Hamline University
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Hamline University was founded in 1854 in Red Wing, Minnesota as the second institution of higher education in the state. Although the University of Minnesota is technically older (having been chartered in 1851), it did not begin enrolling students until 1857, allowing Hamline to make a largely-unchallenged claim to actually being the first such school in the state. Hamline is also distinct as being founded as a coeducational institution, a rarity in nineteenth century America. Its first graduates were, in fact, women.
The college at Red Wing was closed in 1869 and reopened at its current location in 1880. Since 1880, Hamline has been located in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul. Hamline has a total enrollment of approximately 4,000 students, including its College of Liberal Arts, School of Law, and Graduate Studies programs, and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Hamline University was named for the Methodist bishop Leonidas Lent Hamline, who provided US$25,000 of his own money to launch the school. A statue of the bishop, sculpted by the late Professor of Art Michael Price, stands on campus.
Hamline University's mascot is the "Piper," which comes from a play on the name of the University. The Pied Piper story comes from Hamlin, Germany, and thus, the mascot name fits nicely with the Hamline University title.
Athletics
Hamline University calls itself the "birthplace of intercollegiate basketball." In 1893 then-Hamline Athletic Director Ray Kaighn (who had played on James Naismith's very first basketball team) brought the sport to the University, when it was barely a year old. A women's program was organized two years later. On February 9,1895 Hamline hosted the first intercollegiate basketball game in history when the "Minnesota State School of Agriculture" (a.k.a. the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota) defeated Hamline by a score of 9 to 3. The game was played using Naismith's original "Peach Basket" rules in the basement of the school's old science building (long since demolished), and featured nine players to each side.
Hamline was once known for the strength of its basketball program, with the University considered to be a national power in the sport from the 1930's to the 50's. Former Head Coach Joe Hutton, Sr. (1931-65) was once even offered -- and turned down -- a chance to coach the Minneapolis Lakers.
-1,154 total victories ranks Hamline as the 23rd winningest team in NCAA Division III history (as of the 2004-05 season)
-NCAA Division III Semifinalist: 1977 (Finished in fourth place)
-NCAA Division III Quarterfinalist: 1975
-NCAA Division III All-Tournament Selection: Phil Smyczek, 1977
-NCAA Division III Academic All-Americans: Paul Westling, 1986; John Banovetz, 1989
-University is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
School of Law
US News & World Report ranks the dispute resolution program of the Hamline University School of Law among the top five in the nation. Other law schools ranked in the top five with Hamline include Pepperdine University (McConnell), University of Missouri–Columbia, Harvard University, and Ohio State University (Moritz).
External link
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