135th Anniversary Timeline | Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago proudly marks 135 years of transformative impact and artistic excellence, tracing its roots back to its founding in 1890. This milestone celebrates a legacy rich in creativity, innovation, and resilience, reflecting the college’s enduring commitment to shaping the future of the arts, technology, and business. As we honor our past, we also look forward to continuing our tradition of nurturing creative minds and pioneering new frontiers in the years to come. Revisit key events in Columbia’s 135-year history below. Support Scholarships Shop 135th-themed merch to support Persistence Scholarships. Photo Gallery View photos from 135th celebrations. A LOOK BACK ON 135 YEARS OF COLUMBIA Columbia School of Oratory Established 1890 Mary Blood and Ida Riley met at State Agricultural College in Ames, Iowa. Both women saw a great demand for public speaking education. In 1890, they founded the Columbia School of Oratory, taking the name from the upcoming World’s Columbian Exposition, which would be the largest public attraction the world had ever seen. On August 25, 1890 , a small and unassuming ad appeared in the pages of the Chicago Tribune. At just five lines, the description of the Columbia School of Oratory was brief and to the point: “Elocution, Voice Culture, Physical Culture, Visible Speech, Literature and English.” 1890s View More First Graduating Class 1892 The school offered two-year diplomas, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees to budding orators and teachers of expression, reading and debate. Columbia handed out nine diplomas at the first graduation ceremony—eight of them to women. Columbia’s Unique Offering for Fairgoers 1893 The school provided coursework designed specifically for visitors to the World’s Columbian Exposition, allowing them to take classes in the morning and visit the fair in the afternoon. First Official Name Change and Motto 1905 The Columbia School of Oratory becomes Columbia College of Expression, a not-for-profit institution. The classroom motto became part of the first college seal – “Learn to Do by Doing.” 1900s College Continues to Expand 1916 The college moved from 64 E. Van Buren St. to 3358 S. Michigan Ave. A second building held the Columbia Normal School of Physical Education, and two residence halls for female students are located across the street. 1910s View More Effective Public Speaking Courses Offered 1918 Columbia College of Expression produced a correspondence series focused on public speaking skills. The booklets included lessons to be mailed back to the college for feedback from Columbia instructors. A True Student Editorial Debut 1920 Students published the Columbia Clarion newspaper four times a year. Joining Forces 1927 Guided by the board of trustees, Columbia College of Expression joined forces with the nearby Pestalozzi Froebel Teachers College (PFTC). The two schools operated as separate entities, but share faculty, staff, and resources through 1944. 1920s View More A New Seal and Motto Debut 1928 Columbia unveiled a new college seal with the motto esse quam videri (“to be rather than to seem.”) First of Many Media Endeavors 1934 Columbia established a radio department, the first media program at the college, under the direction of Norman Alexandroff. Local radio stations hosted Columbia’s students for on-the-air practice. 1930s View More School Rebrands to Keep Up With the Times 1938 To reflect the growing popularity of radio, Columbia changed its name from Columbia College of Speech and Drama to Columbia College of Speech, Drama, and Radio. Embracing Film Production 1939 A year often called the greatest in Hollywood history, the college added courses in 16 mm film production. This marked the beginning of Columbia’s transition to a media college and would prove to be critical to the school’s success in years to come. Supporting WWII Vets 1945 The U.S. Government designated Columbia as one of 15 Veterans Administration Guidance Centers in the U.S., providing free counseling and educational services to thousands of returning World War II vets. 1940s View More Reinvention as a Means for Expansion 1944 On February 5, 1944, the college re-filed as a not-for-profit corporation and changed its name to Columbia College. A New Method of Teaching 1947 The workshop method, still a fixture in Columbia classrooms today, teaches through the hands-on, collaborative efforts of a group of students working on a common project, such as a TV show or film that employs students as writers, camera operators, actors and more. This teaching method solidified Columbia’s integration of theory and practice and set the tone for the burgeoning arts and media college that would emerge in the 1960s. International Program in Mexico City 1957 At the invitation of the Mexican and Latin American Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters, Columbia College organized and directed a training program for broadcast professionals in Mexico City called Columbia College Pan-Americano. 