Great Things: 125 Years of Milestones, Meaning, and Memory

1894-1900: Timeline to Central Mennonite College

1894: Noah Hirschy, a Mennonite pastor in Wadsworth, Ohio, gives a speech advocating for a school for the Middle District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church at its annual gathering. The assembly passes a resolution affirming the need for a school.1896: Hirschy, J.B. Baer of Bluffton, and J.F. Lehman of Berne, Indiana, are appointed as a committee to explore the school question and present a report to the conference.1897: J.H. Tschantz of Dalton, Ohio, gives a speech advocating for a school. The 1896 committee’s report is accepted enthusiastically. Hirschy, Tschantz, and five others are appointed to an education committee to plan the school. Berne, Indiana; Bluffton, Ohio; and Wadsworth, Ohio, each submitted offers of land, cash, and resources to recruit the school to their respective communities.

1894-1900: Timeline to Central Mennonite College

1898: The Education Committee is unable to unanimously agree on the location of the school and proposes that the churches of the Middle District Conference decide by vote. At the September meeting in Danvers, Illinois, the assembly votes to establish the school in Bluffton. Trustees are elected; a building committee is established.1899: The trustees meet in January at the home of J.A. Amstutz (Centennial lawn) to begin planning the school. Central Mennonite College’s constitution is adopted in October. 1900: The cornerstone for College Hall is laid on June 19. Noah Hirschy, who would soon accept the presidency of the new institution, told those assembled to “expect great things” from it.

1912-1914: Timeline to Bluffton College

1912: Noah E. Byers, president of Goshen College, writes to Bethel College president J.W. Kliewer, urging cooperation among Mennonites to foster interest in higher education and to establish a seminary. Byers, Kliewer, and Central Mennonite College president S.K. Mosiman meet in Chicago to discuss the initiative.May 1913: Mosiman calls a meeting of officials from the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, the Defenseless Mennonites, the Central Conference of Mennonites, the Old Mennonites, and the General Conference Mennonites in Warsaw, Indiana. The assembly passed a resolution to establish an institution which would grant undergraduate and graduate degrees, offer standard seminary coursework, and offer courses in music. A board was established and 15 members were selected to represent the constituency. Bethel College and Central Mennonite College were both considered for the site of this new institution.

1912-1914: Timeline to Bluffton College

June 1913: In Chicago, the new board unanimously selected Bluffton as the location for the new institution, which would be named Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary. S.K. Mosiman is chosen as its president.August 1913: The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bluffton College is held in Berne, Indiana, during the All-Mennonite Convention. Incorporation is approved, and the motto, “The Truth Makes Free,” is adopted.1914: The boards of Central Mennonite College and Bluffton College meet in Bluffton, the former transferring its property to the latter.

May Day Memories

1990s: Institutional Growth

The 1990s proved to be a period of substantial growth for Bluffton College. Milestones of this decade included: Fall 1995:Total enrollment tops 1000 students. A new general education program is implemented, incorporating a mandatory core set of courses and a cross-cultural experience component that remains in effect today. Fall 1996: Enrollment growth necessitates a larger faculty; 15 new faculty hires are approved. Bluffton College inaugurates Lee Snyder, the first female president of any Mennonite institution of higher education as its 8th president.

1990s: Institutional Growth

The 1990s proved to be a period of substantial growth for Bluffton College. Milestones of this decade included: Spring 1997: The first graduate degree is awarded from the Master of Arts in Education program. Fall 1997: Bluffton welcomes an incoming class of 255 students. Fall 1999: The calendar shifts to a semester system.

2002-2004: Timeline to Bluffton University

November 2002:The Bluffton College board of trustees discusses a possible name change from “college” to “university.” In introducing the idea, President Lee Snyder noted that of 52 Ohio schools similar to Bluffton College, 25 are using the designation of university in their names. February 2003:President Snyder reports additional research to the board which confirms Bluffton’s rationale: • convey breadth of programs, including graduate programs • clarify our program to international audiences • communicate growth and achievement in programs, enrollment, and facilities • signal that Bluffton is future-oriented, ready to serve students of the 21st century

2002-2004: Timeline to Bluffton University

April 2003: The board of trustees votes to approve the name change from “Bluffton College” to “Bluffton University.”Summer 2003: President Snyder appoints a University Implementation Committee of seven individuals, chaired by Jim Harder. The committee leads the campus through the institutional name change process, coordinating all logistical details. Groups of campus stakeholders are involved in the transition process. August 2004: Bluffton College becomes Bluffton University on August 1, 2004, with new institutional branding, including a new logo and website. Our address becomes 1 University Drive. A new entrance to campus, at the corner of College and Lawn Avenues, is dedicated on August 2. On September 4, the campus and local community celebrate with a mayoral proclamation and fireworks.

