Highlights in NC State History

Leonidas Polk called for the establishment of an agricultural school during a speech made at the NC State Fair.

An original land scrip endowment to the University of North Carolina as part of the Morrill Act, lost during the Reconstruction period, was restored. This document created a College of Agriculture and a College of Engineering and Mechanic Arts at the University of North Carolina.

The Watauga Club met for the first time. The club was formed by young men who were investigating way to strengthen all aspects of North Carolina, including creation of an industrial school.

Colleges to provide agricultural education were still not created at the University of North Carolina, which was an obligation upon receiving land-grant funding. These colleges existed only in theory in the university's course catalogs.

The Watauga Club successfully lobbied the North Carolina State Legislature, with the sponsorship of Leazar Dixon, to pass a bill for an industrial school separate from the University of North Carolina's land scrip. The legislation didn't mandate the school, however, and didn't provide sufficient funding.

Leonidas Polk continued to call for an agricultural school in the first published issue of the Progressive Farmer.

The North Carolina Board of Agriculture accepted a bid to locate an industrial school in Raleigh.

Farmers' organizations in the state, along with the Watauga Club and Colonel Leonidas Polk, successfully lobbied the North Carolina State Legislature to add an agriculture school to the proposed industrial school in Raleigh. This new school would not be affiliated with the University of North Carolina and would be able to acquire and use the land scrip funds being received (but not used by) the University of North Carolina.

The land scrip funds were transferred to the new Raleigh college, which became NC State. University of North Carolina President Battle unsuccessfully opposed the transfer of the land scrip funds from UNC to the proposed agricultural school in Raleigh. A bill was passed on this date to transfer the funds.

Under the Hatch Act, the federal government provided $15,000 to each state for agricultural experiment stations.

The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was established using a combination of scrip funds reallocated from the University of North Carolina and funds from the Hatch Act of 1886, which established the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station.

Charles Dabney penned the legislation to create the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. March 7 was celebrated annually as Founders Day.

Richard Stanhope Pullen gifted the original 62 acres of land to the state government “for the establishment and conduct of a College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts."

The cornerstone was laid for the first building on campus, originally called Main Building but later named Holladay Hall.

This building would later be renamed Holladay Hall in recognition of the first president of the university, Alexander Holladay. The building was constructed from 1.5 million "penitentiary bricks" made at the State Prison in Raleigh.

The Board of Trustees chose Alexander Q. Holladay as the first president of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The offer surprised Holladay because he applied to be a professor of English, but he accepted the presidency position anyway. He served in the position until 1899. (Biography of Alexander Holladay)

The first classes were held at the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Fifty-two students, at the minimum age of 14, attended. Tuition was $20 a session. Students could select from two basic curricula: agriculture and mechanics.

The Agricultural Experiment Station was transferred from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to the North Carolina College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts.

The Second Morrill Act became law and required states to provide technical education for African Americans. No federal money would be disbursed to any college that made distinctions between students on the basis of race. In 1891, in order to comply with the Second Morrill Act and prevent admission of African Americans to the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the state government created the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro, NC.

Sue Carroll began employment at the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. She filled the position of matron, supervising the Cadet Hospital (an early version of the student health center) and the dormitories until her death in 1901.

Jose Fabio Santo Trigo of Cuba became the first international student to enroll at A&M College.

A chapter of Sigma Nu was created as the first fraternity established at NC State.

A majority of students chose red and white as colors for the sports teams. The colors changed a couple different times during the early years of the college. The faculty agreed to the adoption of red and white and stated that they could not be changed again without a vote of two-thirds of the student body. The colors have remained the same since.

Teisaku Sugishita of Japan enrolled in 1894 and graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Teisaku was the first international student to receive a degree from NC State.

Winston served in the position until retirement in 1908. (Biography of George Tayloe Winston)

The Board of Trustees voted to open A&M College to women.

The Board of Trustees amended their decision from earlier in the year to admit women to A&M College. The board decided women would be classified as special students, except in textiles courses, where they could be enrolled as regular students.

Margaret Burke became the first woman to take a course at A&M College. She enrolled in a physics course.

Eula Louisa Dixon took a course in dairying and became the second woman to enroll in a course at A&M College.

Adeline Stevens, the wife of Frank Lincoln Stevens, became the first woman faculty member as an instructor in biology during the 1902-1903 academic year.

