History
From Dewberry Farm to a school
Dayton’s institutional timeline dates the Dewberry Farm purchase to March 19, 1850. St. Mary’s School for Boys opened July 1 with 14 pupils.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: History : University of Dayton, Ohio
2026113 roster entriesSnapshot: 2026-10-02
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History
Becoming the University of Dayton
The school petitioned for the University of Dayton name on July 7, 1920. Approval followed September 2, connecting its identity to the city.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: History : University of Dayton, Ohio
History
Shelter during the 1913 flood
St. Mary’s College sheltered 800 victims of Dayton’s Great Flood in March 1913, according to the university’s historical timeline.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: History : University of Dayton, Ohio
History
Steps toward coeducation
Dayton awarded its first bachelor’s degrees to women in 1926. Women entered day classes in 1935; full coeducation followed in September 1937.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: History : University of Dayton, Ohio
History
The research institute’s beginnings
Dayton established its Research Center in September 1956. The organization became the University of Dayton Research Institute in 1958.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: History : University of Dayton, Ohio
History
A library founded around anniversaries
Marianists founded Dayton’s Marian Library in 1943, anticipating the 1949–50 centennials of their American arrival, William Joseph Chaminade’s death and the university’s founding. Its collections support research into devotion to Mary.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: About Us : University of Dayton, Ohio
History
The 1980 and 1989 Division III titles
Dayton won NCAA Division III football championships in 1980 and 1989. The school’s Hall of Fame account distinguishes those titles from its later I-AA mid-major recognition.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: Dave Whilding (2018) - Hall of Fame - University of Dayton Athletics
History
The first Pioneer Football League championship
Dayton’s first PFL championship team was the 1993 squad. The school honored that team’s twentieth anniversary at its 2013 football alumni gathering.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: DAYTON HOSTS DAVIDSON ON ALUMNI DAY SATURDAY AT 1 PM - University of Dayton Athletics
History
Moving to Welcome Stadium
Dayton football moved to Welcome Stadium in 1974. The stadium had been built in 1949 for high school football and became a shared home for college and school athletics.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: Welcome Stadium Ticket Page - University of Dayton Athletics
History
The 2007 Gridiron Classic
Dayton defeated Albany 42–21 in the December 1, 2007 Gridiron Classic at Welcome Stadium, finishing 11–1. The game matched the PFL and Northeast Conference champions. This is a historical milestone, not current-game coverage.
Checked 2026-11-03 · Sources: BIG SECOND HALF LIFTS DAYTON PAST ALBANY, 42-21 IN GRIDIRON CLASSIC - University of Dayton Athletics
These sourced summaries are prepared with AI assistance and checked against the linked material. They are not independently audited or presented as human-reviewed. Please verify details with the original sources; checked dates are not promises of live updates.