Marietta College's 175 Anniversary
On Feb. 14, 1835, the Marietta Collegiate Institute and Western Teachers Seminary received a charter from the state of Ohio, which allowed Marietta College to confer degrees upon its graduates. With origins that pre-date the 19th century, Marietta College is one of 37 Revolutionary Colleges in the U.S.
Starting as a single building in the heart of Marietta, this liberal arts college has grown and prospered under the auspices of great leaders, talented educators, devoted alumni and a great community.
By 1850, the stately Erwin Tower was constructed. These days, the building serves education and psychology majors. Similar to the building boom of 2007-2009, when Marietta dedicated both the Legacy Library and the Anderson Hancock Planetarium, the campus of 1905-06 celebrated the opening of three new buildings—Andrews Hall, the Library (now Irvine Administration Building) and a new heating building (now used as part of the petroleum and geology department). All three of these centenarians are still in use today.
A member of the honorary society Phi Beta Kappa since 1860, Marietta College's reputation for providing a contemporary liberal arts education has attracted students from all across the U.S. and from many countries. With key programs that include petroleum engineering, leadership, the China Program, and the sciences, students can choose from 38 majors and eight minor programs. Students can also pursue graduate degrees in four specialties, including the graduate physician assistant studies program.
Some notable Marietta College graduates include Charles Gates Dawes, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former U.S. Vice President, retired NASA astronaut and surgeon Dr. Story Musgrave, former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Richard Krause, clergyman and humanitarian Col. Dean Hess, former Ohio Gov. C. William O'Neill, and scientist Bernice Eddy Wooley.