| 1851 |
Northwestern University is founded. Northwestern University was established
in 1851 to serve the people of the Northwest Territory, an area that now
includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
part of Minnesota. In 1853, the founders purchased a 379-acre tract of
land on the shore of Lake Michigan 12 miles north of Chicago. The town
that grew up around the University was named Evanston in hone of one of
the University’s founders, John Evans.
 After completing its first building in 1855, Northwestern began classes that
fall with 2 faculty and 10 students. By 1900, the University had grown to include
7 undergraduate and graduate schools with 2,700 students and an annual budget
of more than $200,000. (History).
photo: Phi Kappa Sigma, 1894 |
| Phi Delta Theta (Illinois Alpha Chapter) becomes Northwestern’s
first fraternity. The chapter closes in 1861 due to the Civil war and re-opens
in 1886. (Bairds) |
| 1864 |
Phi Kappa Psi (Illinois Alpha Chapter) is founded at NU. (Bairds) |
| Phi Gamma Delta is founded at NU. |
| 1869 |
First Female Admitted to Northwestern. Sarah Rebecca Roland enrolls at
Northwestern. (Archives)
Sigma Chi (Omega Chapter) founded at NU. |
| Chicago fire started from the cowbarn on the west side of the city and
traveled as far north as Fullerton Avenue in Chicago. The Water Tower on
North Michigan Avenue was evacuated, but not badly damaged. (History) |
| 1872 |
Phi Kappa Sigma (Upsilon Chapter) founded at Northwestern. (Bairds) |
| Rho Chapter of Beta Theta Pi founded at NU. |
| 1880 |
Delta Upsilon (Northwestern Chapter) is founded at NU. (Bairds) |
| Alpha Phi (Beta Chapter) founded at NU as its first sorority. (Bairds) |
| 1882 |
Delta Gamma (Sigma Chapter) founded at NU.
Kappa Kappa Gamma (Upsilon Chapter) founded at NU.
|
| Kappa Alpha Theta (Tau Chapter) founded at NU. |
| 1888 |
Gamma Phi Beta (Epsilon) founded at NU. |