1906: First Messiah performance

Browse Messiah performance programs at Bluffton University Memory

On January 25, 1906, the Bluffton College Choral Society gave its first performance of Handel’s Messiah. Annual performances became a Christmastime tradition in 1913.

Civic Engagement Theme/Day

In 2007, Bluffton instituted an annual Civic Engagement theme, a topic of exploration to inspire thought and programming for the entire academic year. A Civic Engagement lecturer, chosen from the faculty and staff, presents a forum lecture on the annual theme. Civic Engagement Day, typically observed in April, is a day-long observation of the theme, when regular classes are paused so that discussions, lectures, workshops, performances, and other events are presented throughout the day by Bluffton students, faculty, and staff.

1905: First Football Team

See an image of the 1905 football team at Bluffton University Memory

On Nov. 3, 1905, the first club football team played against a Leipsic team and played well, even though Leipsic won the game 12-0. Games at this time were informal and club-based to honor to the college’s policy that “no intercollegiate contest games are to be played…”Seated first on the right side is John Sloan, Bluffton’s first black student. Note that the team is wearing nose guards, as helmets would not be widely used until the 1920s.

Centennial: 1999-2000

Bluffton College celebrated its centennial year at both Homecoming 1999 and May Day 2000. Retired presidents returned to campus as honored guests. An afternoon reception provided entertainment, food, and exhibits across campus in various locations. An evening gala, “Celebrating a Century: A Night of Thanks,” was attended by nearly 750 guests. A Centennial Choral Festival featured college and invited high school choirs. The publication of Dr. Perry Bush’s centennial history, Dancing with the Kobzar, was celebrated. The centennial was marked with a rotating series of exhibits curated by Dean (‘1949) and Joanne (‘1951) Niswander, the college’s volunteer ambassadors. Joanne wrote the column, “Notes from Aunt Alma,” using creative first-person storytelling to help bring Bluffton’s history alive to SCOPE magazine readers.

In 1917 it was decided to delay the May Day celebration until commencement week, so that more alumni and friends of the college could attend. This practice continued through the succeeding years, making May Day a prime occasion for alumni to return to campus for visits and class reunions. The modern Bluffton May Day ceremony included a procession and introduction of the graduating senior class members, the crowning of the May Day King and Queen, speeches by the May Day royalty, and the maypole dance. Sixteen first year students, eight men and eight women, were chosen by the May Day royalty to perform the maypole dance. The dance took place around a large pole, and dancers wearing colorful, Germanic-style costumes encircled the pole. Each couple retrieved a pair of streamers attached to the top of the pole. The dancers proceeded to weave the streamers around the pole, dancing in time to the melody “English Country Garden.”In 2013, for the 100th performance of the maypole dance, a "legacy" pair of maypole dancers was added to the maypole dance. Because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the cancelation of on-campus events, 2020 marked the first year in which the maypole ribbons would not be wound. In 2021, alumni gatherings were moved to Homecoming and Alumni Weekend in early October, and campus administration made the difficult decision to retire the May Day ceremony.

Bluffton College

This frame displays a facsimile of the certificate of Articles of Incorporation for Bluffton College, dated August 1, 1913.

Time Capsules

See photos of the time capsule covers at Bluffton University Memory

The graduating classes of 1930 to 1969 each assembled a time capsule to be buried in the sidewalk approaching College Hall from Musselman Library. Capsules held letters and mementos from the graduates of each respective year and were opened and resealed during major class reunions. Each class designed a capsule cover to reflect ideas of the time. It was cast in bronze and placed atop the time capsule in the sidewalk. Weather, time, and foot traffic eventually caused many capsules to leak, deteriorating their contents. Eventually, the capsules were removed from the sidewalk. Until the summer 2010, the plates were displayed in a frame built by Harvey Bauman ’41 in College Hall. During renovations, the plates and frame were transferred to the University Archives.

