Campus Visitors

Entomology professor Zeno P. Metcalf debated Bible Conference leader William B. Riley on the topic, "Resolved: That Evolution is a Demonstrated Fact" in the old Pullen Hall.

The Agriculture Club of State College hosted a "Barn-warming" for visiting farmers at Thompson Gym.

Presidential candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt made a campaign stop in Raleigh. State College suspended classes for the day so that students may attend the speech.

Paul Derring, YMCA Secretary of Virginia, spoke to NC State students about his experiences in education as a visually impaired person.

Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra performed at a dance sponsored by the Interfraternity Council.

Chinese delegates addressed State College students and Raleigh citizens in an event sponsored by the YMCA and YWCA.

The first annual High School Day brought 6,000 seniors to visit NC State's campus. Many stayed to attend the State-Duquesne football game.

In his remarks at the event, Eisenhower celebrated North Carolina history and agriculture and suggested that the U.S. could be a global leader in the aftermath of World War II.

President Truman reviewed techniques of State College ROTC cadets during a parade. Crowds gathered on Hillsborough Street to see the president pass by.

The Memorial Bell Tower was dedicated with former Governor R. Gregg Cherry present at the ceremony.

In a ceremony at NC State, Gordon Gray was inaugurated as the second president of the UNC System. The new president vowed to not tolerate Communism among faculty members.

A game in the 4th annual World Series of Basketball, featuring the 1953 All-Americans against the Harlem Globetrotters, was played in Reynolds Coliseum.

The first Raleigh-Durham TV Fair concluded at Reynolds Coliseum. Stars appearing at the fair included Homer and Jethro of the Breakfast Club and Mrs. Hank Williams.

Influential jazz figure Louis Armstrong performed at Reynolds Coliseum.

Ogden Nash lectured in the ballroom of the College Union Building as part of the Fine Arts Festival.

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy appeared in Reynolds Coliseum before a crowd of about 8,000 people. Kennedy sharply criticized Vice President Nixon in his dealings with Nikita Khrushchev.

Novelist John Dos Passos, author of Manhattan Transfer and the U.S.A. trilogy, gave a lecture at the College Union.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, a noted poet associated with the Beat Generation, gave a lecture at the College Union.

Adlai Stevenson, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, delivered the first annual Harrelson Lecture at Reynolds Coliseum.

Governor Sanford was booed after an NC State-Wake Forest basketball game in Reynolds Coliseum by students protesting the possible name change of the college from North Carolina State College to the University of North Carolina at Raleigh.

Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Vice President Lyndon Johnson, visited the School of Agriculture.

The Speaker Ban Bill passed through the NC House, prohibiting anyone with "known Communist ties" from speaking on any state-supported campus, including NC State.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture held a meeting at the Faculty Recreation Center. Members came from all over the U.S. and discussion ranged from hula girls to cheese.

Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz performed at Reynolds Coliseum.

As part of a speaking tour of the United States, the de facto First Lady of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1963, Tran Le Xuan (also known as Madame Nhu), conducted a press conference at NC State to influence U.S. opinion of Vietnam.

President Lyndon Johnson gave a campaign speech before an audience of 13,000 people in Reynolds Coliseum. The president warned that a victory for opponent Barry Goldwater would led to funding cuts for farm programs.

President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson were accompanied by UNC System President William Friday at a Democratic presidential campaign rally held in Reynolds Coliseum. More than 14,000 attended the rally with hundreds more outside. The rally was part of Mrs. Johnson's whistle-stop tour through the South on the "Lady Bird Special."

The London Symphony performed on campus as a part of the Friends of the College concert series. The orchestra received a standing ovation after their performance, playing music from Stravinsky, Vaughn, Mozart, and Brahms.

The Rolling Stones performed at Reynolds Coliseum and were joined by Patti LaBelle for the show.

Raul Spivak was an internationally-known pianist who was serving as a musician-in-residence with the music department. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was considered one of the most prominent Latin American musicians.