The library holdings moved from Holladay Hall to the first floor of the old Pullen Hall.

Women's enrollment continued to increase during the 1903-1904 academic year. Evelyn Byrd Lawrence of Raleigh took a course in architecture, Ivey Roberts of Raleigh took a course in drawing, and Frances Claire Stainback took courses in chemistry and English. This was also the first year that women were listed as summer school students, and more than 200 women attended.

Caroline Sherman was the first woman hired as librarian at NC State. During Sherman’s tenure as librarian from 1903 to 1906, library holdings moved from the third floor of Main Building (later Holladay Hall) to the first floor of old Pullen Hall. With input from D. H. Hill Jr., she tried to make the library comfortable for extracurricular reading and subscribed to popular periodicals and newspapers from all North Carolina counties.

The original Alma Mater song was written by A. E. Escott, although it was replaced as the official alma mater of the college in 1925.

After serving as a professor of English and librarian at the college, Hill was chosen by the Board of Trustees to succeed President George Tayloe Winston. He served until retirement in 1916. (Biography of D. H. Hill, Jr.)

College officials signed the first memorandum of understanding for cooperative demonstration work with the USDA. The memorandum provided for the establishment of the Farmers' Boys' Clubs or Corn Clubs. These clubs are the forerunners of the 4-H program.

Jane S. McKimmon became the first woman to serve as a state home demonstration agent through the Agricultural Extension program at A&M College.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, then assistant Secretary of the Navy, spoke at commencement exercises. He implored young men to "stay east" because western expansion of the nation meant abandoned farms in the east.

The Smith-Lever Act provided for federal, state, and county cooperation in creating a system to expand demonstration and extension work for men and women. The law authorized land-grant colleges to sign memoranda of understanding with the USDA to begin such work. NC State then created a new Department of Extension, which became the Agricultural Extension Service.

Freshman were required to wear a red cap with a white "F" while on campus to distinguish their status as underclassmen.

The total number of degrees awarded by A&M College reached 1,000.

Wallace Carl Riddick became college president. He previously served as vice president and professor of civil engineering. He was president until 1923, when he became engineering dean. (Biography of Wallace Carl Riddick)

The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was renamed the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering.

The Dean of Agriculture position was created and first held by Charles B. Williams, though the School of Agriculture would not be established until 1923. This was the first position of dean at NC State. Williams served as dean until 1923.

The monogram showing the letter "S" in block style with the letters "N" and "C" nestled within the spaces first appeared in the Agromeck.

The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station began pasteurizing milk at the creamery in Patterson Hall. This marked the first pasteurization of milk in North Carolina.

The first issue of the Technician, the student newspaper, was published.

The Technician was mailed by the Registrar's office to 100 high schools across North Carolina to inform students about activities at NC State.

The Athletics Council made a decision to award sweaters to athletes who receive monograms ("letters") for their athletic accomplishments. The first letter sweaters appeared on campus shortly thereafter.

Lucille Thomson of Wilmington, NC, became the first woman to fully enroll at NC State University. She studied electrical engineering from 1921 to 1923.

First Student Body President

In fall 1921, student government, formally known as student council, was established to handle student conduct issues.

NC State became a charter member of the Southern Intercollegiate Conference for athletics. This organization later changed its name to the Southern Conference.

The cornerstone was laid for the Memorial Bell Tower, a monument to honor State College alumni who were killed during World War I.

Student council required all first-year students to wear freshman caps on campus, citing a need to boost school spirit and reduce hazing. The Court of Customs, a branch of student council, punished students who did not comply. Freshmen started a tradition by burning their caps before spring final exams.

The School of Engineering was established on May 28, 1923. The school included five departments: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, physics, and textile engineering.

The station was established as "the research agency in engineering" to support extension work for the School of Engineering. The station was intended to address engineering issues of local state and regional concern. H. B. Shaw was the first station director.

In 1923, NC State hired George Zook of the US Bureau of Education to survey the college and make recommendations on how it could be restructured. Zook recommended the creation of schools focusing on the following broad disciplines: engineering, agriculture, general science, social science, and business administration. He also reported that the library was inadequate for the needs of the growing institution and suggested that library services be centralized.

He led the college until he retired in 1934. (Biography of E. C. Brooks)

The contract for construction of a new library building, later Brooks Hall, was awarded to Joe W. Stout & Company at a cost of $227,500.

Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company installed the first telephone exchange at State College.

