Northeastern University's Inaugural Committee organizes and manages the induction ceremony of University presidents. There have been six presidential inaugurations in the history of Northeastern: 30 March 1917 - Frank Palmer Speare; 19 November 1940 - Carl Stephens Ell; 8 September 1959 - Asa Smallidge Knowles; 28 October 1975 - Kenneth Gilmore Ryder; 1 December 1989 - John Anthony Curry ; 17 January 1997 - Richard Middleton Freeland.