1950s View More Alumni-Centered Publication Debut 1950s The Alumni Dial served as campus newspaper and the alumni publication. Columbia Heads West for Hollywood 1953 Since the television industry was concentrated in Southern California, Columbia College Los Angeles was created. When it became financially self-sufficient in 1959, it separated from its Chicago institution and became its own private school. School Establishes the First Music and Photography Departments 1965-69 Renowned composer and instrumentalist William Russo became Columbia’s first full-time faculty member and helped found the Music Department. In 1969, After offering photography courses for several years, Columbia established an independent Photography Department. (DD p. 34, College Archive bio) 1960s View More Full Send on Media Programs 1960 Columbia offered in-demand media programs, including courses in communication arts and specialized subjects such as speech, education, television, radio, motion pictures, the stage, advertising and writing. Going Independent and Rebranding 1963 Columbia formally separates from Pestalozzi Froebel Teachers College and becomes completely independent for the first time in four decades. Its new logo featured the letters “CC” with a globe depicted in one letter and a radio wave depicted in the other. Honoring One of the Greats 1964 Columbia awarded its first honorary degree to poet Gwendolyn Brooks, who was the first black individual to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950. She taught at the college from 1963 to 1969. Student-Run News is Here to Stay 1973 Now known as The Chronicle, the first known issue of the CC Writer was printed on November 1 and printed tri-weekly. In 1978, the CC Writer was renamed The Columbia Chronicle, the first issue of which was printed on October 31, 1978. The paper soon began printing weekly until the 2020 pandemic. Currently, the Chronicle produces three print editions per academic year. 1970s View More Teaching Through Movement 1970 Columbia opened the Dance Center and began teaching dance workshops. Updated Logo 1973 Columbia changes its logo to a more abstract design, featuring a “C” nested inside a circle. Enrollment Increases as Does Diversity 1973 Columbia enrolled 1,041 students. One-third of students were women, 22 percent are African-American and 4 percent are Hispanic. A World-Class Photography Destination 1976 Founded by Columbia College Chicago as the successor to the Chicago Center for Contemporary Photography, the Museum of Contemporary Photography began collecting in the early 1980s and has since grown its collection to include over 17,000 objects by over 1,950 artists. The MoCP is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Columbia Expands on Michigan Avenue 1977 Columbia moved into 600 S. Michigan Ave., establishing its campus permanently in the South Loop. Hitting the Airwaves with WCRX 1982 Columbia launched its student-run radio station, WCRX. 1980s View More School Offers Master of Arts Degrees 1982 Graduate division programs were created, offering master of arts degrees. Highlighting History and Present of Music 1983 The Center for Black Music Research (CBMR), the only research center of its kind, opened at Columbia. The CBMR documented and informed the history and modern expressions of black music. Getz Theatre Opens 1985 October 27, 1985, the Getz Theater opened, made possible through a gift from philanthropist Emma Getz. A Fashionable Debut 1992 Fashion programs were first offered at the college, and in 2008, the Fashion Studies department was established. 1990s View More Planting Roots in the South Loop 1997 The college changed its name to Columbia College Chicago, reflected in its new logo, and the institution expanded its educational program and added to its campus, firmly establishing itself in downtown Chicago. Recognition in Different Area Codes 1999 Columbia launched its Semester in LA program, allowing film students to gain firsthand experience in professional Hollywood studios. Celebrating Graduates’ Creative Talents 2002 In 2002, Mayfest began as a month-long celebration and in 2004, it became an all-day urban arts festival, now called Manifest. 