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Reynolds Coliseum to a crowd of over 5,000 individuals as well as a television audience of WUNC-TV. At the same time as the event, Klu Klux Klan members marched in violent protest in downtown Raleigh. Despite this, King continued with his speech.

Martin Niemoller, a German Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned in a concentration camp for his anti-Nazi views, gave a speech at Erdahl-Cloyd Student Union.

Comedian Bob Hope performed at Reynolds Coliseum.

Two units of Queen Elizabeth II's Brigade of Guards (the Band of the Welsh Guards and the pipes, drums, and dancers of the Scots Guards) joined forces for a "pageant" of music, marching, and dancing at Reynolds Coliseum.

Nina Simone was the headline performer for New Arts Jazz Festival on October 30, 1968. She previously performed at Reynolds Coliseum for the "CARavan" show on April 10, 1964.

The 5th Dimension performed at Reynolds Coliseum.

Ralph Nader addressed over 800 people about the formation of a North Carolina Research Group (NC-PIRG) in the Union Ballroom.

Shirley Chisholm, the first African American congresswomen and presidential nominee, visited campus and spoke to an audience of 2,500.

The Vienna Symphony performed in Reynolds Coliseum.

Comedian David Frye performed a show at the Student Center Theatre.

The Cleveland Orchestra opened up the Friends of the College program at the Reynolds Coliseum for an audience of 21,000 people.

Hungarian pianist Lili Kraus performed on campus.

Famed Israeli psychic Uri Geller performed at the Stewart Theatre, bending keys with his mind.

Stewart Theatre hosted the George Faison Universal Dance Experience.

Leonard Nimoy, famous for his role as Mr. Spock on the television show Star Trek, spoke at Stewart Theatre.

Mike Cross performed to a sold-out crowd at the Stewart Theatre and gave a 20 minute encore.

Singer Elton John performed at Reynolds Coliseum.

Mel Blanc, legendary voice of cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, gave a lecture at Stewart Theatre.

Governor James B. Hunt gave a series of speeches about the importance of state funding for biotechnology, microelectronics, and a school of textiles for NC State.

Technician entertainment writer Lee Johnson was unable to interview rock band Hüsker Dü following their show at the Brewery because his tape recorder was damaged during the show.

President Reagan promoted tax reform during a speech in Reynolds Coliseum. Afterwards, the president met with students. Student body president Jay Everette gained notoriety when he asked reporters to respect the students' time with the president.

President Bush toured three physics labs that focused on semiconductor and microelectronics research and joined a roundtable discussion on international competitiveness in high-tech industries.

Before a crowd of 1,300 people, former President Jimmy Carter raised questions about U.S. involvement in Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and he called for the U.S. and Soviet Union to organize an international peace conference to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Presidential candidate Bill Clinton addressed 600 people in Stewart Theatre. He announced his support for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Chief Wilma Mankiller of the Cherokee Nation was honored at the Eighth Annual Role Model Leaders Forum at the Student Center Annex (now Witherspoon Student Center) during Native American Awareness Week. Mankiller spoke about women's roles in Native American tribes.

The Friends of the Libraries held a book signing event with author John Grisham and proceeds benefited the D. H. Hill Jr. Library.

Yolanda King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter, addressed students in Stewart Theatre as part of campus MLK commemoration. King urged a crowd of more than 500 to shake off apathy and tackle social problems such as poverty, hunger, and intolerance.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama appeared before a crowd at Reynolds Coliseum shortly after winning the Democratic presidential primaries.

Former President Bill Clinton addressed 6,000 people, stating that the world would best find its way to peace and prosperity through communitarianism.

President Barack Obama spoke before an audience in Reynolds Coliseum and promoted the American Jobs Act.

President Obama announced the establishment of the Next Generation Power Electronics Innovation Institute. The institute was based at NC State with $140 million in federal funding, including $70 million from the Department of Energy.

The rock group performed at Carter-Finley Stadium, fifty years after they performed in Raleigh the first time.

Author Margaret Atwood visited campus for events organized by the Genetic Engineering and Society Center (GES), in collaboration with the Friends of the Libraries and the Gregg Museum.