The Board of Trustees removed the Textile Department from the School of Engineering and created a separate School of Textiles. Becoming a separate school enabled textiles to have its own dean and to compete on an equal basis with other schools in the college for resources, faculty positions, equipment, and space. Thomas Nelson became the first dean and served until 1943.

Class of 1923 alumni Alvin M. Fountain and Bonnie Frank Norris composed the Alma Mater song. They were both in the university's ROTC program. The alma mater used more recently was an abridged version, arranged by former music department chair Dr. Robert A. Barnes in the early 1960s.

The original D. H. Hill Jr. Library, in what later became Brooks Hall, was designed by Hobart Brown Upjohn and named for Daniel Harvey Hill Jr., the first faculty member to oversee the library.

The first PhD was conferred to Jesse Mowry who received a degree in the rural sociology.

The original D. H. Hill Jr. Library was dedicated in the building later known as Brooks Hall. The contents of the library were moved into the building the previous fall, marking the first time there was an entire building designated as the library.

The first degrees were conferred to women at NC State. The recipients were Jane McKimmon, BS in business administration; Charlotte Nelson, BS in education; and Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough, MS in chemistry. Yarbrough was the first woman to graduate who completed all coursework while at NC State, and she was the first woman to earn a master's degree at NC State.

Ada Curtis Spencer became the first woman to enroll as a freshman and complete a four-year degree from NC State. She majored in social science.

The first telephones were installed in the dormitories. Previously, telephones were only available for student use in the YMCA building.

The Consolidation Act was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly with some of the following provisions: State College became one of three campuses of the Consolidated University of North Carolina, which included UNC-Chapel Hill and the Women's College in Greensboro. State College's Board of Trustees was abolished, and a new board of trustees was established to oversee all three of the campuses. This arrangement continued until the creation of the UNC System in 1972.

The title for the chief executive officer at NC State changed from "president" to "dean of administration." This occurred after NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Women's College (which later became UNC-Greensboro) combined to form the Consolidated University.

The Order of Thirty and Three was founded by members of the sophomore class. There were 11 charter members.

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.

John William Harrelson, class of 1909, was appointed head of the college. He led NC State until 1953. (Biography of John Harrelson)

The Memorial Bell Tower construction project received a $37,000 Works Progress Administration grant.

Katharine Stinson, personal friend of Amelia Earhart, was the first woman to enroll in mechanical engineering.

As State College celebrated its 50th anniversary, materials on the institution's history were collected in the library. This formed the basis of what would later become the university archives.

Dean of Students E. L. Cloyd led an academic procession to Pullen Hall for the college's 50th anniversary celebration. President Franklin Roosevelt sent a message of congratulations to the college, and the City of Raleigh declared the event "State College Day."

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.

Fred Waring, prominent national band leader, agreed to write a new fight song for NC State. He aired it during his March 8, 1940, radio program.

Gertrude Cox was hired as professor of statistics and head of the Department of Experimental Statistics. She was the first woman at State College hired as full professor and department head at the same time.

The Architecture Library opened as the first branch library with Grace Sims Dalton as the first librarian. This was part of Library Director Harlan Brown’s goal to eliminate autonomous departmental libraries in favor of centrally-controlled branch libraries. The Architecture Library was renamed the Harrye B. Lyons Design Library in 1968.

Three women joined the faculty at NC State. Ruth Couch Allen and Louise K. Cell became instructors in English, and Ruth Badger Hall became an instructor in modern languages.

The North Carolina State College Foundation was established and was the first foundation created for the purpose of attracting private support for the college.

The faculty approved a plan to allow seniors who were taking jobs in essential industries or joining the military to graduate early.

All dorms, the cafeteria, and other non-classroom buildings on campus were given official names for the first time.

Plans were announced for up to 2,000 military trainees to enroll at State College and take specialized defense classes through the U.S. War Department. The college operated as two separate units: one for the military and one civilians.

Dean of Administration John Harrelson reported for active army duty. He was the 56th faculty member at State College to enter active service and the first head of a major college in the South called for permanent active duty.

Enrollment hit the lowest mark in 20 years due to the number of students leaving to join the military.

The Textiles Library was established, and Rachel Penn Lane was the first librarian. The library was originally located in the main library but relocated to Nelson Hall the following year in 1945. The library was renamed the Burlington Textiles Library in 1954 when Burlington Industries funded its expansion.

