Biographical and Historical Note

The Sesquicentennial Committee was created to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Wake Forest University through a variety of events. The offical celebrations began with a Sesquicentennial concert on January 29, 1984. The Winston-Salem Symphony under the direction of Peter Perret, performed Pheonix and Again, a composition by Wake Forest assistant professor of music Dan Locklair. Kathy Levy, Teresa Radomski, and Louis Goldstein, all members of the music department, also performed during the concert.

The year-long celebration began, appropriately, at the University's opening convocation on September 6, 1983. Opening convocation is traditionally the first time the University community is reunited during the academic year. This year's convocation also introduced one of the themes of the Sesquicentennial: a consideration of the relationship between faith and reason. Speaker Mortimer J. Adler, associate editor of Encyclopedia Britannica's Great Books of the Western World series, spoke on this, "reason provides the ladder, but the ladder doesn't go all the way [to explaining the existence of God]. Man must rely on a leap of faith-a leap from a philosophical affirmation of faith to a religious understanding of God."

On February 3, the offical date of the college's founding, classes were cancelled and speeches were given by John W. Chandler and President Thomas K. Hearn. Other Sesquicentennial year speakers included former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, whose visit was co sponsored by R. J . Reynolds Industries, Federal Reserve Board chairman Paul A. Volcker, Noble Prize winners including the Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz and Chemist Melvin Calvin, senior research fellow at the Hoover Institute on War, Revolution, and Peace at Stanford University, Edward Teller, and the United States' chief strategic arms negotiator, Edward L. Rowny.

Across the aniversary year other events followed including a trek back to the original campus in Wake Forest, NC, on April 15 and a performance on the quad of the University's history entitled Visions and Dreams, produced by Jim Dodding. See more in Sesquicentennial Commission.  Visions and Dreams, Sound and Light Show Records (RG29.4). There were also exhibits on campus including "The Building of Wake Forest: The First 150 Years," designed by Margaret Smith, associate professor and chairman of art, this exhibit contained historical photographs, architectual drawings and plans, and University documents. Other exhibits included "Casa Artom: Wake Forest in Venice," which traced the roots of Wake Forest's Casa Artom in Venice and "One Hundred Years of Biology," supervised by professor of biology Charles Allen, which commemorated Wake Forest's progressive contributions to the science field, particularly in the area of biology. During Homecoming weekend in October, a 128-foot cake, decorated with 400 pounds of icing, covered the quad from end to end. The Sesquicentennial celebrations were seen as a way for the Wake Forest community to reflect on its past and prepare for its future.

Part of the committee's work included collecting essays and reports that detailed the histories and current states of various academic and administrative departments. These essays include details about the department foundings, important historical events, and current departmental activities. Some of the academic department essays also include resumes of faculty at the time.

Fundraising was also a concern of the committee. The Sesquicentennial Campaign ran 12 years in multiple phases and aimed to raise money for multiple concerns on the Reynolda Campus like creating a music wing in Scales Fine Arts Center, increasing the capabilities of the University Computer Center, and increaing endowments on the Babcock Graduate School and the School of Law. The Campaign's goal was $17.5 million, of which $13 million would go to the University's endowment and Z. Smith Reynolds library for renovations and increasing the number of volumes, with other investments being made in the Law School, student financial aid, housing, and student life. The Sesquicentennial Campaign exceeded their goal and raised over $20.2 million.

Collection Overview

Materials in this collection include essays and reports on academic and administrative departmental histories, programs and photographs from the Secrest Artists Series, fundraising materials for the Sesquicentennial Campaign, and publicity materials for various anniversary events including the Sesquicentennial Concert. There are also a few essays that relate to departments in the Bowman Gray Medical School. When possible, the authors of department reports and histories is attributed.

Collection Arrangement

Materials in this collection are arranged into three series, all organized alphabetically: Series 1. Committee and Campaign materials; Series 2. School of Medicine department materials; and Series 3. University department materials.