Lion & Lamb Peace Arts Center

Bluffton’s Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center was dedicated on April 30, 1987, outside Musselman Library, which was the Center’s first home. Founded by Dr. Elizabeth Hostetler ‘1968, who was chairperson of the college’s education department at the center’s founding, the Center is described well by its mission: Through all appropriate means, but especially through arts and literature, The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center of Bluffton University promotes the study of peace and justice, cultural understanding, and nonviolent responses to conflict with an emphasis on these themes for children. The Center includes a collection of sculpture, fine art, children’s artwork, and original picture book illustrations, as well as a 4,000+ volume library of children’s literature and teaching resources. In recent years, Center staff and Bluffton education majors have developed the Teaching Peace to Children curriculum, which is presented to area schoolchildren.

Bluffton College

This frame displays a facsimile of the certificate of Articles of Incorporation for Bluffton College, dated August 1, 1913.

Past Civic Engagement themes:

2024-25: Faith and Memory in Challenging Times2023-24: Mental Health and Emotional Well-being 2022-23: Please don’t “ghost” me: creating space for authentic conversations 2021-22: Cultivating Modern Minimalism: Planet, People, and Popular Culture 2020-21: no theme chosen due to pandemic disruptions 2019-20: Living our Best Lives 2018-19: When Talking is Tough: Respectful Conversations in a Divided Nation 2017-18: Integrity, Truth, Virtue: Bluffton’s Honor Code in the World 2016-17: Creativity, the Arts, and Civic Life

2016-17: Creativity, the Arts, and Civic Life 2015-16: Gender Roles, Relationships, Realities 2014-15: Education Matters! Learning for Life, Vocation and Responsible Citizenship 2013-14: Race and Ethnicity in America: Celebration, Struggle, Opportunity 2012-13: Virtual living: Technology’s Impact on Culture and Learning 2011-12: Public Health: Promoting Wellness for Self and Community 2010-11: Living With Enough: Responding to Global Poverty 2009-10: Beyond Borders: The Role of Immigration in a Global Community 2008-09: Living With Uncertainty in a Complex World 2007-08: Environmental Stewardship: Living in a Natural World

First Game in Founders Hall

See a photo from this game at Bluffton University Memory

The first basketball game in Founders Hall drew a crowd of more than 1,800 fans. The Bluffton Beavers won the game against Ashland by a score of 61-59 in overtime. The game ball now resides in the university archives.

Centennial history book

See available copies of the book at Musselman Library using WorldCat

Dancing With the Kobzar : Bluffton College and Mennonite Higher Education, 1899-1999 was written by Dr. Perry Bush to commemorate the institution's centennial year.

Beanies

See samples of other beanies at Bluffton University Memory

The tradition of beanies or caps for first year students dates to the 1920s. Beginning with the 1927-28 student handbook, freshmen were reminded to wear their caps and armbands and to “be good sports.” Campus lore suggests that if first year students were able to beat upperclassmen at the traditional homecoming tug-of-war, then they could remove their beanies. The earliest references were for a green cap like these examples; beanies became purple starting in fall 1930, according to the 1930-31 student handbook. First year students wore beanies until the practice was discontinued in the late 1960s.

WWI and Our Campus

See a parade photo at Bluffton University Memory

World War I entered the campus conversation in 1915 as literary societies debated Wilson’s war policies. Concerned for institutional safety and survival, President Mosiman walked a careful line in his communications as the Great War waged on. Mosiman defended traditional pacifist principles where they applied, refused to give credit for army service, and spoke proudly that by May of 1917, all Bluffton student enlistments had completed service. He encouraged student draftees to cooperate with officers and to advocate for their own rights to noncombatant service. The college supported the war effort at home, including with Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross activities and through campus war fund contributions. When the war ended in November 1918, the campus and village celebrated with parades.

The Witmarsum

See selected issues of the original Witmarsum, searchable online at Bluffton University Memory

Student-driven for more than 100 years...The Witmarsum, Bluffton's student newspaper, was published from 1913 to 2010 and served as the primary on-campus news reporting medium. In fall 2016, the Wit (www.blufftonwit.com) was revived as the student-driven media outlet alongside the new Convergent Media major introduced that fall.

The Alma Mater

In 1914, a contest was held to help create a song for the newly renamed Bluffton College. A poem written by mathematics professor Edmund J. Hirschler was selected by the faculty to be the words of the song. Louella Geiger, a 1914 music department graduate, put the words to music and won a $10.00 prize.The exhibit featured a copy of "Songs of Bluffton," a booklet published in 1917 which included the Alma Mater and other college songs, and a printing plate for the sheet music to the Alma Mater.

