... documenting the history of the University of Delaware

Past Commencements

A patriotic display decorates the cap of a graduate of the class of 2002 at commencement.
A crowd of relatives and friends watch the 1979 University of Delaware commencement ceremony at Delaware Stadium
An informal photograph of five honorary degree recipients at the University of Delaware commencement in 1953. Pictured here from left to right are Albert E. Forster (the commencement speaker), Arthur R. McKinstry, John Alanson Perkins (President of the University), Amandus Johnson, and Victor D. Washburn.
Members of the Class of 2004 attempt to take YoUDee with them
The graduating class of Delaware College in 1910.
Some student organizations provide commemorative stoles to decorate the robes of their graduates.
A thankful graduate of the University of Delaware at the 1980 commencement
A large crowd watched the University of Delaware commencement of 1981 in Delaware Stadium
William Bassett Moore, a distinguished diplomat and legal scholar, gave the commencement speech at the 1916 commencement for Delaware College. Seated immediately behind him is Samuel Chiles Mitchell, the President of Delaware College.
Members of the class of 1991 enter Delaware Stadium for the commencement ceremonies.
The first commencement of Newark College, which later became Delaware College and the University of Delaware, was held in 1836. Pictured here is the program for that commencement. The program, typical for ceremonies in the nineteenth century, consisted of orations delivered by students and faculty.
An usher waves to the graduates of the class of 1992 during commencement.
During the Second World War, the University of Delaware held an Accelerated Wartime Program to train people for the war effort. It also marked the first time in the University''s history that multiple commencement ceremonies were held during a single academic year. Pictured here is the program for one of those commencements.
A crowd of happy graduates gathers on the field for the Spring 1993 commencement ceremonies.
William Howard Taft, President of the United States from 1909-1913, spoke at the 1918 commencement ceremonies for Delaware College. He is pictured here on the right, accompanied by Delaware governor John G. Townsend (center) and Josiah Marvel (left).
William McChesney Martin, Chairman of United States Federal Reserve Board, speaks at the University of Delaware commencement ceremonies of 1970. Seated around him are members of the Board of Trustees and Edward A Trabant, the President of the University.
A few new graduates joke for the camera at the Spring 2000 commencement.
The graduating class of the University of Delaware in 1924. Degree recipients from the Women's College of Delaware stand in the front two rows.
International students increasingly are reflected among the student population of the University of Delaware, as seen at commencement in 1996.
Members of the University of Delaware faculty and professional staff wait out the rain at the 1980 commencement
Pierre S. du Pont IV, the Governor of Delaware, was the commencement speaker in 1982. He is pictured here addressing graduates of the University of Delaware''s College of Arts and Science
Members of the University of Delaware faculty lead the procession past Evans Hall during commencement in 1965. Following them outside of the left of this photograph would be the graduates, beginning with recipients of doctoral degrees.
Elizabeth Jones, a student of the Women''s College of Delaware, speaks with Warren G. Harding, the President of the United States, during the 1923 commencement.
Happy University of Delaware graduates release balloons at the 1980 commencement
Graduates listen to the University of Delaware band during the 1951 commencement.
The graduates assembled on the North Green in front of Memorial Hall during the University of Delaware commencement of 1948.
A new graduate of the class of 2002 expresses her hope for the future after commencement.
The procession for the University of Delaware commencement of 1965. To the right are pictured ROTC instructors and graduates receiving commissions as officers in the United States Army.
William Samuel Carlson, President of the University of Delaware, presents a B. A. diploma to William C. Parvis during the commencement in 1949.
University of Delaware president David Roselle congratulates a graduate of the class of 2003 at commencement.
Three honorary degree recipients chat with members of the University of Delaware administration at the 1968 commencement. Pictured here from left to right are James M. Tunnell Jr. (President of the Board of Trustees), George P. Edmonds (an honorary degree recipient), William Maurice Ewing (an honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker), John Alanson Perkins (an honorary degree recipient and former President of the University), John W. Shirley (Acting President of the University), and Samuel Lenher (a member of the Board of Trustees).
New graduates of the University of Delaware after the 1979 commencement.
A happy University of Delaware graduate receives his diploma during a commencement ceremony in the late 1970's
The administration of the University of Delaware proceeds to the commencement ceremonies of 1957. In the background stands P.S. du Pont Hall, which was completed later that year.
The commencement procession of faculty and graduates at the University of Delaware during the 1920s. They are walking parallel to South College Avenue.
The graduating class of 1960 assembled on the North Mall in front of Hullihen Hall. G. Cuthbert Webber, Professor of Mathematics, leads the procession of administration and trustees to the podium.
The prominent scientist and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller addresses the graduates of the University of Delaware at the 1980 commencement