WNCS, the campus radio station, began broadcasting three nights a week.

The title of NC State's chief executive officer changed to "chancellor."

Fifty-eight women were enrolled at NC State, many taking advantage of special scholarships to provide engineering training to women so they could work in industry during World War II.

The Minerals Research Laboratory opened in Asheville, NC. The laboratory was initially created as a collaboration between the Tennessee Valley Authority, which provided equipment and funds, and the Division of Mineral Resources of the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development, which provided the building. State Geologist and NC State professor Jasper L. Stuckey was involved in securing the initial contract for the laboratory and served as its founding director.

L. C. and M. M. Glenn donated $6,000 to State College for the library's purchase of geological publications, many rare and unique. In acquiring the L. C. Glenn Geological Collection, the Friends of the Library organization was formed.

More than 75 trailers, forming what was known as the "City of Trailers" or "Trailwood," were constructed. These structures were built so married World War II veterans and their families could attend NC State on the GI Bill. In 1949, Trailwood was relocated, and Williams Hall was built in its place.

The influx of World War II veterans, who attended NC State on the GI Bill, caused student enrollment to more than double from pre-war numbers.

All NC State athletics teams adopted Wolfpack as the official name. Previously, only the football team was called the Wolfpack, and other sports teams were called the Red Terrors and a variety of other names.

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.

The School of Design was established with the Division of Architecture and Landscape Design incorporated into the curriculum. Henry Kamphoefner from the University of Oklahoma was the first dean of the school and served in the position until 1973.

More than 1,000 students graduated from State College for the first time.

A banquet ended the first annual Greek Week sponsored by the Inter-Fraternity Council.

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

Harold Lampe, dean of the School of Engineering, approved the building of a nuclear reactor on campus and the establishment of a nuclear engineering program, which were both firsts in the nation.

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.

The Consolidated University of North Carolina declared that African American students were eligible for admission into graduate programs.

The Department of Landscape Architecture received accreditation from the American Society of Landscape Architects and became the second to do so in the South, and one of only ten accredited schools in the U.S.

Over 200 citizens gathered for a ceremony at the newly-opened Riddick Laboratory. The lab building, constructed for $1,300,000, was dedicated to Dr. Wallace Carl Riddick. Dr. Riddick was NC State's first dean of engineering and the university's fourth president.

Robert W. Scott graduated from NC State in 1952. He later became the 67th governor of North Carolina from 1969 to 1973.

State College celebrated the opening of Scott Hall, the new poultry science building, named for Robert Walter Scott. Construction of Scott Hall cost $380,110.97.

State College admitted two African American graduate students into the School of Engineering: Robert Clemons and Hardy Liston. Clemons became the college's first black graduate. Liston withdrew and didn't complete his degree.

NC State athletics teams withdrew from the Southern Conference and joined the newly formed Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Board of Trustees agreed to transition the academic calendar from a quarter system to a semester system by a vote of 46-28. NC State switched over in the fall semester of 1953.

Dr. Carey Hoyt Bostian became the seventh person to lead NC State. He served on the NC State faculty since 1930. In 1959, he stepped down as chancellor to return to teaching. (Biography of Carey Bostian)

The R-1 reactor was the first non-government-run nuclear reactor in the world and the first designed, built, and operated by an academic institution. Design and construction began in 1950. It was the first of four reactors operated at NC State. More information on the nuclear reactor program can be found on the departmental website.

Hervasio Carvalho of Brazil, a graduate student in the School of Engineering at NC State, was the first person in the world to complete a PhD in nuclear engineering.

The Faculty Senate was officially approved by the general faculty and the Committee on College at a meeting on this date. Prior to 1954, Faculty Senate was known as Faculty Council or the Advisory Committee of the General Faculty.

In Frazier v. the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina, the court determined that undergraduate colleges and universities should be open to African Americans.

The Industrial Extension Service, the first of its kind in the United States, was established in 1955 to help North Carolina industries grow and prosper.

The new D. H. Hill Jr. Library, the east wing of the current building, was formally dedicated.

Former Chancellor John Harrelson died. Harrelson was a graduate of NC State and served in various positions at the college for 46 years, including 19 years as Chancellor.

Patricia Ann Sarvella became the first woman to receive a PhD degree at State College from the Department of Genetics.

Robert Clemons received a professional degree in electrical engineering (PREE) and became the first African American to graduate from NC State.

