Old Main: The UConn History Corner

A new road sign, paying tribute to Jerauld A. Manter. He was a professor from 1915 to 1956 and UConn's unofficial photographer. Most of the images in the archives from that era are his. He's the presiding spirit of this account, and it's great to see him get recognized this way.

The institution's various names were shortened into acronyms from 1881 to 1939: SAS, SAC, CAC, and CSC. But that hasn't been true since we became UConn, so the all caps treatment isn't necessary

@main_old 1951 @UConnBSB

The best time of year to be in Storrs, whether in 2022 or 1952

Today in 1881: The first classes ever are held at the Storrs Agricultural School, which will grow into the mighty University of Connecticut. To give you some idea of how much things have changed, this is Rte. 195 from around the time those first students arrived

Congratulations to @UConnWBB on their win last night! Here's a team photo from 1907, when an 18-16 victory over Windham High School was cause for celebration. Good luck in the Sweet 16, Huskies!

Byline-watchers will note that Hartford Courant story about Gorbachev's visit was written by none other than @ReitzTweets

In 1996, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev came to UConn, and in his speech called on Russian President Boris Yeltsin to resign, saying the latter was preventing the development of genuine democracy in Russia: courant.com/news/connectic…

Sen. Bob Dole has passed away at the age of 98. During the 1996 presidential campaign, he visited Connecticut four times, including a stop at UConn, alongside then-Gov. John Rowland.

In case you've ever wondered which presidents have visited UConn prior to today, wonder no more: today.uconn.edu/2021/10/a-brie…

Here's a University Communications archive photo from the last time a sitting president visited UConn: it was 1995, and it was on the occasion of the original dedication of the Dodd Center

140 years ago today, UConn had its first day of classes. Here’s a really fun story about the early years by @ReitzTweets today.uconn.edu/2021/09/markin…

Happy first day of autumn!

It's Move-In weekend! Welcome to the Class of 2025. Although you can't park as close to the dorms as you could when this photograph was taken at move-in weekend in 1964, the excitement and emotions are the same. Best of luck this weekend, Huskies!

doggo @main_old

I was going through some old stuff and came across my mom's UCONN freshman beanie. Go Huskies! @main_old @UConnAlumni @UConn

Heading into the weekend with the calm assurance of this square dance caller at a UConn dance in 1949

Before St. Thomas Aquinas parish was built, UConn's Catholic community worshiped at a small wooden chapel located along the same stretch of North Eagleville Road. The chapel burned down in the 1940s; the photo at right shows UConn firefighters controlling the blaze

“Wish you could be up here,” August 1921. The Dairy Building, since demolished, was the first brick building on campus.

October 29, 1980: Marcus Unlimited, a troupe of male strippers, performs at the Student Union, accompanied by not-entirely-serious protests from students. You can almost hear President DiBiaggio sigh when reading his comment to the Daily Campus.

Flint was president during the somewhat grandiosely-named "War of the Rebellion," a dispute over whether UConn should expand its curriculum to become more of a liberal arts school; he was also responsible for the first brick building at UConn, a creamery

Trivia note: Although he was born in Scotland, Dr. Agwunobi is not the first person born outside the US to lead UConn. George W. Flint, president from 1898-1901, was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia