125 Years of History

Even as the University has grown and evolved, Drexel has remained committed to the core principles on which it was founded. Philadelphia financier, philanthropist and founder, Anthony J. Drexel, launched a tradition of innovation: envisioning an institution of higher learning uniquely suited to the needs of a rapidly growing industrial society and of the young men and women seeking their place in it — core values that continue to guide the University in its modern era.

Explore History and Traditions

History of Drexel University
The Founder's Vision
Alumni Association: Drexel Traditions
Drexel Libraries Archives: History Resources
Drexel Libraries Archives: Explore Our Collections

The Faces of Drexel

These articles are part of a DrexelNow series honoring Drexel’s history as part of the University-wide celebration of the 125th anniversary of Drexel’s founding in 1891.

2017
- When You Could Eat a Dragon Burger in the Dragon’s Den on Campus
  
  Back in the day, the basement of today’s Creese Student Center was known as “the Dragon’s Den” and featured an arcade, fast food restaurant, game room and a bowling alley.
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- Beyond 1928, Here Be Drexel Dragons
  
  For almost 90 years, the University has been represented by a “Drexel Dragon,” which got a name — Mario the Magnificent! — 20 years ago.
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- Founder Anthony J. Drexel's Art on Campus — and at Home
  
  Much of the art found on campus today used to hang in founder Anthony J. Drexel’s home, as he bequeathed much of his personal art collection to the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry upon his death.
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- The Drexel 100 Celebrates 25 Years
  
  For the past 25 years, the Drexel 100 has recognized the best of the best when it comes to Drexel University’s alumni.
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- Remembering the Legacy of Drexel’s Myers Hall — and Harold M. Myers
  
  Myers Hall, which has been on Drexel’s campus since 1977, was originally planned to be closed and later demolished at the end of this academic year. Now it will remain open — and continue to honor President Emeritus Harold Myers.
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- ‘The Drexel Jinx’ Broken Only by Isaac Asimov
  
  During the 1970s, four consecutive speakers who spoke at Drexel University’s commencement were fired or resigned because of “The Drexel Jinx.” Only science fiction writer Isaac Asimov could break it.
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- Employee Spotlight: Barbara Hornum and George King
  
  This year, two Drexel employees are celebrating 50 years of working on campus — a campus that they’ve seen drastically change since they started in 1966.
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- The Drexel Country Getaway You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
  
  If you were at Drexel from the 1930s to the early 1990s, you could have mingled with students, faculty and staff at the Drexel Lodge, a country estate owned by the University for recreational purposes.
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- Remembering the Pioneering Women From One of Drexel’s Legacy Medical Colleges
  
  Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, the world’s first medical school for women and one of two predecessor institutions to Drexel’s College of Medicine, graduated the first Native American doctor, the second African-American doctor and the first women with medical degrees in India, Syria, Japan and Canada.
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- Telling it Like It Isn’t: The History of Drexel’s Joke Issues
  
  Current Drexel Dragons are familiar with The Triangle’s annual April Fools’ Day joke issue, The Rectangle. What they might not know is that Drexel students have been publishing satirical newspaper issues since the 1940s.
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- Drexel Presents Fine Art Exhibit in Tribute to ‘Father of Illustration’ Howard Pyle
  
  In continuation of Drexel University’s 125th anniversary celebration, the Pennoni Honors College will co-present with the National Museum of American Illustration, a new exhibition showcasing the influence of former Drexel instructor Howard Pyle and his students, who helped inspire Philadelphia’s historic roots in the applied art field and fueled its publishing boom in 1900s.
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- Hidden Treasures: Our Founder’s Piano
  
  In addition to being a great financier and philanthropist, Drexel’s founder was an accomplished musician with an incredible taste in music. After he died, his family donated one of the pianos from his home to the University — and you could even play it today.
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- The Hahnemann Alumnus Who Championed Philly’s African-American Community — and Also Treated Martin Luther King Jr.
  
  Walter P. Lomax Jr., MD, who graduated from Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel’s College of Medicine) in 1957, lived a long life in which he continually treated and supported African-Americans and their community.
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- The Chocolate Factory on Campus and Other Past Lives of Drexel’s University City Buildings
  
  Back in the day, Drexel was just one building surrounded by a tuberculosis ward, a candy factory, a bank and many other buildings that would later become a part of the University.
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- Drexel Homecoming Through the Years: Queens, Parades and Beard-Growing Contests
  
  First introduced on campus in the 1920s, Drexel’s Homecoming has changed and yet retained its traditions through nine decades and three revivals.
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- The Forgotten Founders of Drexel Institutions
  
  Anthony J. Drexel founded Drexel University, of course. But there are other institutions now ingrained in Drexel’s DNA — like the College of Medicine and the Academy of Natural Sciences — that were founded by other innovators in the 19th century.
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2016
- How Did Drexel Celebrate its Other Anniversaries?
  
