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Celebrating 60 Years
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Celebrating 60 Years
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Celebrating 60 Years
UMSL | Celebrating 60 Years
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  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • A Look Back - UMSL History
  • Our Future(current)
  • Our Alumni
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Get Involved
    • Alma Mater Competition
    • UMSL Serves
  • Show Your Spirit
    • 60th Downloads
    • Social Media Kit
  • Anniversary Events

A Look Back

  • Celebrating 60 Years
  • A Look Back

UMSL’s story began – and continues to this day – with the people of greater St. Louis and the vision they had to do more for the city and each other.

 

A timeline of our past six decades captures a history shaped by a persistent commitment to forward-thinking, action-oriented transformation; one that continues into our present.

A glimpse of our future reveals UMSL’s multi-tiered, strategic plan to carry that same transformative mission and spirit forward for years to come.

In short, we are quite proud of our history of embracing and making change, and we are just getting started.

 

THE PAST 60 YEARS:


Photo of officals signing document during the 1950s

1957

Location Chosen

The citizens of Normandy pass a bond allowing Normandy School District officials to purchase the Bellerive Country Club for $600,000. Their vision is to transform the 128 acres into a community college site. Initially criticized for such a “speculative venture,” they persist.

Photo of Normandy Residence Center sign

1960

Classes Begin

The two-year Normandy Residence Center opens for classes. Enrollment totals 215 freshmen, who squeeze into 12 classrooms in the old clubhouse. A sparse faculty is provided by the University of Missouri.

UMSL dedication attendees outside during 1960s

1963

Normandy Residence Center becomes the University of Missouri–St. Louis

The University of Missouri purchases the Normandy Residence Center; The University of Missouri–St. Louis is officially born. The Bellerive Country Club clubhouse remains the only campus structure.

Portrait of James Bugg

1965

UMSL'S First Chancellor

James Bugg becomes the first Chancellor of UMSL.

Students on campus during 1960s

1966

First campus building completed

Benton Hall, the first classroom-laboratory building, is completed.

Outside of the Clark Hall building during the 1960s

1968

Clark Hall

Clark Hall is completed.

Outside of the Thomas Jefferson library during 1960s

1969

Thomas Jefferson Library completed

The Thomas Jefferson Library was designed to house more than 240,000 volumes and allow seating for 1,000 students within its 5 stories. The area outside of the original "TJ Library" entrance also sported a swimming pool and basketball court, which have since been removed along with the old country club administration building.

Outside of the Stadler Hall building during the 70s

1970

Stadler Hall completed

Stadler Hall, a prominent academic building on campus, was completed during the 1970s

Aerial view of campus looking south east at lucas and clark halls, social science building and the tower, and thomas jefferson library

1971

Campus expansion continues

Classroom space virtually doubles with the completion of five more buildings: The Mark Twain Building; the University Center, the student union; the J.C. Penney Building, Lucas Hall, and the Social Sciences and Business Building.

Outside of the Marillac College bulding 1970s

1976

Marillac College

UMSL purchases the former Marillac College south of Natural Bridge Road, cementing the cornerstone of what would become South Campus.

Portrait of Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett

1986

Chancellor Marguerite Ross Barnett

Marguerite Ross Barnett becomes the first female and first African American Chancellor of UMSL.

Portrait of Chancellor Blanche Touhill

1990

Chancellor Blanche Touhill

Another boom of physical transformation for campus takes hold as Blanche Touhill becomes Chancellor. A variety of on-campus living options are established for the first time in UMSL history, including dormitory living, a gated student apartment complex, and The Provincial House. The Kathy J. Weinman Building, home to the Children’s Advocacy Center and the Center for Trauma Recovery, is also added. The university also begins a series of property acquisitions surrounding North Campus, along University Boulevard (formerly North Florissant Road), and in unincorporated St. Louis County.

Outside of the UMSL Millennium Student Center building

2000

Opening of the Millennium Student Center

The Millennium Student Center opens, funded by the beating heart of UMSL – our students. The thriving hub for student services, event space, campus dining, study spaces and more gives a new physical heart to the center of campus.

Aerial view of UMSL south campus early 2000s

2002

Normandy Hospital Purchase

The Normandy Hospital building is acquired, bringing the South Campus complex to 44 acres, 20+ buildings, and 1,000 residential units.

Outside of the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Center bulding

2003

Continued Growth

The $56 million Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center opens. Other renovations during this boom period in the early 2000s include a redesign of West Campus Drive, the addition of three 600-space parking garages, the acquisition of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, and construction of the Computer Center Building.

Portrait of Chancellor Tom George

2003

Chancellor Tom George

Tom George, who would become the longest running Chancellor in UMSL history, begins his leadership.

Outdoor of UMSL Recreation and Wellness Center building

2015

UMSL Rec Center Completed

The $36 million Recreation and Wellness Center opens thanks to a vote of funding by the Student Government Association. State-of-the-art fitness equipment and workout space, a rock-climbing wall, and a 155,000-gallon pool once again transform North Campus. In the same year, $13.6 million in state bond funds allows for further renovation of Benton Hall.

Aerial view of UMSL south campus early 2000s

2017

New Home for the College of Business

Anheuser-Busch Hall, named in honor of a lead $2.5 million gift from the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, opens as the new home of the College of Business Administration.

UMSL's 100,000th graduate Marco Pipoly at Commencement

2018

Alumni Milestone

UMSL celebrates its 100,000th graduate, newly minted BS in Psychology alum, Marco Pipoly.

Portrait of UMSL Chancellor Kristen Sobelik

2019

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik

After serving as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, followed by interim chancellor, Dr. Kristin Sobolik is named the eighth chancellor of UMSL.

Rendering of the interior of the UMSL Nursing and Learning Resource and Simulation Center

2022

UMSL Nursing Learning and Resource Center

Construction begins on the $7 million Nursing Learning Resource and Simulation Center.

STLPR Building

2022

STLPR Anniversary

St. Louis Public Radio celebrates 50th anniversary.

Group photo of UMSL Black Faculty and Staff Association members

2022

Black Faculty and Staff Association

The UMSL Black Faculty and Staff Association celebrates 40 years

St. Louis Symphony performance

2022

St. Louis Symphony calls UMSL home

UMSL is proud to serve as the home of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s 2023/2024 season.

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Celebrating 60 Years
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