‘Quasquicentennial’ marked with yearlong series of events
Quasquicentennial: a big word to describe a big year.
While its pronunciation* may be difficult, for Mitchell Hamline the meaning is simple: 125 years of excellence in legal education.
Dr. Fayneese Miller, left, president of Hamline University; Dan O’Keefe, chair of Mitchell Hamline’s board of trustees; and Mark Gordon, president and dean of Mitchell Hamline, at combination signing ceremony, 2015
With roots dating back to the founding of St. Paul College of Law in 1900, Mitchell Hamline will recognize its 125th anniversary with a yearlong series of celebrations commemorating its legacy and impact on the community, the legal field, and legal education. In addition to celebrating 125 years as a school, Mitchell Hamline will recognize several milestones in 2025, including the 10-year anniversary of the combination of William Mitchell College of Law and Hamline University School of Law that formed Mitchell Hamline in 2015, and the 10-year anniversary of the launching of the first-of-its-kind blended-learning program.
“I am humbled and honored to lead Mitchell Hamline as the institution celebrates this significant anniversary year,” said President and Dean Camille Davidson. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our rich history, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the investment of our alumni network of over 23,000 strong across the country.”
Groundbreaking ceremony for new law school building at Hamline University as reported by The Oracle student newspaper, 1979
Mitchell Hamline’s commitment to access has remained steady over the past 125 years, even as much else has evolved—including the law school’s very name, combinations among institutions, and physical locations. Its first predecessor school, St. Paul College of Law, opened as a night school with 20 students and tuition at $60 so working individuals had the opportunity to study law at a time when law school was typically reserved for the elite. In 2001, Hamline Law expanded access to its program through Minnesota’s first and only weekend law degree enrollment option, the second of its kind in the nation. In 2015, William Mitchell introduced the first part online/part in-person J.D. program at an ABA-approved law school, which would eventually become known as blended learning and would allow students around the world to earn a law degree part time while continuing to work.
The yearlong series of events kicks off Jan. 15 with a symposium honoring 10 years of blended learning. “Transforming Legal Education for the Future of Law” will feature experts in the fields of legal education and innovation. The next day, Mitchell Hamline will host a first-of-its-kind online law school fair for prospective students interested in J.D. virtual enrollment opportunities, with 17 law schools registered to participate. On Jan. 23, blended-learning alumni will have the chance to relive their law school experience through a virtual office hours reunion, connecting with fellow alumni and some of their Mitchell Hamline faculty to share what they’ve been doing since graduation and hear about what is new at the law school.
Alumnae gathered for the first Women in Law Tea, 2000
Anniversary events will continue throughout the year, including this year’s alumni awards ceremony in February, a 10th birthday party for Mitchell Hamline in April, the 25th annual Women in Law Tea in May, and a reunion weekend and gala in October—which marks a milestone in itself as the month 50 years ago when a developing law school was able to take the name Hamline University School of Law. Supplementing these events will be a variety of communications, displays, campus improvements, and publications, including an illustrated history of the school. Information about all quasquicentennial events will be available online: https://www.mitchellhamline.edu/125-years/
“We can’t wait, and we hope that you join us in celebrating Mitchell Hamline together this year,” said Davidson.
*You may recognize “centennial” to mark a 100-year anniversary, but the word “quasquicentennial” was only created in 1961 when the town of Delavan, Illinois, wanted to recognize its 125th anniversary with a Latinate word. It should be pronounced “KWOS kwih.”