The Archives are located off site so availability is by appointment during the week.
If you are interested in the Archives or Special Collections please contact the Curator.
Ashland University Archives contains historical records from Ashland University and some related organizations. Although coverage varies we have some records from the early days through the present.
Our Mission:
The purpose of the Ashland University Archives is to collect, organize, preserve, index, and make available for research use historical information related to the following organizations: Ashland University, the Ashbook Center, and the Brethren Church.
Most of the collection is searchable online at https://ashland.pastperfectonline.com/. If you are looking for something specific and cannot locate it please reach out to the Curator (Jessica Byers).
The Ashland University Archives contains photographs, yearbooks, and institutional files from Ashland University as well as collections from the Ashbook Center and the Brethren Church.
Our former longtime Archivist, Dave Roepke, has created some pages that are of interest about Ashland University.
On June 28, 1877, a town meeting was held in Ashland, Ohio, where the citizens of Ashland were to consider a proposal from members of the German Baptist Brethren Church to establish an institution of higher education. The Ashland Press reported that the citizens were promised the college would locate there if their city would raise $10,000.
The church and community fund raising campaign proved to be a success and on Feb. 17, 1878, a meeting was held to add up campaign funds and make final plans. The success of the campaign was announced, the College was chartered on Feb. 20 and a church-related, co-educational institution was established.
In April of 1878, the board of trustees decided to purchase the “most desirable plot in town - 28 acres on the hill.” The first buildings to be constructed were Founders Hall and Allen Hall, constructed from bricks made on the site. Classes opened at Ashland College on Sept. 17, 1879, with around 60 students and eight faculty members.
The new institution grew slowly during its first few decades, but enrollment reached the 200 mark shortly after the turn of the century. By the 1950s, the College had added many new programs of study and experienced rapid growth from about 300 students to more than 2,500 in 1970. In 1989, college officials decided to change the name of the institution to Ashland University to reflect more accurately what the college had become – an institution almost evenly divided between graduate and undergraduate students.
Progress continued on campus during the 1990s and 2000s with the construction of several new academic buildings as well as a new Student Center, Recreation Center, and Athletic Complex. In 2010, the University acquired MedCentral College of Nursing in Mansfield and constructed the state-of-the-art Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences facility in Mansfield, which opened for classes in 2012.
Today, situated on a beautiful 135-acre campus with trees, brick walkways and flower gardens, Ashland University affords close proximity to the big city while offering the advantages of an intimate campus experience in a small-town setting. Deeply rooted in tradition, yet always moving forward, AU provides unparalleled opportunities for students to learn, grow and find their place in the world.
The University has grown to 6,600 total students and is ranked in the top tier of the colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category. Ashland University continues to value the individual student by offering a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.
Location |
Eagle Name |
Honoree & year placed |
Archer Library |
Marian |
2021Robert and Janet Archer |
Archer Library(Back entrance near Rinehart) |
Charles |
2000Charles E. PartonDirector of the Ashbrook Center |
Alpha Sigma House |
Fletch or Simon |
1968 |
Bixler - Center for the Humanities |
Don |
Don Castle |
Clark- Kilhefner Basketball Court |
Freedom |
1991Operation Desert Storm |
Center for the Arts - Arts & Humanities |
Oz |
1985 |
Clayton Hall |
Glenn |
1965Dr. Glenn ClaytonAshland President |
Schar College of Education |
Dwight |
Dwight Shar |
Convocation CenterKem Hall |
CK |
1971originally named Samlater re-named CK for Circle K Club |
Founders Hall |
Nadine |
1960Nadine Golby, music major |
Gill Center/ Welcome Center |
Lucy |
Dr. Lucille Ford |
Hawkins-Conrad Student Center |
Earl |
1997Earl Hawkins |
Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Services Center | Jack |
2020 anonymous donation to honor all veterans |
Jacobs Hall |
Jake |
1958Dr. Edwin JacobsAshland President |
Kappa Sigma House |
Van |
1964 |
Kates Family Consumer Science Center |
Ruth |
1963Ruth DavisManager of the Eagles Nest |
Kettering |
Milt |
1963Dr. Milton Puterbaughalias Charlie for Charlie Kettering |
Myers Hall |
Kate |
1959Kate Moor Myersbenefactor for Myers Hall |
Patterson Technology Center(former Library) |
Dewey |
1963 |
Phi Delta House |
Fu |
1966 |
Phi Psi House |
Mr. C |
2000Don CadleyEducation Professor |
Physical Education/ Recreation Center |
Old Abe |
1965 |
Point on Claremont Avenue |
Amylene |
1949 |
Recreation Center |
Maxie |
2006Maxine Sheets Rybolt |
Richard E. and Sandra J. DauchCollege of Business and Economics |
Dick |
2003Richard E. Dauch |
Schar College of Nursing and Health ScienceMansfield, Ohio campus |
Martha |
2012Martha Schar |
Stadium(front) |
Bob |
2010Bob Troop |
Sadium(end zone) |
Fred |
2009Fred MartinelliPhysical Education Professor and Coach |
TKE House |
Apollo |
1968Formerly Sigma Nu/Fletch/Simon |
Founders Hall |
Built 1878
|
Memorial Chapel
|
Built 1951
|
Phyllis Jacobson Kates Center for Family and Consumer Sciences |
Built 1953
|
Jacobs Hall |
Built 1954
|
Myers Hall |
Built 1958
|
Bixler Hall
|
Built 1965
|
Patterson Center |
Built 1961
|
Kettering Science Center |
Built 1963
|
Community Stadium |
Built 1963
|
Clayton Hall
|
Built 1964
|
Maintenance Building
|
Acquired 1964
|
Clark and Kilhefner Halls |
Built 1966
|
Physical Education Center
|
Built 1966
|
Andrews Hall |
Built 1968
|
Kem and Amstutz Halls |
Built 1968-1970
|
Gill Center for Business and Economic Education
|
Built 1933
|
Arts and Humanities Building
|
Built 1968
|
John C. Myers Convocation Center |
Built 1969
|
Robert M. & Janet L. Archer Library |
Built 1970
|
Wurster Fitness Center |
Built 1990
|
Hawkins-Conard Student Center |
Built 1995
|
Richard E. and Sandra J. Dauch
|
Built 2002
|
Senior Apartments |
Completed 2002 |
Recreation Center
|
Dedicated September 29, 2006 |
Schar Athletic Complex
|
Constructed 2009 |
Schar College of Nursing |
Groundbreaking June 16, 2011 |
Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Resource Center |
Built in 1942 (as Brethren Church headquarters and publishing company)Renovation 2019Dedicated October 19, 2020 |