1913-15: The Honor System

I am unaware of any inappropriate aid having been given or received for this exam.

“In 1913 a group of students and several faculty members evolved the idea of a Student Senate to draft standards of student conduct and provide regulations for smooth operation and general oversight of campus activities…One of the first things they did was to provide for an honor system, whereby a student was placed on his honor neither to cheat nor to allow anyone else to cheat in an examination. Student participation in government along with the adoption of the honor system, brought from Princeton University by H. W. Berky, was a daring venture at this time.” (Bluffton College: An Adventure in Faith, p. 152)The faculty formally voted to adopt the honor system during their June 8, 1915, meeting.

75th Anniversary history book

See available copies of the book at Musselman Library using WorldCat

A Narrative of Bluffton College was written by Von Hardesty to commemorate the institution's 75th milestone year.

Tom Thumb Theatre

See photos of the Tom Thumb Theatre at Bluffton University Memory

The Tom Thumb Theatre was a 50-seat performance space constructed in 1939 on the top floor of Berky Science Hall and was used from November 1939 through the spring of 1941 for public performances of one-act plays by Bluffton College’s Thespian Dramatic Society. The Witmarsum reported that the December 1939 admission price was 20¢.The Thespians suffered a severe shortage of members in the World War II years and attempted a revival beginning in 1945. Plans to overhaul the Speech Department were announced in 1948, and with the recently remodeled Ramseyer Chapel available as a performance space, the Tom Thumb Theatre was converted into the campus radio station.

Witmarsum Theological Seminary

See a photo of the Witmarsum Seminary buildings at Bluffton University Memory

Soon after 1915, energy formed toward establishing Bluffton’s Mennonite Seminary as a separate institution. Such a reorganization would better secure the support of the General Conference Mennonite Church and better support students pursuing comprehensive instruction in seminary classrooms. In January 1921, the Board of Trustees of Bluffton College initiated efforts toward reorganization, resulting in the incorporation of Witmarsum Theological Seminary as a separate institution. Dr. J.E. Hartzler was elected president, and Professor P.E. Whitmer was named dean. The seminary occupied two houses on the corner of Spring Street and College Avenue. Witmarsum Seminary operated until its closure in 1931. It was reorganized as Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1945 in Chicago.

Portions adapted from Bluffton College: An Adventure in Faith and GAMEO entries for Witmarsum Theological Seminary (Bluffton, Ohio, USA) and Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Chicago, Illinois, USA).

1971: Black Student Union boycott

In April 1971, after pushing for change on campus with little progress, members of the Black Student Union announced a boycott of all classes, organizations and athletics until the college met five terms: 1) Hiring of black professors 2) Increased enrollment of black students to at least 15% of the population 3) Hiring a black admissions counselor 4) Hiring a “black counselor” for the BSU 5) Establishing a “cultural house” for use of black students As a result of BSU efforts, the board of trustees promised to search diligently for another black professor. The college hired a black admissions recruiter, Nate Fields, who also served as the director of the Afro-American Center. A black counselor was hired on a visiting basis.

Beanies

See samples of other beanies at Bluffton University Memory

The tradition of beanies or caps for first year students dates to the 1920s. Beginning with the 1927-28 student handbook, freshmen were reminded to wear their caps and armbands and to “be good sports.” Campus lore suggests that if first year students were able to beat upperclassmen at the traditional homecoming tug-of-war, then they could remove their beanies. The earliest references were for a green cap like these examples; beanies became purple starting in fall 1930, according to the 1930-31 student handbook. First year students wore beanies until the practice was discontinued in the late 1960s.

May Day

Many alumni and friends fondly remember Bluffton’s annual May Day celebrations, a tradition held near graduation and which lasted more than a century. The first annual May Day of then Central Mennonite College was held May 24, 1910. It was organized as an educational event and featured addresses by prominent educational leaders in the afternoon and an open meet of the Lowell Literary society in the evening. Friends of the college, community members, and area schools were invited to attend the sessions and a picnic lunch. A similar event was held the next year, in 1911. These first two May Day events had no May Queen, no winding of the maypole, no class program or box burial/time capsule ceremony, no Shakespearean play or Broadway musical to climax the occasion. It was in 1914 that May Day made its first important change toward later customs. That year, Miss Viola Welty reigned as the first May Queen. Her throne was built against the east side of College Hall. It was here, also, that the first maypole was wound. Campus lore says that Etta Lantz Triplett, Bluffton’s first home economics instructor, brought the idea of the maypole dance from the University of Illinois, where she had been an instructor.

