125 Years of Friends University

Still dealing with financial problems due to the Great Depression, Dr. Edwards formulated a Ten Year Program that had the..Read More

Irwin started producing annual holiday concerts. The first concert was a collaborative effort between the Singing Quakers and Wichita’s First..Read More

“Mexico invades United States!” the December 11 issue of Life reports. Though not a literal invasion, the Friends University basketball..Read More

Still feeling the detrimental effects of the Great Depression, the university hosted a Friends of Friends Benefit Banquet on May..Read More

For the second time, Friends University was dropped from the North Central Association list for having insufficient income and an..Read More

The YMCA and YWCA has had immeasurable influence on the university and its students for 43 years. Now, members voted..Read More

Waldo Neilsen took over leadership of the Singing Quakers for one year. Coming from an A Capella background, Neilsen wanted..Read More

Charles Finney became director of the Singing Quakers. Due to global and economic stress of World War II, music tours..Read More

Because of the shortage of teachers due to World War II, the university gave special attention to the training of..Read More

President Young announced a new wartime major, Reconstruction, that combined history, sociology, political science, psychology and language courses with the..Read More

Friday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m., The Explosion! A buildup of heat under the old hot water boiler in the..Read More

Because of World War II, male students were forced to join the war effort, making the Singing Quakers a nearly..Read More

With the return of servicemen, enrollment swelled to 410 with 222 men and 188 women. The enrollment total boosted further..Read More

At the end of WWII, enrollment increased from 192 to 410 making the Singing Quakers a large, mixed ensemble, once..Read More

Juliet Reeve’s history book, Friends University – The Growth of an Idea is printed. A recollection of 50 years of..Read More

In its 50th Anniversary Year, Friends University welcomed Sheppard Arthur Watson as fifth president of the university. Coming from Wilmington..Read More

The golden anniversary events continued into 1948 with a special 50th Anniversary Chapel on September 22 that honored eight Wichitans..Read More

In June, a portion of the “Appreciation Night” concert was conducted by Noble Cain, a 1916 graduate of Friends University..Read More

With the addition of Sumpter Hall, the campus now included six buildings: Davis Administration, East Hall Women’s Dormitory, Music Hall,..Read More

On June 30, Friends University received a telegram noting that it finally met accreditation standards of North Central Association of..Read More

On August 31, 1952, President Watson announced his resignation. The Board unanimously voted for the installation of Bible professor Lloyd..Read More

September 19 Hoyt Field, a newly rebuilt athletic field named after Fred N. Hoyt (missionary, Friends museum director, and former..Read More

Following a tour through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the choir began rehearsing for a spring Appreciation Night concert named “Symphony..Read More

An Ampex tape recorder was installed in the Watkins Rehearsal Hall, making it possible for ensembles to record their rehearsals..Read More

Groundbreaking ceremonies for two new dormitories were held on December 10, 1957. Notable participants included Rev. Robert Cope, pastor of..Read More