The Technician began printing multiple issues each week for the first time.

The 1957 president-elect for student government failed to meet academic requirements to return to campus and take office. Vice-president elect, Jim Hunt, became student body president for the year. Hunt served as president again the following year. He later became governor of North Carolina.

A newly-established scholarship and student award honored the first student enrolled at State, W. J. Matthews. The award was known as the Matthews Medal.

The Research Triangle Institute at Research Triangle Park was established by NC State, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.

The first African American woman hired as an academic staff member, Justina Williams, worked in the Department of Genetics's drosophila research lab. Many African Americans worked at State prior to Williams's appointment, however, they primarily worked in custodial or food service positions.

The campus radio station changed its call letters from WVWP to WKNC.

John Tyler Caldwell was named Chancellor. He served until retiring in 1975. (Biography of John Caldwell)

The Gamma Phi chapter of the Sigma Kappa sorority was established. This was the first active chapter of a national sorority at NC State. They held their first pledge dance at the Carolina Hotel on March 14, 1960.

The Agricultural Policy Institute was established and was one of only two such organizations in the United States.

Irwin Holmes earned a BS in electrical engineering, making him the first African American undergraduate to receive a degree at NC State. Further documentation of Irwin Holmes's life exists at DigitalNC.

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.

Vivian Henderson became the first African American faculty member after taking a position as a visiting professor in the Department of Economics. Henderson was a friend of MLK Jr., and he later became president of the historically black Clark College in Atlanta, GA.

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

The School of Engineering installed the first half of an analog computer system on campus, known as a PACE computer. The system was manufactured by Electronics Associates.

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.

Twenty-three years after Gertrude Cox's appointment, Eloise Cofer, Extension Professor of Food Science and Assistant Director of the Agricultural Extension Service, became the second woman appointed as a full professor at NC State. In 1980, Cofer was named "Home Economist of the Year" by the NC Home Economics Association.

Cora Kemp was appointed the first woman editor of the Technician.

North Carolina State College was renamed "North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh." The new name was met with discontent by faculty members who labeled it awkward and embarrassing.

A computer created by professors from NC State and built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at a cost of $50,000 arrived on campus. The computer, named Lincy, greeted professors with the message, "I want to be here," and was to be used in experiments to measure the distance between heartbeats, blood pressure, and brain waves.

The university published, for the first time, a "Report on the Status of Women Students."

Faculty Senate voted to abolish compulsory ROTC. Prior to this date, all male students were required to take military training.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place for the construction of Carter Stadium (later Carter-Finley Stadium). It was named for Nick and Harry Carter.

The North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh was renamed the North Carolina State University at Raleigh.

The Water Resources Research Institute, a joint federal-state program for the UNC System, was established at NC State.

The Triangle Universities Computation Center was established by NC State, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill in the Research Triangle Park. It was one of the world's largest university computing centers.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Computer Science formed and included a faculty member from the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Statistics, and the director of the Computer Center, Paul E. Lewis.

Extension programs, including 4-H and Home Economics, began to integrate.

Norma Wright Garcia became the first African American woman to receive an undergraduate degree after earning a BA in history.

NC State received its first National Science Foundation grant to create a science development plan in order to strengthen faculties in the biosciences; support materials, mechanics and electrotechnics in engineering; and support the social sciences.

The Cooperating Raleigh Colleges program was established by the libraries of NC State, Meredith College, Shaw University, Peace College, St. Mary's College, and St. Augustine College. The program allowed for direct borrowing of library resources among the six campuses.

Stephen Benton Latimer received a PhD in animal science and became the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from NC State.

The NC State football team defeated the University of Georgia in the Liberty Bowl, 14-7. This was NC State's first bowl game win.

The Apollo VIII spacecraft launched and became the first human spaceflight mission to escape Earth's gravitational field. Many NC State alumni and faculty played a role in both the development and launch of the spacecraft.

Twenty-six NC State alumni, all employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), played a key role in the voyage of the Apollo 11 space mission, which was successful in placing the first men on the moon.

Eric Moore became the first African American student senate president.

NC State responded to a call for a "moratorium" against the Vietnam War amidst campus protests nationwide. A faculty-student committee organized a Vietnam Symposium with Chancellor John Caldwell as keynote speaker and several faculty members talking on the impact of the war.