Beaver mascot

See photos of beaver mascots through the years at Bluffton University Memory

Alumnus and coach A. C. Burcky proposed the beaver mascot for the college in 1926. According to the 1927 ISTA yearbook, the beaver was illustrative of the Bluffton College spirit because: “First, a beaver is small. Second, it is indefatigable [persists tirelessly]. Third, it is resourceful. Fourth, a beaver works with twigs, building up large things from small. Fifth, it never does things any worse than its ancestors did.” Bluffton Beavers were known for their “competition… of the highest order and the best type of Sportsmanship was always shown.”

1953: NCA Accreditation

See a photo of students, faculty, and staff greeting President Ramseyer after news of accreditation success - at Bluffton University Memory

After the first half-century of operation, Bluffton College was still pursuing a goal of full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities. Though Bluffton was admitted to the Ohio College Association in 1930, varying financial challenges made NCA accreditation elusive. During the 1951-1952 school year, Bluffton College faculty, staff, and administration completed an extensive self-study application to the NCA for accreditation, which was granted on March 25, 1953. A large campus contingent met President Ramseyer at the Lima train station as he was returning from Chicago with the good news.

Interterm and Human Explorations, 1967-1982

In 1967, Bluffton College launched an innovative experiment in focused study for students. Interterm, a month-long series of events on a single topic for the attention of the entire campus, drew both nationally-known speakers and national attention; a reporter from Newsweek spent time on campus in January 1967, and requests for information came from news outlets across the country. Themes included The City (1967), Freedom and Order (1968), The Poor (1969), and Revolution (1970). In response to student demand for greater choice, the college shifted to its Human Explorations program of general education for fall 1972. The course schedule followed a 1-3-1-3-1 calendar of months, allowing for three months of focused study by student choice and two quarters of regular curriculum. Students were required to take courses on five dimensions of human experience: meaning and faith, the natural environment, the cultural environment, creative, and world peace. The program continued for ten years until a more traditional, distributive core general education curriculum was introduced.

Centennial: 1999-2000

Bluffton College celebrated its centennial year at both Homecoming 1999 and May Day 2000. Retired presidents returned to campus as honored guests. An afternoon reception provided entertainment, food, and exhibits across campus in various locations. An evening gala, “Celebrating a Century: A Night of Thanks,” was attended by nearly 750 guests. A Centennial Choral Festival featured college and invited high school choirs. The publication of Dr. Perry Bush’s centennial history, Dancing with the Kobzar, was celebrated. The centennial was marked with a rotating series of exhibits curated by Dean (‘1949) and Joanne (‘1951) Niswander, the college’s volunteer ambassadors. Joanne wrote the column, “Notes from Aunt Alma,” using creative first-person storytelling to help bring Bluffton’s history alive to SCOPE magazine readers.

2020+: Protecting the Dam

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of everyone in the campus community, as the campus closed to in-person classes and students were sent home in March 2020. Bluffton’s successful return to campus was due in large part to the university’s adoption of a comprehensive health strategy and compliance campaign called Protect The Dam. While many colleges and universities remained remote for the 2020-2021 academic year, Bluffton was able to return to in-person classes on August 17, 2020, thanks to this program.

1898: Middle District Conference Vote

The Middle District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church had been discussing and debating the notion of a conference school since Noah Hirschy, a pastor in Wadsworth, Ohio, gave a speech on the matter at the MDC annual gathering in 1894. Four years later, in 1898, the churches of the Middle District Conference voted to establish a school in Bluffton, Ohio. This photograph shows the gathering of MDC church members in Danvers, Illinois, at their September meeting where the vote was taken. Hirschy and other notable personalities from the genesis of what would become Central Mennonite College are pictured.

Central Mennonite College commemorative ceramic pieces

See two examples from the Archives collection at Bluffton University Memory

President Noah Hirschy owned several examples of commemorative ceramic pieces featuring Central Mennonite College's College Hall, including this boot-shaped vase.

1942-44: The Witmarsum and activism

During WWII, the Witmarsum was an active vehicle for student news and activism. Opinion letters were published from conscientious objectors like Don Gundy as well as from servicemen like Johnnie Leathers who wrote from Navy boot camp. Christine Burkhard, editor of The Witmarsum in fall 1944, used the platform to advocate for changes to campus rules and the use of student fees for campus activities.

