This fall, Wagner College is marking the 125th anniversary of its founding in 1883. The campus community, alumni, and friends of the college are invited to participate in all of the anniversary activities we have scheduled.
A new Wagner history book, “Wagner College: Four Histories,” was released this summer. The book contains four essays on the early history of the college, including the Wagner College memoir of the Rev. Frederic Sutter, considered the college’s Staten Island founder. This is the first effort to present a comprehensive, thoroughly researched overview of the early history of Wagner College. The book is available only online, at the Wagner College storefront on the Lulu publishing Web site. Readers who want to acquire a PDF version of the book will be able to download it from the storefront at no charge. Print editions, in both paperback and hardcover, can be purchased from the storefront at cost (no markup) plus shipping and handling.
§ CLICK HERE to visit the storefront
Friday, Sept. 12, 3 p.m. (Homecoming Weekend)
Horrmann Library, Great Room
Seminar, “Wagner College: Four Histories”
Hear presentations by four college historians (Rev. Harald Kuehne, Lee Manchester, Dr. Walter Schoen and Brian Morris), moderated by Dr. Lori Weintrob, chair of the Wagner College History Department, followed by a Q&A. Stick around after the seminar for a reception in the library lobby (see next item).
Friday, Sept. 12, 5 p.m. (Homecoming Weekend)
Horrmann Library, Spotlight Gallery
Opening reception for the exhibition,
“Founding Faces & Places: Images from the Wagner College Archives”
This exhibition of 57 archival images, with interpretive panels explaining their significance, walks visitors through Wagner College “prehistory” and the college's first 35 years in Rochester, N.Y., ending with a campus “walking tour” of the first dozen years of development on Staten Island. The exhibition includes the first images ever acquired by the college of the young man for whom the institution is named, George Wagner. “Founding Faces & Places” will remain on exhibition in the Spotlight Gallery through Founders Day, Oct. 15.
Friday, Sept. 26, 4 p.m. (Family Weekend)
Horrmann Library, Spotlight Gallery
Lecture, exhibition tour
Lee Manchester, curator of the “Founding Faces & Places” exhibition and editor of “Wagner College: Four Histories,” will make a presentation on the college’s early history and walk visitors through the exhibition.
Friday, Oct. 3, 6 to 8 p.m.
125th Anniversary National Tour
City Tavern Club, 3206 M St. NW, Washington, DC
For more information: Alumni Relations Director Jake Browne, 718-390-3224, alumni@wagner.edu
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 3 p.m.
Main Hall auditorium
Founders Day convocation
An all-college convocation will be held to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of Wagner College on this day in 1883. Highlights of the convocation will include:
§ Three short talks on the history of Wagner College from President Richard Guarasci, Professor Walter Kaelber and Lutheran synod archivist John Daggan;
§ Performances by the full Wagner College Choir, and
§ The posthumous awarding of an honorary doctor of divinity degree to George Wagner, for whom the college is named.
Following the convocation we will plant the Founders Tree in the rose garden behind Main Hall, memorializing the tree under which our co-founders met over the summer of 1883 to plan the opening of Wagner College. A sister tree from the same nursery will be planted in the Rochester area in November on the site of the original tree.
§ CLICK HERE for the convocation program
§ CLICK HERE to see the citation for George Wagner’s honorary degree
Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 to 8 p.m.
125th Anniversary National Tour
The Down Town Club, Sixth & Chestnut streets, Philadelphia
For more information: Alumni Relations Director Jake Browne, 718-390-3224, alumni@wagner.edu
Saturday, Nov. 8, 3 p.m.
Mount Hope Cemetery, 1133 Mount Hope Ave., Rochester, N.Y.
Wreath laying at the grave of George Wagner
Join President Richard Guarasci and the Wagner family as we pay homage to George Wagner, the young man for whom Wagner College is named and in whose memory George’s parents gave the college its first permanent home. President Guarasci will lay a wreath on the grave of George Wagner, followed by a few words from the Wagner family.
§ CLICK HERE for a Mount Hope Cemetery map showing the Wagner family plot
Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.
Reception for alumni & friends of the college
George Eastman House, 900 East Ave., Rochester, N.Y.
Join President Richard Guarasci as the Wagner College community in the Rochester area comes together for a time of fellowship and fun during this 125th Anniversary commemoration weekend.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 28 Lincoln Ave., Pittsford, N.Y.
Worship service of thanksgiving, followed by Founders Tree dedication
Join President Richard Guarasci for a worship service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s, the church pastored for 40 years by Wagner College co-founder George H. Gomph. Following the 11 a.m. worship service, activity will move across Lincoln Avenue to the former home of Pastor Gomph, where a new Founders Tree will be dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by President Guarasci, church and village officials, Gomph House owners Matt and Kristin Lennarz, and members of the Wagner family. The new Founders Tree is being planted in the Gomph House yard, where the original tree stood. It was beneath that tree where Pastor Gomph and the Rev. Alexander Richter met during the summer of 1883 to plan the opening of Wagner College that fall. After the ribbon cutting, we will move back to the fellowship hall at St. Paul’s, where we will help President Guarasci blow out the candles on a Wagner 125 birthday cake, to be served with coffee.
Thursday, Nov. 13, 6 to 8 p.m.
125th Anniversary National Tour
The Metropolitan Club, Sears Tower (66th Floor), Chicago
For more information: Alumni Relations Director Jake Browne, 718-390-3224, alumni@wagner.edu
