The History of Friends University
- Academics
- Athletics
- Building
- Fine Arts
- General
- History
- President
- Timeline Stories
- World Event
1887
1887
Garfield University Opens
In 1885, the Christian Churches of Kansas voted to establish an institution of higher learning and in July 1886, work began on the building. It was named Garfield University in honor of the martyred President, James A. Garfield, who was a member of the Christian Church and a friend of..Read More
1892
1892
Garfield University Re-Opens
Later reorganization was announced as Edgar Harding of Boston assumed the debt. Known as Garfield Central Memorial University, the school began again in March 1892, and operated until November 1893, when Mr. Harding became owner of the building and grounds. The promoters of Wichita early determined that the city should..Read More
1897
1897
A Great Gift
In 1897, James M. Davis, a wealthy Quaker businessman, seeing a full page advertisem*nt in a St. Louis newspaper offering the Garfield University campus for sale, said to his wife, “Anna, I believe this is our chance to give a college to the world.” The story is better told by..Read More
1898
1898
The First President is Chosen
After the Kansas Yearly Meeting chose the board of directors for Friends University, their first responsibility was to name a president. They selected Edmund Stanley, an educator, who was to lead the school for 20 years. President Stanley’s courage in accepting the difficult task showed what a man he was..Read More
1898
The Doors of Friends Open for the First Time
When the doors of Friends University opened September 21, 1898, only the north wing of the building containing 21 rooms was ready for use. In spite of a bare campus with only a few cottonwood trees, piles of rubbish scattered about, and a board walk leading to the north door,..Read More
1898
The First Student Body
So begins the incredible legacy that is the Student Body of Friends University. The university had 53 students enrolled at the beginning of the first year, and by the end of the 1898-1899 term, enrollment had grown to 102 students – 57 men and 45 women. The classes that were..Read More
1899
1899
The First Publication
During the first college year, the University Life began, published monthly by the Literary Societies. Volume 1, Number 1, appeared in March, 1899, a 9 x 12 inch magazine type publication with a gray cover which had lettering and decorative design in red ink, the school colors chosen by students...Read More
1899
First Athletic Report
Most of the first publication on athletics argued for a better athletic program at Friends. They provided some pretty convincing arguments for strongly encouraging exercise within the student body. “It is a pity that any bright, intelligent student must need to succumb to so called overstudy. A foolish pity! but..Read More
1900
1900
Early Campus Layout
While the Davis Administration building was the center of campus, by 1900 there were two residence halls: North Hall and South Hall. North Hall was a men’s residence hall containing a parlor and 40 rooms for students. South Hall, a women’s residence located one block south of Davis Administration Building,..Read More
1901
1901
First Graduating Class
Friends University graduated its first class during Commencement Week, June 2-6. Receiving their degrees were five people, Melissa Stanley Fellow, John Howard, Cecil Howes, Herman Newman, and Lee Redding.
1901
New Classes Offered
New classes offered at the beginning of the 1901-1902 term included shorthand, typewriting, penmanship, and physical culture for women.
1904
1904
Debut Men’s Basketball Game
The debut men’s basketball game was held on February 10, 1904. The sport would be officially added to the roster the following year.
1907
1907
Women’s Basketball Debuts
The women’s basketball team was established. Frederic Cahoon was the first coach.
1907
Early Tuition
Tuition was $36.00, paid in advance, with room and board costing $2.75-$3.25 per week.
1907
Football Funeral
“Yes, football is dead at F.U.” In 1907, university decides to shut down the men’s football program. Devastated by the news, students organized a funeral held on October 11. The service was complete with a casket draped in black, a funeral march performed by the university orchestra, and a solemn..Read More
1908
1908
Art Department Opens
The art department opened in September with Miss Ruth Sturgeon instructing in crayon, watercolor, pastel, oil, china painting, and decorative work.
1909
1909
Alumni Auditorium Beautification
The university invested $2,000 in Alumni Auditorium, adding ten custom-designed stained glass windows and a large rose window at the west end.
1909
Debut of Men’s Soccer
Under the direction of new physical director, Verne F. Swaim, Friends University added men’s soccer to the athletic roster.
1911
1911
An Electrified Campus
The men’s dormitory, North Hall received cosmetic updates and electric lights. A cement walkway was laid connecting North Hall to the Davis Administration Building.
1912
1912
A Football Resurrection
The football program is resurrected! Dr. John Q Banbury assumed the role of head coach.
1916
1916
Baseball Champions
The baseball team earned a 1916 State Championship title after winning 14 out of 15 scheduled games.
1918
1918
New Athletic Facility
Construction began on Edmond Stanley gymnasium, a facility that would include a basketball court, running track, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and offices.
1918
A New Era
President Stanley resigns in July. William O. Mendenhall is voted in as new president on July 5.
1921
1921
Physics Department Established
In the spring of 1921, the Board of Directors voted to spend $5,000 on laboratory equipment for the physics department of which Professor Samuel S. Kirby was the head.
1922
1922
YMCA-YWCA Partnership
The YMCA-YWCA were influential since 1898 in helping Friends University maintain Christian ideals. In 1922, Y members at Friends furnished the large room above as a lounge as one of their projects.
1922
Victorious Football Season
The Quaking Quaker football team celebrated a victorious season, winning six out of eight games, with a parade downtown in front of the Broadview hotel.
1923
1923
Combined Glee Clubs Named “Singing Quakers”
Roy Campbell, head of the Friends University Music Department, coined the name Singing Quakers for the combined men’s and women’s glee clubs. Before the Christmas holidays the two clubs gave an outdoor pageant. During Easter vacation they made a short tour to nearby towns and their final spring performance was..Read More
1923
University Hall Renamed After Founder
The Garfield College Building, known as University Hall was renamed the Davis Administration Building after Friends University founder, James M. Davis.