1962: M'della Moon retirement

M’della Moon (x14), professor of biology, retired in 1962 after 41 years of service. Campus lore notes she was the proud caretaker of a 6-foot alligator named Mickey which she housed in the college greenhouse. Half of Bren-Dell Hall’s name honors her legacy.

2016: 60 in 6 debuts

Beginning in fall 2016, the Office of Student Involvement coordinated efforts across campus to create the 60 in 6 initiative: 60 events in the first six weeks of classes, to encourage students to remain on campus and get involved. 60 in 6 has become an enduring and exciting campus tradition!

Interterm and Human Explorations, 1967-1982

In 1967, Bluffton College launched an innovative experiment in focused study for students. Interterm, a month-long series of events on a single topic for the attention of the entire campus, drew both nationally-known speakers and national attention; a reporter from Newsweek spent time on campus in January 1967, and requests for information came from news outlets across the country. Themes included The City (1967), Freedom and Order (1968), The Poor (1969), and Revolution (1970). In response to student demand for greater choice, the college shifted to its Human Explorations program of general education for fall 1972. The course schedule followed a 1-3-1-3-1 calendar of months, allowing for three months of focused study by student choice and two quarters of regular curriculum. Students were required to take courses on five dimensions of human experience: meaning and faith, the natural environment, the cultural environment, creative, and world peace. The program continued for ten years until a more traditional, distributive core general education curriculum was introduced.

Legacy maypole dancer costume, 2013

Condolences

This poster was signed by and sent to Bluffton from students (and fellow beavers) at Oregon State University, offering condolences following the baseball team's bus accident.

2007: Baseball team bus accident

On March 2, 2007, the Bluffton baseball team experienced an accident that forever changed the lives of the players, coaches, their family and friends and the Bluffton campus community. While traveling to Sarasota, Fla., the baseball team's charter bus fell from an overpass in Atlanta, Ga., killing student-athletes David Betts (Bryan, Ohio); Scott Harmon (Lima, Ohio); Cody Holp (Arcanum, Ohio) and Tyler Williams (Lima, Ohio); and the bus driver and his wife. Twenty-eight others were injured. Student-athlete Zachary Arend (Oakwood, Ohio) died one week later. That single moment changed lives. But from that moment, a sea of moments arose. Hundreds of thousands of moments when complete strangers lent a helping hand. Moments when friends, family and community members gathered to lean on one another. Moments when the Bluffton baseball players, coaches and campus community realized that an entire world outside of Bluffton was supporting them, praying for them, wishing them well. (As reported in Bluffton Magazine, Spring 2008)

Interterm and Human Explorations, 1967-1982

In 1967, Bluffton College launched an innovative experiment in focused study for students. Interterm, a month-long series of events on a single topic for the attention of the entire campus, drew both nationally-known speakers and national attention; a reporter from Newsweek spent time on campus in January 1967, and requests for information came from news outlets across the country. Themes included The City (1967), Freedom and Order (1968), The Poor (1969), and Revolution (1970). In response to student demand for greater choice, the college shifted to its Human Explorations program of general education for fall 1972. The course schedule followed a 1-3-1-3-1 calendar of months, allowing for three months of focused study by student choice and two quarters of regular curriculum. Students were required to take courses on five dimensions of human experience: meaning and faith, the natural environment, the cultural environment, creative, and world peace. The program continued for ten years until a more traditional, distributive core general education curriculum was introduced.

Dark purple maypole dancer costume

75th Anniversary history book

See available copies of the book at Musselman Library using WorldCat

A Narrative of Bluffton College was written by Von Hardesty to commemorate the institution's 75th milestone year.

Teaching Peace

Published in fall 2003, Teaching Peace: Nonviolence and the Liberal Arts is a collection of more than twenty essays by Bluffton faculty members, each offering a vision for integrating peace in their respective academic disciplines. The idea for the book was born from a 2000 workshop in which Bluffton faculty discussed ways to integrate a peace perspective into the general education program. Editor J. Denny Weaver described the book as being “on the leading edge of learning. “ Seven of the book’s contributors are still “teaching peace” at Bluffton as of 2024-25.

See available copies of the book at Musselman Library using WorldCat

Great Things: 125 Years of Bluffton Milestones, Meaning, and Memory

An exhibit featuring items from the Bluffton University archives, in celebration of Bluffton University's 125th anniversary.The exhibit appears here as displayed in the Musselman Library Reading Room from September 30 through October 11, 2024.

