HISTORY

We marked our centennial on March 26, 1995. When the Alumni Association was established 100 years ago, its constitution had one clause "The object of this association shall be the promotion of University interests and the affiliation of its graduates." Our job remains basically the same today.
The first alumni banquet was held on June 20, 1895; and it was at this event that, indirectly, the school colors were chosen. Funds were unavailable for decorations, so two banquet organizers (Dick Abrams and Rebecca Johnson) traveled to Laramie Springs to look for native flowers. They came back with a buggy full of Brown-Eyed Susans, which were such a hit that brown and yellow were adopted as the school colors.
The first Homecoming was held in 1922, under the guidance of the Alumni Association and its president, Dr. S.H. Knight, BS '13. During Knight's presidency, the first alumni magazine also appeared. Volume one, number one, was distributed in February 1921.

HISTORY BOOKS

Click here for information on purchasing UW Alumni History books. (.pdf)