James H. Goodnight received an appointment as an assistant statistician in the new Department of Statistics. Over the next several years, Goodnight, a statistics student named John Sall, and others would lay the groundwork for SAS. SAS became one of the largest software providers in the world.

NC State students held a convocation on the Brickyard in the aftermath of U.S. expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia, and the death of four Kent State University students in Ohio. The following day, nearly 6,000 students from NC State and other colleges protested by marching on the State Capitol.

The Division of Student Affairs hired an African American counselor, made financial aid available to African American students, and encouraged the development of African American cultural programs.

The International Potato Center was established in Peru by NC State and the Peruvian government in an effort to increase the world's supply of white potatoes.

The first annual Pan Afrikan Festival began and continued until April 2, 1971. The festival featured lectures by C. T. Vivian and other speakers as well as musical performances.

Jane Carol Pickard was the first woman honored for graduating with the highest grade point average. Every year at commencement, NC State honored the student graduating with this achievement.

NC State published "In a Black Perspective." This pamphlet totaled the university's black community at nine professors and 222 students (out of a total 13,809). The publication listed courses focusing on black history and culture: two in political Science and one on race relations in sociology.

The UNC System was created with NC State as one of the constituent campuses. A Board of Governors was established at the system level, and a new Board of Trustees was instituted at NC State to oversee matters specific to the university.

William Maxwell became an assistant dean in the School of Education and NC State's first African American academic administrator.

The light mural (later known as the Color Wall) in D. H. Hill Jr. Library was displayed by this date, but not yet completed. The mural was created by Joe Cox, a faculty member in the School of Design.

Enrollment for the fall term hit a new record of 13,800.

NC State became an equal opportunity employer and enacted an affirmative action plan.

Rajendra Pachauri was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree. He previously earned a MS degree in 1972. In 2007, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

NC State defeated Marquette, 76-64, in the finals of the NCAA Basketball tournament in Greensboro, NC, to win the 1974 National Championship. Junior forward David Thompson was named Tournament MVP. The Wolfpack also received key contributions from Tom Burleson, Monte Towe, Tim Stoddard, and Mo Rivers during the championship run.

Statistics professor Gertrude Cox was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

A chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was established as the first African American sorority chapter on campus.

Dr. John T. Caldwell retired after 15 years as NC State's chancellor. Caldwell oversaw a period of unprecedented growth for the university. Of the nearly 47,000 degrees awarded in the first 85 years of the university, two-thirds were earned during Caldwell's tenure.

Book, periodical, and binding expenditures exceeded $1,000,000 in a fiscal year for the first time.

Rigney served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Caldwell retired and before Chancellor Thomas took the position. (Biography of Jackson Rigney)

Joab L. Thomas became the ninth chancellor of NC State. During his administration, enrollment at the university surpassed 20,000 students for the first time, and the College of Veterinary Medicine was established. He left NC State in 1981 to become president of the University of Alabama. (Biography of Joab Thomas)

Mary E. (Betty) Wheeler became the head of the Department of History and the third woman to hold a position of department head at NC State.

Worth T. Blackwood retired after twenty years as Security Chief at NC State. During Blackwood's tenure, the security force grew from seven to twenty-two officers.

The State Climate Office of North Carolina found a permanent home in PAMS. The office was established as part of the UNC System in 1976 and was primarily housed at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since moving to NC State, the office grew into the primary source for North Carolina weather and climate information and for climate-related research, education and extension services.

Evelyn Reiman, Assistant Director of Student Development, sponsored the first NC State Women's Week. The event included a series of afternoon and evening programs for women on campus.

A ceremony marked the beginning of the new Wolfline bus service on campus. The service initially included only one route and was intended to serve students who lived off-campus.

The Friends of the Library began a campaign in 1979 to reach one million volumes. The D. H. Hill Jr. Library holdings reached this number by 1981.

Winstead served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Thomas left the university and before Chancellor Poulton took the position. (Biography of Nash Winstead)

Ada B. Dalla Pozza became the first woman to serve as president of the Faculty Club, later known as the University Club.

Mr. Wolf and Ms. Wolf were married in a mock wedding ceremony by the Wake Forest Demon Deacon mascot during halftime of a Men's Basketball game at Reynolds Coliseum. The two were joined in "canis matrimonium," and Chancellor Joab Thomas gave the bride away.

NC State's new School of Veterinary Medicine held classes for the first time. Initial enrollment was 40 students selected from 126 applicants.

