

March 1966. Address given by: Robert T. Burke, United States State Department Advisor at the John F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

May 28, 1966. Address given by: Robert W. Scott, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

March 13, 1967. Address given by: Dr. James Earl Danieley.

March 11, 1968. Address given by: Vermont C. Royster, Editor of the Wall Street Journal.

March 5, 1969. Address given by: The Honorable Robert W. Scott, Governor of North Carolina.

March 26, 1971. Address given by: Fred W. Haise, Jr., NASA Astronaut.

March 24, 1972. Address given by: Jules Bergman, Science Editor of the American Broadcasting Company.

March 29, 1973. Address given by: Captain Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr.

March 4, 1976. Address given by: Rogers Morton, Counselor to the President of the United States.

March 4, 1976. Address given by: Dr. James Earl Danieley. Title of address: "Tribute to the Founders of Elon College."

March 6-12, 1979. Address given by: James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor of North Carolina.

April 19-21, 1982. Address given by: Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

March 14, 2000. Address given by: Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize winning Historian and Author. Title of address: "Shared Memories: The Lessons of History."

March 16, 2000. Address given by: Reverend Darryl R. Peebles, Pastor of Providence United Church of Christ in Graham, North Carolina. Title of address: "The Elon College Heritage of Faith."

March 12, 2001. Address given by: Dr. James Earl Danieley. Title of address: "A Proud History." March 2004. Honoring: Ned Faucette Brannock.

March 9, 2004. Address given by: Leo M. Lambert, President of Elon University.

March 9, 2004. Address given by: Dr. James Earl Danieley, President Emeritus of Elon University.

March 11, 2004. Address given by: Three students from Dr. James Earl Danieley's Winter Term course, Elon: Past, Present, and Future.

March 2006. Honoring: Alonzo Lohr Hook.

March 9, 2006. Address given by: Dr. Ray Covington.

March 14, 2006. Address given by: Marvin Moss.

March 2007. Honoring: Thad Eure, North Carolina Secretary of State.

March 8, 2007. Address given by: Noel Allen.

March 13, 2007. Address given by: Raymond L. Beck.

March 2008. Honoring: William Samuel Long, Sr.

March 11, 2008. Address given by: William Duffy.

March 13, 2008. Address given by: Reverend Darryl Peebles, Pastor of Providence United Church of Christ in Graham, North Carolina.

March 2009. Honoring: Isabella Cannon, Former Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina.

March 10, 2009. Address given by: Noel Allen.

March 12, 2009. Address given by: Jo Watts Williams, Special Assistant to the President of Elon University.

March 2010. Honoring: Dr. James Earl Danieley.

March 9, 2010. Address given by: Gerry Francis, Executive Vice President of Elon University.

March 11, 2010. Address given by: James B. Powell

March 2011. Honoring: Dr. Thomas E. Powell, Jr. March 8, 2011. Address given by: Leo M. Lambert, Presdident of Elon University.

March 10, 2011. Address given by: Thomas E. Powell, IV.

March 10, 2011. Address given by: Dr. James Earl Danieley.

March 2012. Honoring: Dalton L. McMichael, Sr.

March 2013. Honoring: Reid Atwater Maynard and Grace Moore Maynard.

March 2014. Honoring: J. Earl Danieley, J. Fred Young, and Leo M. Lambert.

Addendum: beginning in 2014, as part of Elon's 125th celebration, Founders Day become known as "Elon Day". Elon Day continues to be a day of celebration and philanthropy held on the first Tuesday of March, although the annual Founders Day Convocation is no longer held.

According to an Elon University news article in 2022:

"Elon Day is a day of philanthropy that offers the opportunity for those connected to the university to celebrate its founding and the ongoing and substantial impact it has had on generations of students, families and communities around the globe. With events and challenges throughout the day, Elon supporters far and near can join in creating new opportunities for students through their generous support of the university."

Each Elon day is now marked by a special College Coffee and a different theme. Elon supporters are encouraged to make donations to a particular priority of the university of their choosing. Social media has become an important tool for the university to communicate with supporters around the world; members of the Elon family are encouraged to share their support on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

By the ninth Elon Day in 2022, donors had given 40,000 gifts totaling $16.6 million in honor of Elon Day.