1924
1924
“Her Lofty Heights”
“Upon a sunny Kansas plain, our college towers rise high.” The Friends University Hymn by Dean and Mrs. O. B. Baldwin made its debut appearance on page 7 of the Talisman. Upon a sunny Kansas plain, Our college towers rise high, Her massive walls, her lofty heights Stand etched against..Read More
1924
Women’s Athletic Association
Soccer and Cross Country are introduced at Friends. With encouragement from the Women’s Athletic Association, which had just made its campus debut, there was increased interest in women’s athletics. At that time, the women’s sports included hockey, basketball, tennis, swimming, baseball and track.
1927
1927
Popular Music Group Features Ukuleles
One of the popular music groups on campus was a women’s ukulele sextet. Each musician also performed as a vocalist with the Singing Quakers.
1927
Friends Dropped from Accreditation List
Higher standards set by the North Central Association of College and Secondary Schools required Friends University to have an endowment of $650,000. A fundraising campaign started in January 1927 raising only $400,000. The university was dropped from North Central’s accreditation list.
1928
1928
A Grand Entrance
A striking stone entrance was gifted to the university by the senior class of 1928. Senior class gifts started becoming an annual tradition in 1925.
1929
1929
Great Depression Looms
With the looming Great Depression plaguing the U.S. economy, Friends University students were also experiencing financial hardship. The number of students who held part time jobs increased. Out of 175 freshman enrolled that year, 76 had employment. Out of 98 sophom*ores, 58 worked. Out of 64 juniors, 39 worked. By..Read More
1929
Alumni Auditorium Gets Finishing Touches
Alumni Auditorium is complete – funded by the Friends University Alumni Association. The senior class of 1925 gifted the auditoriums stage, the class of 1926 gifted the lights, and the class of 1929 gifted the finishing wood trim.
1931
1931
New Men’s Dorm
A new boys’ dorm was added to the northeast corner of University and Hiram. 28 students lived there in that first year.
1932
1932
“Time Wasted is Existence, Used is Life”
The famed clock was added to the tower of the Davis Administration Building! In order to raise money for the tower, the seniors sponsored a play, “Adam and Eva” as a benefit. The 7 foot clock itself was made from E. Howard and Company of Boston, Massachusetts. The clock was..Read More
1934
1934
Mendenhall Resigns
President Mendenhall accepted the presidency of Whittier College in California, leaving Friends University after 16 years. Students and faculty were devastated by the news. The Alumni Association hosted a farewell dinner honoring the Mendenhalls. During the event, they presented Dr. Mendenhall with a book of letters from hundreds of alumni..Read More
1934
Third President Inaugurated
David Morton Edwards became the third president of Friends University. Edwards had previously served as president of Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa for 12 years and then at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana for 10 years. At the time of his coming to Friends, he was a pastor of First..Read More
1934
Edwards’ Bold Ten Year Program
Still dealing with financial problems due to the Great Depression, Dr. Edwards formulated a Ten Year Program that had the goals of increasing the endowment to $1M, increase enrollment to 500 students, and improve the physical plant. Along with that, plans were made to have a Loyalty Day (October 12)..Read More
1935
1935
Football Program Shut Down (Again)
Once again, the football program was shut down as it was considered too expensive for the benefit of too few people.
1936
1936
Newly Completed Gymnasium Remodeled
The Edmund Stanley Gymnasium was remodeled to increase seat capacity to 500. The building, started in 1918, and was put into use in 1919, though it was not completed until 1932.
1936
“Mexico Invades the United States!”
“Mexico invades United States!” the December 11 issue of Life reports. Though not a literal invasion, the Friends University basketball team had a unique opportunity to play a team from the University of Mexico at Mexico City. The Fighting Quakers had the victory, scoring 38-21, though the rest of their..Read More
1936
KFH Radio
September 30 marked the first Friends University radio broadcast over KFH. Occurring every Monday night at 9 p.m., Dr. Edwards spoke to Alumni and friends. Students and faculty played musical numbers as Chester Kemp, business manager of the Singing Quakers, hosted the broadcast.
1937
1937
Benefit Banquet Helps Prevent Deficit
Still feeling the detrimental effects of the Great Depression, the university hosted a Friends of Friends Benefit Banquet on May 28 in order prevent a deficit, which was estimated to be about $6,000. Within a week, Friends boosted had raised $6,124.
1937
President Roosevelt Visits Wichita!
Classes were suspended so that students and faculty could hear President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was visiting Wichita.
1939
1939
Ten-Year Plan Relaunched After Association Failure
For the second time, Friends University was dropped from the North Central Association list for having insufficient income and an inadequate physical plant. But the examiners listed five points of strength: 1. a college maintained on the basis of New Testament values; 2. a competent faculty; 3. a serious-minded and..Read More
1939
President Edwards Dies in Automobile Accident
On August 19, 1939, President Edwards died in an automobile accident near Danville, Illinois. He was described by his zeal for Christian Education, his idealism, and his outstanding passion. His wife Elizabeth and daughter Phyllis were both seriously injured. Both survived and Phyllis returned to Friends, graduating in 1942, the..Read More
1940
1940
New Student Christian Movement
The YMCA and YWCA has had immeasurable influence on the university and its students for 43 years. Now, members voted to combine forces under a new organization called the Student Christian Movement.
1941
1941
Walter Albert Young Steps in As Fourth President
Academic Dean, Walter Albert Young received news of Edwards’ passing from the Board of Directors and was asked to step in as Acting President. He was to be in that role until a president could be found. However, he was officially appointed in 1941 continued to serve as president until..Read More