Collection Inventory

• Committee and Campaign materials  (1983-1984)
  • "About Successful Campaigning" pamphlets from WFU (undated) box 1 folder 56
  • Helmut Schmidt public address program copies  (1983 October 21) box 2 folder 12
  • Sesquicentennial alumni profile poster, "Doctors, Lawyers. and Indian Chiefs"  (1983 July) box 2 folder 13
  • Sesquicentennial campaign brochures (circa 1983) box 1 folder 54
  • Sesquicentennial Campaign Celebration programs   (1983 October 13) box 1 folder 52
  • Sesquicentennial campaign fund subscription forms and sticker  (1984) box 1 folder 57
  • "The Sesquicentennial Campaign" newsletter (1981, 1983) box 1 folder 55
  • Sesquicentennial celebration essay and speech script to the Baptist State Convention by Hearn  (1984 November) box 1 folder 58
  • Sesquicentennial concert planning materials, notes, and correspondence (1983 October-1984 April) box 2 folder 14
  • Sesquicentennial concert program  (1984 January 29) box 2 folder 11
  • Sesquicentennial concert promotional and program materials, notes, and newspaper clippings  (1982-1984) box 2 folder 15
  • Sesquicentennial News mailers  (1984) box 1 folder 59
  • Special gifts campaign leadership handbook and commemorative gift opportunities pamphlet  (1984) box 1 folder 53
• School of Medicine department materials (1983-1984, undated)
  • "A History of Anesthesia at Bowman Gray School of Medicine" essay and anesthesia faculty curriculum vitaes (undated) box 2 folder 2
  • "History: Department of Audio Visual Resources" at Bowman Gray, essay (undated) box 2 folder 3
  • "History of the Department of Comparative Medicine" essay and comparative medicine faculty curriculum vitaes  (1984 January 12) box 2 folder 4
  • "History of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology" report  (1983 June) box 2 folder 7
  • Jerge, Charles R., "A History of the Department of Dentistry, 1977-1983" essay  (1984) box 2 folder 5
  • "Neurology, 1946-1983" department report  (1984) box 2 folder 6
• University department materials (1958-1984, undated)
  • Allen, Charles M., "The Wake Forest University Artists Series: A Brief History prepared for the Sesquicentennial of the University" booklet  (1983 January) box 1 folder 1
  • Amen, Ralph D., McDonald, James C. and Esch, Gerald W., "A Brief History of the Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 1834-1982" essay  (1982) box 1 folder 4
  • Artists Series programs scrapbook  (1958-1982) box 1 folder 3
  • Artists Series artist photographs scrapbook  (1958-1977) box 1 folder 2
  • Banks, E. Pendleton, "Anthropology at Wake Forest University: 1954-1982" essay and Anthropology faculty curriculum vitaes  (1983) box 1 folder 5
  • Barefield, James P., "The Venice Program" essay and letter from Dean Henry S. Stroupe  (1984) box 2 folder 9
  • Berthrong, Merrill G., "The Wake Forest University Library, 1879-1982: A History" essay  (1983 January 15) box 1 folder 6
  • Brantley, Russell H., "Brief Histories of Major Student Publications (Mostly since the Early 1940s) and Wake Forest Magazine, Wake Forest University Press, and Office of Communications" essay  (1983) box 1 folder 31
  • Carmichael, Richard D., Gentry, Ivey C., Sawyer, John W., and Waddill, Marcellus E., "A History of the Department of Mathematics, 1942-1983" essay  (1983) box 1 folder 46
  • Drake, Elizabeth S. and Shaw, Bynun, "A Synopsis of the Minutes of the Wake Forest College/University Board of Trustees" report (circa 1984) box 1 folder 50
  • Earle, John R. and Clarence H. Patrick, "Sociology at Wake Forest University: 1900-1982" essay  (1983) box 1 folder 7
  • Easley, John Allen and Griffin, George Jeter, "The Department of Religion of Wake Forest University" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 32
  • Elmore, Grady, "Athletics at Wake Forest" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 51
  • Elmore, Thomas M., "The Counselor Education Program, 1967-83: History, Purpose, and Mission" essay (undated) box 1 folder 33
  • Eure, Herman, "The Office of Minority Affairs" essay and Larry L. Palmer correspondence and resume  (1978) box 1 folder 8
  • Ferrell, James L., "The Department of Personnel 1972-1982" report  (1982) box 1 folder 9
  • Glance, Bill D., "History of the Office of Information and Publications, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University" essay (undated) box 1 folder 34
  • Gokhale, Balkrishna, "History of the Department of Asian Studies" essay (undated) box 1 folder 35
  • Griffith, Ross A., "A History of the Equal Opportunity Office" essay  (1983 January 17) box 1 folder 10
  • Hadley, David, "London Programs of Wake Forest University" essay (undated) box 1 folder 36
  • Hale, Toby A., "History of the Office of Educational Planning and Placement" essay  (1983 February 1) box 1 folder 11
  • Heatley, R. Rick, "History of the Non-Departmental and Interdisciplinary Programs at Wake Forest University" essay  (1983 January 10) box 1 folder 12
