Commencement Committee records

In 1902, 21 students graduated from the Evening Law Institute of the Boston YMCA. This marked the first annual commencement ceremony of what is now Northeastern University. The school held its commencement ceremonies in a variety of locations in between 1902 and 1952, including Jordan Hall (now part of the New England Conservatory of Music), Boston Arena (now Northeastern University's Matthews Arena), Symphony Hall, New England Mutual Hall, and Alumni Auditorium (now Northeastern University's Blackman Auditorium). Between 1953 and 1995, commencement ceremonies were held at the Boston Garden. The Fleet Center has served as the host of Northeastern University's graduation since 1996.Due to Northeastern University's association with the YMCA, early commencements had a substantial religious component. Most notably, until 1943 a Baccalaureate Sermon was held the Sunday before the commencement ceremony in various Boston churches, usually the Trinity Church or the New Old South Church in Copley Square. In 1941, Northeastern University President Carl Stephens Ell, delivered the first presidential address, known as the Presidential Charge. During the 1976 commencement the first official student oration was given; however, student speakers had sporadically been part of earlier ceremonies.

In response to an increasing number of graduates, beginning in 1967 a fall commencement ceremony was added in September, following the summer quarter. In 1972, President Asa S. Knowles announced there would be two commencement ceremonies, because in the previous year almost 4,000 students participated in a four-and-one-half hour ceremony. The morning ceremony was for of the full-time undergraduate students from Northeastern University's eight basic colleges, while the afternoon recognized part-time undergraduates and graduate students. In 1977, the School of Law decided to hold its own commencement ceremony in May to accommodate growth in its student body.

Guest speakers and the awarding of honorary degrees have been a constant tradition at the Northeastern University commencement ceremony. Josiah Quincy gave the commencement address at the first ceremony in 1902, and almost every ceremony since then has had a prominent guest speak. The major exception to this occurred in 1972-1977, when no speaker was invited. Guest speakers at Northeastern University have included John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1956, Barbara Bush in 1991, Bill Clinton in 1993, and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1998. The Northeastern University Law School Commencement also hosted a guest speaker its first year, District Court Judge Hugh H. Bownes of New Hampshire. The fall commencement's first guest speaker was former Boston Bruin Bobby Orr in 1984.

An Honorary Degree was first granted by Northeastern University in 1921. Beginning in 1931, eight to ten honorary degrees have been granted each year. The Law School granted honorary degrees in its first ceremony in 1971. In 1988, the Law School became the first American university to grant South African Nelson Mandela an honorary degree. While still in prison, Mandela was granted an absentee Doctorate of Laws for his struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Honorary degrees were also awarded during the fall commencement ceremonies beginning in 1984. See http://www.lib.neu.edu/archives/backgrnd/commenc.htm for a list of honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers.

Between 1919 and 1921, Northeastern University formed five evening school divisions in Bridgeport, New Haven, Providence, Springfield, and Worcester. The Worcester division was the first to hold its own commencement ceremony in 1920, and the last was the Springfield division in 1951. The divisions all held their own ceremonies in June of each year. In 1924, the Bridgeport division became the Bridgeport Engineering Institute (now part of Fairfield University). The New Haven Division separated in 1926 and is now the University of New Haven. The Providence division became Roger Williams University during the 1940s. The Worcester Division became Worcester Junior College, which closed its doors in 1989. In 1951, the Springfield Division was the last to separate its ties with Northeastern University, becoming Western New England College.

1898

The Evening Law Institute is founded

1902

The Evening Law Institute holds its first commencement ceremony for 21 students

1904

The General Court of the Commonwealth grants the Evening Law Institute the power to grant the bachelor of laws degree

1911

The School of Commerce and Finance is authorized to grant the bachelor's and master's degree in Commercial Science

1912

Commencement is held in Ford Hall

1915

Commencement is moved to Jacob P. Bates Hall

1916

Northeastern College of the Boston YMCA is incorporated

1917

Commencement moves to Jordan Hall

1920

Massachusetts state legislature authorizes Northeastern College to grant bachelors degrees in civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering, in conjunction with the Co-op School of Engineering

1922

Northeastern College renamed Northeastern University

1934

Commencement is held in the Boston Arena

1935

Northeastern University becomes independent from the Boston YMCA

1941

President Ell gives the first Presidential Charge at the June commencement

1943

The last commencement Baccalaureate Sermon is held

1953

Commencement moves to the Boston Garden

1967

Northeastern University holds its first fall commencement ceremony

1972

Northeastern University begins morning and afternoon commencement ceremonies

1976

The first official student oration is given at June's commencement

1977

The School of Law holds its first separate commencement ceremony

1979

The fall commencement moves to Symphony Hall, the first off-campus location for the ceremony

1984

The fall ceremony grants honorary degrees and invites a guest speaker for the first time

1988

The School of Law becomes the first American university to honor South African Nelson Mandela

1996

The Commencement ceremony moves to the Fleet Center