Exhibit curated by Carrie Phillips '1999, library director, archives & special collections librarian

The Bluffton Blueprint

In fall 2020, Bluffton premiered its newest general education program, the Bluffton Blueprint. The four-year plan of foundational and competency courses combines classroom and experiential learning to help students answer four key questions:

• Who am I?
• Who am I in community?
• Who am I in the world?
• What then shall we do?

(as reported in Bluffton Magazine, Spring 2019 issue)

Beanies

See samples of other beanies at Bluffton University Memory

The tradition of beanies or caps for first year students dates to the 1920s. Beginning with the 1927-28 student handbook, freshmen were reminded to wear their caps and armbands and to “be good sports.” Campus lore suggests that if first year students were able to beat upperclassmen at the traditional homecoming tug-of-war, then they could remove their beanies. The earliest references were for a green cap like these examples; beanies became purple starting in fall 1930, according to the 1930-31 student handbook. First year students wore beanies until the practice was discontinued in the late 1960s.

1939: Peace Action Club

Read more about the Peace Action Club in issues of the Witmarsum at Bluffton University Memory

In 1939, the Peace Action Club was founded by Bert Smucker and Betty Keeney to combat the growing war sentiment overseas. This group facilitated conversations for peace and justice issues on campus and in the community.

Varsity "B" Sweater

This Varsity "B" sweater belonged to Cleland E. Leaman, a 1930 graduate of Bluffton College. Leaman was four-year participant of both the basketball and baseball teams and was sophomore class president. He was a member of the Choral Society and served on YMCA cabinet. The sweater is a gift from Leaman's family and arrived to the archives in late summer 2024.

First Graduates

Browse commencement and other event programs at Bluffton University Memory

Enos P. Steiner was one of two graduates in the first graduating class from Central Mennonite College in 1901.

First Game in Founders Hall

See a photo from this game at Bluffton University Memory

The first basketball game in Founders Hall drew a crowd of more than 1,800 fans. The Bluffton Beavers won the game against Ashland by a score of 61-59 in overtime. The game ball now resides in the university archives.

Central Mennonite College

This frame displays a facsimile of the certificate of Articles of Incorporation for Central Mennonite College, dated December 22, 1899.

1930: Women of Bluffton organize

The women of Bluffton College forged the Women’s Student Organization in 1930. Inspired by the words of a campus speaker from British parliament, who urged students “to save the civilization from men’s influence,” as well as the college’s continued prohibition of women’s intercollegiate basketball, 32 students signed a petition to hire a trained female coach and to allow women to use the same gym as men.

Condolences

This proclamation from the Atlanta, Georgia, City Council was sent to Bluffton, offering condolences following the baseball team's bus accident.

1913-15: The Honor System

I am unaware of any inappropriate aid having been given or received for this exam.

“In 1913 a group of students and several faculty members evolved the idea of a Student Senate to draft standards of student conduct and provide regulations for smooth operation and general oversight of campus activities…One of the first things they did was to provide for an honor system, whereby a student was placed on his honor neither to cheat nor to allow anyone else to cheat in an examination. Student participation in government along with the adoption of the honor system, brought from Princeton University by H. W. Berky, was a daring venture at this time.” (Bluffton College: An Adventure in Faith, p. 152)The faculty formally voted to adopt the honor system during their June 8, 1915, meeting.

"Centennial Celebration"

Created from glazed white earthenware and ceramic tile, this sculpture was created by Anita (Schrag) Lehman '1969 to commemorate the institution's centennial year.The piece is part of the University Archives collection.

25th Anniversary history book

See available copies of the book at Musselman Library using WorldCat

The Story of Bluffton College was written to commemorate the institution's 25th milestone year.

Witmarsum Theological Seminary

See a photo of the Witmarsum Seminary buildings at Bluffton University Memory

Soon after 1915, energy formed toward establishing Bluffton’s Mennonite Seminary as a separate institution. Such a reorganization would better secure the support of the General Conference Mennonite Church and better support students pursuing comprehensive instruction in seminary classrooms. In January 1921, the Board of Trustees of Bluffton College initiated efforts toward reorganization, resulting in the incorporation of Witmarsum Theological Seminary as a separate institution. Dr. J.E. Hartzler was elected president, and Professor P.E. Whitmer was named dean. The seminary occupied two houses on the corner of Spring Street and College Avenue. Witmarsum Seminary operated until its closure in 1931. It was reorganized as Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1945 in Chicago.

