Academic Ceremonies

    Entries drawn from the college history timeline


First Commencement
Wed., Sep. 26, 1787

After "having obtained leave to use the Presbyterian church," Dickinson College held its first Commencement exercises. Eight orations were delivered and nine degrees were conferred.  The students "performed all these exercises with a propriety and spirit which did them great honor, reflected...

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1792 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 3, 1792

Commencement exercises for the 1791-92 academic year were held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1810 Commencement
Wed., Sep. 26, 1810

Commencement exercises for the 1809-10 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1811 Commencement
Wed., Sep. 25, 1811

Commencement exercises for the 1810-11 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1812 Commencement
Wed., Sep. 30, 1812

Commencement exercises for the 1811-12 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1813 Commencement
Thu., Sep. 30, 1813

Commencement exercises for the 1812-13 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1823 Commencement
June, 1823

Commencement exercises for the 1822-23 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1826 Commencement
Wed., Sep. 27, 1826

Commencement exercises for the 1825-26 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

John Sergeant Receives Honorary Degree
Wed., Sep. 27, 1826

John Sergeant, lawyer and Pennsylvania Congressman from 1837-41, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree as part of Dickinson's 1826 commencement exercises.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1828 Commencement
Wed., Sep. 24, 1828

Commencement exercises for the 1827-28 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations. James Buchanan (Class of 1809), then a lawyer in Lancaster, PA, was scheduled to speak, but was "prevented by illness."

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1829 Commencement
Wed., Sep. 23, 1829

Commencement exercises for the 1828-29 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1837 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 20, 1837

Commencement exercises for the 1836-37 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1838 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 19, 1838

Commencement exercises for the 1837-38 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1839 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 11, 1839

Commencement exercises for the 1838-39 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

Reverdy Johnson Receives Honorary Degree
Thu., Jul. 11, 1839

Reverdy Johnson, politician, judge, and United States Attorney General from 1849-50, receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree as part of Dickinson's 1839 commencement exercises.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1840 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 9, 1840

Commencement exercises for the 1839-40 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1841 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 8, 1841

Commencement exercises for the 1840-41 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1843 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 13, 1843

Commencement exercises for the 1842-43 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

George Washington Bethune '23 Receives Honorary Degree
Thu., Jul. 13, 1843

George Washington Bethune (Class of 1823), clergyman, fisherman, and writer of hymns, receives an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree as part of Dickinson's 1843 commencement exercises.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1844 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 11, 1844

Commencement exercises for the 1843-44 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1845 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 10, 1845

Commencement exercises for the 1844-45 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

William Henry Gilder Receives Honorary Degree
Thu., Jul. 10, 1845

Journalist and explorer William Henry Gilder receives an honorary Master of Arts degree as part of Dickinson's 1845 commencement exercises.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1846 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 9, 1846

Commencement exercises for the 1845-46 academic year are held, with various members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

1847 Commencement
Thu., Jul. 8, 1847

Commencement exercises for the 1846-47 academic year are held, with all members of the graduating class delivering orations.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

Henry Brewerton Receives Honorary Degree
Thu., Jul. 8, 1847

Henry Brewerton, Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1845-52 and later a Union Army General during the American Civil War, receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree as part of Dickinson's 1847 commencement exercises.

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies

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