Commencement History

Oberlin College Commencement over the years has been a mixture of tradition and ceremony often taking place on Tappan Square and for some years, inside First Church or Finney Memorial Chapel. From the big tent brought in by late 18th century revivalist Charles G. Finney to lighting the campus walkways with Japanese lanterns, Commencement at Oberlin has always been a distinctive occasion. Indeed ceremonies have changed over time, yet the basic concepts of pageantry, hopefulness, purpose, and celebration have remained.

The Oberlin Collegiate Institute (renamed Oberlin College in 1850) granted its first degrees in 1836 in the Theological Department. On September 6, 1837, the College presented its first four AB degrees. When the College changed its academic calendar in 1878 to reflect the dates of other colleges and universities, Commencement began taking place in June.

Prior to 1895, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music did not issue degrees; however, it later joined the College’s AB degree ceremonies to present diplomas and certificates to its graduates. By 1905, the Conservatory began issuing the new Mus.B. degree, following the lead of Boston University in granting a bachelor’s degree in music.

Academic regalia, graduation robes, and mortarboards have not always been a part of the Oberlin tradition. Early graduates maintained a class uniform or hat. Mortarboards first began appearing in Oberlin in 1881. The tradition of wearing a cap and gown finally took hold in 1907, even though students in some years opposed wearing academic attire. With the formation of the Alumni Association in 1939, more alumni began returning to campus for the occasion which led College leaders to create a more elaborate and extensive celebration.

Today’s Commencement is full of pomp and circumstance. Now called Commencement and Reunion Weekend, it is perhaps the largest annual campus event open to all members of the Oberlin community.

Before 1893, no outside speaker was permitted to give the Commencement address. 

Commencement speakers during the last 25 years:
1984     Francine du Plessix Gray *
1985     William Weil Goldman
1986     Flora Lewis
1987     Archbishop Desmond Tutu *
1988     Gardner Calvin Taylor *
1989     Audre Lorde *
1990     Bronislaw Geremek *
1991     Faye Wattleton *
1992     Antonia Hernandez *
1993     June E. Osborn *
1994     Romulus Zachariah Linney *
1995     Johnnetta Betsch Cole *
1996     Robert Coles *
1997     Allan Henry Spear *
1998     Damon Jerome Keith *
1999     John J. Sweeney *
2000     Oscar Arias Sànchez *
2001     William H. Gray III *
2002     Judah M. Folkman *
2003     Anthony Lewis
2004     Margaret H. Marshall
2005     William Frederick Schulze III
2006     Juan Guzmán Tapia *
2007     Connie Schultz *
2008     Fareed Zakaria *
2009     Richard N. Haass *

* Indicates speaker also received an honorary degree from Oberlin College.

Information courtesy of College Archives.