  • Hendricks, J. Edwin, "History and Historians At Wake Forest: A Sesquicentennial History" report (2 copies)  (1984) box 2 folder 10
  • "History of Fine Arts Gallery, 1976-1984" essay  (1984) box 2 folder 8
  • "History of the Politics Department to May 1983" report  (1983 October) box 2 folder 1
  • Hottinger, William, "History of Physical Education at Wake Forest University, 1834-1983" essay  (1983) box 1 folder 47
  • Lake, I. Beverly, "Wake Forest Through 50 Years, 1906-1956" and "History of the Wake Forest College Birthplace Society" essays  (1982) box 1 folder 13
  • Leake, Lu, "History of Mortar Board" essay  (1982 July 23) box 1 folder 14
  • Merritt, Cama Clarkson, "The Wake Forest University School of Law, 1943-1983" report  (1983) box 1 folder 48
  • Meyer, Rodney, "History: Office for Research/Office for Grants and Contracts" essay (undated) box 1 folder 15
  • Moorhouse, John C., "A History of the Department of Economics" essay  (1983 January) box 1 folder 16
  • Nowell, John W., Jr., "A History of the Department of Chemistry at Wake Forest University" booklet  (1983 January) box 1 folder 17
  • O'Flaherty, James C., "The Heart of the Liberal Arts" Founders' Day address  (1965 February 4) box 1 folder 37
  • Perry, Margaret Ruthuen, "A Brief History of the Registrar's Office, 1942-1982" report  (circa 1982) box 1 folder 38
  • Preseren, Herman J., "Development and Growth of the Educational Media Center" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 45
  • Preseren, Herman J., "History of the Department of Education, Wake Forest University" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 39
  • Ray, William E., "The Janet Jeffrey Carlile Harris Carillon" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 40
  • Reece, Mark, "Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society" essay (undated) box 1 folder 18
  • Robinson, Mary Frances, "History of the Department of Romance Languages" essay (undated) box 1 folder 19
  • Robinson, Paul S., "An Account of the Department of Music, Wake Forest University" essay  (1982 July) box 1 folder 20
  • Sanders, W. D., " The History of the Teaching of German at Wake Forest University" report  (1983 January 13) box 1 folder 21
  • Seelbinder, Ben M., "History, Office of Records and Institutional Research" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 41
  • Shaw, Bynum, "A History of the Presidency of Wake Forest University" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 49
  • Shirley, Franklin R., "History of the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 42
  • Smith, Margaret Supplee, "The Department of Art" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 43
  • Starling, William G., "A Brief History of Admissions and Financial Aid at Wake Forest, 1940s to Present Admissions" essay (circa 1984) box 1 folder 44
  • Stokes, Henry, "Denominational Relations" essay (undated) box 1 folder 22
  • Stroupe, Henry S., "A Brief History of the Graduate School, 1866-1982" essay (undated) box 1 folder 23
  • Sullivan, R. L., "History of Wake Forest Chapter of Sigma Xi" scientific research honor society, essay (undated) box 1 folder 24
  • Taylor, Thomas C., "History of the School of Business and Accountancy" essay  (1983 January 7) box 1 folder 25
  • Ulery, Robert W., Jr., " The Department of Classical Languages (Greek and Latin) in Wake Forest College and University 1834-1984" essay  (1983) box 1 folder 26
  • Waddill, Marcellus E., "History of the Phi Beta Kappa Chapter at Wake Forest" essay and society pamphlet  (1983 January 20) box 1 folder 27
  • Walters, David and Shelton, Curtis, "Reserve Officers Training Corps at Wake Forest University" essay (undated) box 1 folder 28
  • Williams, George P., Jr., "History of the Department of Physics, 1834-1983" report  (1983) box 1 folder 29
  • Williams, John E., "A History of the Department of Psychology: 1958-1982" essay  (1983 January 10) box 1 folder 30

Summary Information

Repository

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives

Title

Sesquicentennial. Committee on the First 150 Years Records

ID

RG29.3

Date

1958-1984, undated

Quantity

1 record carton, 1 document box

Extent

1.72  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2004

Revision Description

Revised by Stephanie Bennett and Meg Campbell: new materials added, description revised, 2018, 2024

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for use. 

Copyright Notice

The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives 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 ZSR 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 or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 

Preferred Citation

Sesquicentennial. Committee on the First 150 Years Records (RG29.3), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. 

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