2000s View More Documenting, Digitizing, and Honoring Our History 2005 Columbia established the College Archives to unearth and preserve the school's history. A Shop for Students to Sell Their Work 2008 The Department of Exhibitions, Performance and Student Spaces (DEPS) opened ShopColumbia on October 16 to provide students a commercial venue for showcasing and selling their work. Harrison Redline Transforms with Haiku Project 2008 Harrison Street Red Line Station Haiku project partnered with Columbia poetry students and Jones College Preparatory High School students to transform this subway station, the primary gateway to Columbia's campus. Increasing Scholarship Opportunities for Students 2009 Columbia increased funds for student scholarships to $11.5 million, up 46 percent from the previous year. It also launched Scholarship Columbia, a $1 million challenge grant to raise scholarship dollars for continuing students. Paving the Way for a State of the Art Media Space 2010 The Media Production Center was the first newly constructed building in Columbia’s history. The college occupies 2.5 million square feet of classroom, office, exhibit, performance and residence spaces, making it the largest single presence in the South Loop. 2010s View More Students Install Photo Works at Hilton Chicago 2014 Eight students in the Fashion Photography class installed photo works outside iconic Hilton Chicago. Theatre Stars at NEW/NOW Festival 2015 Theatre students were selected to showcase work at the international NEW/NOW Festival. The students were selected from hundreds of nominations of graduating students from art schools across Europe and beyond. Columbia Shines at Design Awards 2018 Columbia College Chicago faculty, students, and alumni honored at 6th Annual Recognizing Exemplary Design Awards. Making a Mark on Wabash 2013 Artist Shepard Fairey and other internationally acclaimed street artists installed murals on Columbia buildings, bringing attention to the burgeoning Wabash Arts Corridor. 2013 Getz Theater Renovation 2018 In 2018, the Getz Theater’s 2-year renovation project was completed. The building’s Art Deco façade was diligently preserved and the main auditorium was transformed into what we now recognize as the Courtyard Theater. With three other performance spaces, the theater brought all theatre facilities under one roof. 2018 Student Center Opens its Doors to Campus 2019 Columbia College Chicago officially opened its first-ever $50 million Student Center, a new hub for collaboration, creativity, and innovation at the heart of the college for creatives in Chicago’s South Loop. The five-story, 114,000 square-foot building, located at 754 South Wabash Avenue, was conceptualized through “Dream Out Loud” student input sessions to better deliver the kind of space most beneficial to student success. The facility was designed by Gensler and built by Pepper Construction. 2019 Columbia College Chicago Weathers the Global Pandemic 2020 On campus learning shifts to an online asynchronous model throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. A partial campus re-opening began on June 26, and students return officially in the Fall 2020. 2020 Alumni work featured on CTA 2022 Columbia highlighted the artistry of its alums in a marketing campaign that featured commissioned illustration work by Illustration and Civic Media alumn Dean Strauss’ MA ’20, and a public art installation by Photography alum Deanna J. Smith ’21. 2022 Alumni Relations Introduces Gala to Garner Persistence Scholarships 2022 Through the Annual Fundraising Gala, Columbia raised more than $750k in scholarships. 2022 50 Years of DANCE at Columbia 2023 The Dance Center celebrated its 50th season with a culmination of performances throughout the year by faculty, students, and special guests. 2023 Columbia Celebrates Pride 2023 Nearly one-third of Columbia's undergraduates have self-identified as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Columbia participated in the Chicago Pride Parade by providing a cooling station bus and other essentials to attendees. 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race x Columbia 2024 Columbia students partner with NASCAR for a second time to create race-themed games. 2024 New WAC Murals Including 11,368-Square-Foot Painted Mural on Side of the Student Center 2024 Columbia College Chicago announced a new strategic partnership with Behr Paint, The Home Depot, and One Summer Chicago. This collaboration provided paid summer job opportunities for students while enhancing the renowned Wabash Arts Corridor with two new murals by Columbia faculty: “Alligators” by Cecilia Beaven and “Curious Bunny” by Cheri Charlton. 2024 A Path Forward Celebrating 135 Years of Creativity As we approach 2025, we remain committed to guiding the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and business leaders toward success. Creative careers start here. 2025