  The entirety of this academic year will be spent celebrating Drexel’s 125th anniversary. What was it like on campus during the University’s other milestone years?
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- Celebrating Drexel’s 1891 Founding in Style
  
  On Dec. 7, the entire Drexel community will come together to honor the University’s illustrious founding and mark the occasion of its full 125 years.
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- The Drexel History Behind a Beloved Thanksgiving Side Dish
  
  The green bean casserole is a staple on Thanksgiving tables across the country, thanks to an enterprising Drexel alumna.
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- A Drexel History of U.S. Presidents
  
  In time for the final moments of the election, DrexelNow looks back at U.S. presidents who have touched Drexel in some way.
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- Recalling Drexel’s Ties to the 2008 Presidential Election
  
  Back in 2008, Drexel hosted an official debate for the Democratic presidential candidates.
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- Remembering Drexel’s Presidents
  
  As part of Drexel’s 125th anniversary, DrexelNow takes a look at the past presidents who steered Drexel on the path to becoming the University it is today.
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- Drexel Memories From the Professor Who Has Been Here for Six Decades
  
  Edwin E.L. Gerber, PhD, professor in the College of Engineering, discusses what it’s been like at Drexel during the 63 years he’s been on campus.
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- What Was Drexel Like 125 Years Ago?
  
  Drexel students, faculty, staff and alumni are celebrating Drexel’s 125th anniversary this year. What would Drexel have been like if they were on campus when it first opened?
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- Drexel Throws Itself a Yearlong 125th Anniversary Party
  
  To honor its 1891 founding, Drexel has planned a year’s worth of events and celebrations for the 2016-17 academic year, including exhibits, a special historical book and even a special Drexel beer.
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- Happy 190th Birthday, A.J. Drexel
  
  Drexel University celebrated the 190th birthday of its founder, Anthony “Tony” J. Drexel, with an ice cream party on Sept. 13, 2016.
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- Who Was A.J. Drexel?
  
  Though his name can be found everywhere on campus, there is still a lot to be learned about Drexel University founder Anthony J. Drexel.
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- The Drexel Institute That Almost Was
  
  Before Anthony “Tony” J. Drexel founded the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, he almost started an all-women’s industrial institute.
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- The Drexel President Who Edited F. Scott Fitzgerald
  
  Before F. Scott Fitzgerald became a famous author and James Creese became president of the Drexel Institute of Technology, the two men started out as student writers at Princeton University.
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- When One Door Opens, Another One Closes: The Untimely Death of Founder A.J. Drexel
  
  The opening of the Drexel Institute 125 years ago was the fulfillment of founder A.J. Drexel’s lifelong dream — yet he was only alive for the first 18 months of the school’s existence.
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- Poe, Dickens and Drexel: The Epic Story of the University’s Former Literary Collection
  
  During its first 50 years, Drexel owned a treasure trove of autographed manuscripts and letters from important literary and historical figures. This is the story of what became of it.
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- Looking Up to the Geniuses Who Never Left Campus
  
  There’s a lot to learn from the 12 men etched on the archway to Main Building’s Chestnut Street entrance.
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- Remembering the Great Drexel Ice Cream Sandwich Food Fight of 1991
  
  It’s the 25-year anniversary of Drexel’s attempt to create the world’s largest ice cream sandwich. Of course, the event ended with a massive food fight.
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- Set Your Sights on Drexel’s Women’s Rifle Team
  
  Back in the day, Drexel had one of the first — and best — women’s rifle teams in the country.
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- When Mickey Met Mario: The Forgotten Disney Movie Tied to Drexel
  
  The grandson of Drexel University’s founder Anthony J. Drexel led an illustrious life, which was immortalized in the 1967 Disney musical “The Happiest Millionaire.”
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- The Club That Fostered a Sense of 'Belonging' for Women at Drexel
  
  Started about 90 years ago, the Drexel Women’s Club changed what it meant to be a woman tied to Drexel through personal or professional connections.
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- Examining Drexel’s Ties to the First African-American Women Physicians
  
  Some of the country’s first African-American women physicians graduated from an institution that later grew into Drexel’s College of Medicine.
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- Meet Drexel’s First African-American Male Graduate: William Sidney Pittman
  
  William Sidney Pittman broke racial barriers at Drexel and across the country as one of the first prominent African American architects in America.
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