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Timeline of Alverno College History

1942

 

Upon the passing of Mother Stanislaus in 1942, Mother M. Corona Wirfs became the fourth Superior General of the School Sisters of Saint Francis. She also served as Alverno’s fourth president from 1942-1948.

Click here to learn more about Alverno College Presidents.

 

This is a black and white photo of Mother Corona Wirfs.She was the fourth Superior General of the School Sisters of Saint Francis. She also served as Alverno’s fourth president from 1942-1948.

Mother Corona Wirfs

1943

 

Alverno College of Music welcomed lay students as early as 1937 and conferred degrees upon Dolores Alferi and Bertha Kwoh in 1943.

 

Dolores Alfieri, one of alverno's first lay graduates is pictured here in black and white with wellwishers.

One of the first two lay student graduates, Dolores Alferi is shown posing with faculty and family in the convent courtyard.

 

This is a bl;ack and white photo of Bertha Kwoh one of the first two lay graduates of Alverno College

Bertha Kwoh, 1943

1944

 

Based on projections for future growth of the college and its enrollment, in July 1944 Fischer Farm was purchased by the School Sisters of St. Francis to become Alverno College.

 

This is a black and white photo of Fischer Farm with the white frame farmhouse in the background

Fischer Farm prior to the construction of Alverno College. Note the white farmhouse in the background; it still stands today.

1946

 


In 1946 Alverno Teachers College was reorganized as a liberal arts college and renamed Alverno College.
 

This gold college bulletin with brown lettering dated 1946-1948 is the first bearing the "Alverno College" name

This General Bulletin for 1946-1948 is the first that bears the name Alverno College

1948

 


Sister M. Augustine Scheele was elected president of Alverno College in January 1948. She was the first to actually carry the title and was Alverno's fifth president.

Click here to learn more about Alverno College Presidents.

 

This is a photo of the announcment that was sent out when Sister Augustine Scheele became alverno's president

 

This is a black and white photo of Alverno's fifth president, Sister Augustine Scheele

Sister Augustine Scheele (1896 - 1982)
 

 

 

Sister Jutta Hollenbeck was named Academic Dean in 1948. She served until 1960.

 

This is a black anf white photo of alverno's first Academic Dean, Sister Jutta Hollenbeck

Sister Jutta Hollenbeck (1890 - 1976)

 

 

January 21, 1948 Alverno College officially opened its doors to lay students. That first semester thirty-seven lay students enrolled; thirteen were full-time students. Tuition at that time was $50 per semester.

 

This is a black and white photo of some of the first lay students to attend Alverno College

1949

 

On July 31, 1949 Marion Yochum received a Bachelor of Science in Education and became the first lay woman to graduate from Alverno College.

 

This is a black and white photo of Marion Yochum who was the first to graduate from Alverno College in 1949

Marion Yochum