Portions adapted from Bluffton College: An Adventure in Faith and GAMEO entries for Witmarsum Theological Seminary (Bluffton, Ohio, USA) and Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Chicago, Illinois, USA).

Expect Great Things..

See an image from the cornerstone laying ceremony at Bluffton University Memory

A large crowd gathered in a wooded spot in Eaton’s Grove on Tuesday morning, June 19, 1900, to mark the laying of the cornerstone of Central Mennonite College’s new home – College Hall. In his remarks, Noah Calvin Hirschy (who would not be named CMC’s first president for several more months) told the crowd that “a mighty cloud of witnesses stand forth from historic records to cheer us on this task.” In closing, Hirschy remarked: "And so let us expect great things. Let our life blood flow into this college, and life will flow out of from it for the healing of the nations. The foundation is now laid…and by the blessings of God may there go forth from this place lives and influences which will brighten life’s pathway to many…"

Centennial history book

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Dancing With the Kobzar : Bluffton College and Mennonite Higher Education, 1899-1999 was written by Dr. Perry Bush to commemorate the institution's centennial year.

1955 Elbert Dubenion

See photos of Elbert Dubenion at Bluffton University Memory

In fall of 1955, freshman football player Elbert Dubenion set new school records with 1,236 yards in 107 carries, an average of 11.5 yards per carry. In a game against Defiance College, Dubenion had four runs ranging from 65 to 82 yards. After graduation, Dubenion would have an 8-year career in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills.

Panoramic group photos

Throughout the 1920s, a group photo was taken annually of the entire Bluffton College campus community. Such photos were taken with a rotating panoramic camera which would pan across a crowd, capturing an image on rotating film inside the camera. In this photo from 1920-21, junior student Reuben Liechty of Berne, Indiana, outsmarted the photographer by appearing in the photo at both ends. Based on Liechty’s facial expression, on which end of the photo was he standing first?

1969 Campus happenings

Archie Perry was hired in the education department. He was the first African-American faculty member at Bluffton.

Women’s tennis won 13 matches in a row, and Mary Lou Fretz would finish her collegiate career undefeated.In the fall of 1969, the athletic department required all players to be clean-shaven. After significant debate and athletes quitting in protest, the requirement was dropped for the following year.

The Bluffton Song

Bluffton University retained its original alma mater in its 2004 name change, but a new institutional song was created to mark the occasion. The words to The Bluffton Song were written by Ruth (Bundy) Naylor '1971 and set to the hymn tune, "Weisse Flagen." The song has become an important musical tradition; it is sung at many campus events and gatherings.

1978: Martin Luther King, Sr. visits campus

Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. gave the Forum address on April 12, 1978, as part of Black Emphasis Week. He is pictured here with members of the Black Student Union during a meal in Marbeck Center.

2010 and 2014: New Mascots

After Bucky Beaver retired following the 2007-08 academic year, a planning group took on the task of creating a new mascot to embody the spirit of Bluffton Beaver athletics. In fall 2010, J. Denny Beaver was introduced, named for professor emeritus of religion, J. Denny Weaver, who served on Bluffton’s faculty from 1975-2006. In fall 2014, Jenny Beaver joined the campus to provide an opportunity for shorter students to perform in the mascot role. Go Beavers!

1995: Liberal Arts and Sciences

In fall 1995, Bluffton debuted a new general education program with a set of prescribed courses to be taken by all Bluffton students. The core included First Year Seminar, Issues in Modern America, Christian Values in a Global Community, and a cross-cultural requirement for all students. Many refined characteristics of the LAS program continue to the present-day Bluffton Blueprint.On display is a copy of the inaugural First Year Seminar textbook from 1995-96.

25th Anniversary history book

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The Story of Bluffton College was written to commemorate the institution's 25th milestone year.

Messiah history book

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A History of the Choral Society, Bluffton College : One Hundredth Anniversary of Messiah by Handel" was written by Earl Lehman in 1995 to commemorate the tradition's 100 years.

50th Anniversary history book

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Bluffton College: An Adventure in Faith was written to commemorate the institution's 50th milestone year.

1966-1967 ISTA Yearbook

See this yearbook at Bluffton University Memory

The 1966-67 ISTA yearbook featured several pages about Bluffton's Interterm program, introduced that year.

The Big Book for Peace

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The Big Book for Peace collected seventeen stories and poems about peace from notable authors and illustrators.