Can you tell that this happy graduate is a member of the class of 1994?
David Roselle, the President of the University of Delaware, addresses a large crowd at commencement in 1990
A graduate of the class of 1995 displays her new diploma in front of the Delaware Field House.
Although he is not graduating, YouDee makes appearances at commencement, as he did in 1998.
Four notable individuals received honorary degrees from the University of Delaware during the commencement of 1965. Pictured here from left to right in the back row are Alfred Elliott Bissell and Walter S. Carpenter Jr.; from left to right in front of them are Edward Whitney Cannon, Caryl Parker Haskins (the commencement speaker), and John Alanson Perkins (the President of the University of Delaware).
Stacks of diplomas await their recipients at the 1979 University of Delaware commencement
Two graduates of the class of 2001 show their happiness at commencement.
Three of the recipients of honorary degrees awarded by the University of Delaware during commencement in 1950. Pictured here from left to right are Richard Seymour Rodney, William Samuel Carlson (the commencement speaker and former President of the University), and William Watson Harrington.
A new graduate of the University of Delaware receives congratulations during commencement in 1979
In association with the commencement ceremonies held at Delaware College during the 1800''s, student literary societies held annual oratorical events and contests, usually on the day before the actual commencement. Pictured here is a program for one of these events - the anniversary of the Athenaean Literary Society in 1871, held in conjunction with the first commencement held after the reopening of Delaware College in the pervious year.
Balloons reflect the sentiments of these graduates at the Spring 1995 commencement ceremonies.
A graduate of the class of 1998 receives congratulations after commencement.
Mary Collison Fraim receives her honorary degree from John Alanson Perkins, the President of the University of Delaware, during the 1954 commencement. Behind her stands Allan Philip Colburn, Provost of the University.
The Alumni Association of the University of Delaware leads a procession during commencement in 1989
The University of Delaware Band plays for commencement in 1989
The first commencement of Delaware College after its name was changed from Newark College was held in 1843. Pictured here is the program for that commencement; it follows the same basic format as those for Newark College.
Family and friends gather in the Bob Carpenter Center to view the Winter 2002 commencement proceedings.
The procession of faculty and graduates during a University of Delaware commencement in the mid-1920s. They are walking on the North Green, with Memorial Hall, Wolf Hall, and an early engineering building in the background. The people wearing white clothing at the rear of the procession are graduates of the Women''s College of Delaware who were receiving two-year degrees rather than the full four-year B.A.
Members of the Alumni Association proceed into Delaware Stadium for the Spring 1997 commencement ceremonies.
A new graduate of the class of 1997 displays his diploma at Winter commencement.
Beach balls sometimes make an unofficial appearance, as happened during commencement in 1994.
Warren G. Harding, President of the United States, visited the University of Delaware and the Women''s College of Delaware during its commencement in 1923. Here, his motorcade, accompanied by Secret Service officers, arrives on campus near Warner Hall.
Several happy graduates of the University of Delaware smile for the camera during the 1981 commencement
The first recipients of Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from the University of Delaware at the 1948 commencement. Pictured here from left to right are Cecil Lynch, Associate Professor of Chemistry, graduates Richard H. Gale and H. Anthony Neidig, and William A. Mosher, Professor of Chemistry.
Flags arrayed at Delaware Stadium for the Spring 2003 commencement.
The graduating class of 1907 is one of the earliest commencement-related photographs at the University Archives. This photograph was taken on the steps of Old College, which was the first college facility and the principal building of Delaware College.
Delaware Stadium fills up on a beautiful May morning for the Spring 2002 commencement.
An honor guard composed of members of the University of Delaware Army and Air Force ROTC programs participates in the 2003 commencement ceremonies.
Edward Arthur Trabant, President of the University of Delaware, addresses the graduates at commencement in 1980. Leaning against the railing in front of him is the ceremonial mace carried before the commencement procession. Around his neck, President Trabant is wearing the chain of office. Please click here for more information about the mace and chain of office.
A Procession of Delegates from previous classes of Delaware College and the University of Delaware during winter commencement in 1983
New graduates attend the Winter 1999 commencement of the University of Delaware.
Warren G. Harding, President of the United States, congratulates Mary Haudy, a graduate of the Women''s College of Delaware, during commencement in 1923.
A University of Delaware graduate waves to the audience during commencement in 1990

More than 150 commencement ceremonies have been held at the University of Delaware since its first students graduated in 1836. Over time, these ceremonies evolved from small, local celebrations to occasions of comparatively massive scale involving students from around the country and the world.

This site provides a glimpse into the history of commencement at the University and includes information on commencement dates and speakers, as well as photographs of many of the ceremonies and activities.