Poulton became the tenth chancellor of NC State and the third scientist to lead the institution. Under his leadership, the university acquired and began to develop Centennial Campus. Poulton served as chancellor until 1989, and he later became director of the university's Literacy Systems Center. (Biography of Bruce Poulton)

Chancellor Bruce Poulton instituted the first annual Brotherhood Dinner to honor African Americans who made important contributions to the nation and the world. The annual dinner continued for more than 25 years, and honorees included John Hope Franklin, Gwendolyn Brooks, C. T. Vivian, Julian Bond, and John Lewis. In 1978, there may have been an earlier brotherhood dinner honoring Samual Nesbritt.

Approximately 8,000 women were enrolled in a student body of 22,632. More than one third of the undergraduates were women, which at the time was the highest percentage of women enrolled at NC State.

The NC State University Physical and Mathematical Science Foundation, more commonly known as the PAMS Foundation, was established. The mission of the foundation, which increased its endowment from $245,000 to more than $10 million, was to promote the educational, research and service programs of the College through personal advocacy and by securing private funding for priority programs.

The NC State University Libraries became a member of the prestigious Association of Research Libraries (ARL).

North Carolina Governor (and NC State alumnus) James B. Hunt Jr. alloted the initial 355-acre parcel of land for the university's Centennial Campus. The land was previously part of the Dorothea Dix hospital.

Sondra L. Kirsch, Associate Professor of the Recreation Resources Administration, became the first woman chair of the NC State Faculty Senate.

Debra W. Stewart was appointed interim dean of the Graduate School. She was the first woman to serve as dean of the Graduate School. Her appointment became permanent in 1988, and she served as dean until 2000.

The School of Veterinary Medicine awarded its first PhD degrees to Melinda Hollingshead in August 1986 and Cathy Carlson in December 1986.

Eight of the university's academic schools were designated as colleges.

"The NCSU Libraries" became the official name of the library system, encompassing the D. H. Hill Jr. Library and four branch libraries (Design, Natural Resources, Textiles, and Veterinary Medicine). Decades later the system was renamed the North Carolina State University Libraries.

In fall 1988, NC State implemented an African American Studies minor, the first of its kind at the university. The interdisciplinary minor required students to take courses in both history and English literature.

Kaye Gibbons, former NC State student, became the Libraries' first author-in-residence. The Friends of the Library awarded the first "Author of the Year" award to Kaye Gibbons during the Libraries' 100th anniversary celebration in 1989.

Elizabeth C. Theil became the first woman at NC State to hold a named professorship and was honored with the University of North Carolina's O. Max Gardner Award.

The first Friends of the Library (FOL) booksale was held in 1988. Proceeds from the sale went to supporting the formal preservation program for the Libraries' collection.

The Mars Mission Research Center was established. This was a cooperative effort between NC State and NC A&T State University.

The first permanent building on Centennial Campus was opened and occupied for the first time. The building was later named the Research I building.

Nora Lynn Finch, Associate Athletics Director, was inducted into the Women's Sports Hall of Fame. Finch was the ACC's first women's athletics director and the inaugural chair of the NCAA Division I Women's basketball committee from 1981-1988.

The Women's Studies program was established with Barbara Risman as the first director.

The Women's Resource Coalition was established from the Women Students Advisory Board, which was organized in the fall of 1988.

The Associate Provost position was created and was also called Facilitator of African American Affairs. It was first held by Dr. Augustus Witherspoon.

The library system unveiled a new logo designed by David Burney for the libraries and the Friends of the Library organization. With the new logo, the library system officially became known as "NCSU Libraries."

Christine Grant, a professor in chemical engineering, became the first African American woman appointed as faculty member in the College of Engineering.

NCSU Libraries celebrated its 100th anniversary in a ceremony that included planting three Yoshino cherry trees in front of the east wing of the D.H. Hill Jr Library.

The Information Technologies Teaching Center (ITTC) was established in the D. H. Hill Jr. Library, initially funded through a gift from the Class of 1990.

The first campus-wide newsletter on women's issues, The Newsstand, was published.

After serving as interim chancellor for several months, Larry K. Monteith was chosen by the UNC System Board of Governors to fill the position on a permanent basis. He served until retirement in 1998. (Biography of Larry Monteith)

The new College of Textiles building on Centennial Campus opened its doors in 1991. The new building included computer facilities, heavy machinery processing laboratories, classrooms, meeting spaces, administrative offices, and the Burlington Textiles Library.

In conjunction with the move of the College of Textiles, the Burlington Textile Library moved to Centennial Campus and became the first library unit on the new campus. The library remained in the College of Textiles complex until December 2012 when the collections were moved into the Hunt Library.

The College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PAMS) established the Science House to provide hands-on science opportunities to K-12 students. The Science House later expanded to a main office on Centennial Campus and five satellite offices throughout the state.

The Women's Center opened with Jan Rogers as its coordinator. Rogers began the Women's Leadership Education and Action Program (LEAP), which aimed to enhance the experience of women in fields such as math, science, and engineering.

The African American Cultural Center opened in the new Student Center Annex, later renamed the Witherspoon Student Center. In 1992, following months of student and faculty protests, NC State administrators granted the African American Cultural Center an operating budget.

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.

Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) moved into Centennial Campus and became the first corporate tenant there in July 1991. In 1992, ABB became the university's first industrial partner on Centennial Campus.

The Public Safety office began a new bicycle patrol. Officers felt that the bicycles had advantages over patrol cars, including "mobility, stealth, and speed."

James Anderson was the first African American dean after being appointed Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

The UNC Board of Governors authorized the establishment of the College of Management at NC State. The college was formed out of the Division of Economics and Business in CHASS. Robert L. Clark served as interim dean.

The Board of Trustees established the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence to honor NC State faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the university through achievements in research, teaching, or extension and engagement.

The Libraries began twenty-four hour service on Sunday through Thursday. The increase was funded by revenue from a university-wide tuition increase, and faculty advocated for the funds to be allocated to the Libraries.

A campus street was named for Katharine Stinson, the first woman to graduate from NC State's School of Engineering. Katharine Stinson Drive, formerly North Yarbrough Drive, was one of the longest streets on campus.

Marye Anne Fox became the first woman hired as chancellor at NC State. She served in the position until 2004 when she left to become chancellor of the University of California, San Diego. (Biography of Marye Anne Fox)

University administration created the position of Vice Provost for Diversity and African American Affairs, heading the Office of Diversity and African American Affairs. One stated goal of this position was to improve the experience of black students and other minorities.

Peaches Simpkins was named the first woman chair of the university's Board of Trustees.

North Carolina voters approved the Higher Education Facilities Financing Act. NC State's portion of the bond package, more than $468 million, funded four dozen construction projects on campus, including new classrooms and laboratories, as well as major renovations of older buildings.

Former NC State Chancellor Carey Hoyt Bostian died at the age of 93.

The Technician became a daily publication during academic semesters for the first time.

Jim Riviere was the first faculty member elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program was established. Fifty-six freshman women with majors in PAMS and the College of Engineering joined the program in its first year. As of 2009, the "living and learning village" included 256 women majoring in five colleges across campus, and a high school chapter was established at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering was established and co-located at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Medicine and NC State's College of Engineering.

Barnhardt served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Fox left the university and before Chancellor Oblinger took the position. (Biography of Bob Barnhardt)

He served in the position until 2009. (Biography of Jim Oblinger)

The William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation moved into its new facility in November 2005. It was established in 2003.

Ice cream produced at the dairy processing facilities on campus by the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences became known as "Howling Cow" after NC State applied for trademark status in June 2009. NC State ice cream has been a State Fair tradition for visitors since the 1970s.

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

Woodward served as interim chancellor after Chancellor Oblinger stepped down and before Chancellor Woodson took the position. (Biography of Jim Woodward)

Woodson had previously been Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Purdue University. (Biography of Randy Woodson)

The College of Management was renamed the Lonnie C. Poole Jr. College of Management. Lonnie C. Poole Jr. was founder of Waste Industries USA, Inc.

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

The library was named in honor of former four-term NC Governor and NC State alumnus James B. Hunt Jr. The new building housed the Institute for Emerging Issues.

The College of Sciences was established and combined programs from the former College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences with several biological science programs from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

NC State began partnering with the National Security Agency to create a $60 million Laboratory for Analytic Sciences.

The donation provided additional funding for the Park Scholars program.

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.

NC State received a $28 million gift from alumnus Fred Wilson Jr. and his family to fund an endowment to support and name NC State’s College of Textiles.

The NC State Board of Trustees approved removing the word “Dixie” from the NC State Alma Mater and adding the word “Southern.”