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KSU Commencement Programs

Special Collections and Archives

KSU Commencement Programs

Special Collections and Archives

KSU Commencement Programs

Kent State University Commencement Programs collection

Finding Aid

Prepared by BethAnne Shaup April, 1999; Last Updated: June 2024


Inclusive Dates: 1914-2024
Extent: 8 cubic feet (8 record storage boxes)
Physical Location: 11th floor


Scope and Content: This collection contains commencement programs and some baccalaureate programs dating from 1914 through the present. There are some gaps in holdings. The programs of each commencement include the listings of graduates of each college of the University. Officers of Kent State, guests, honorary degree recipients, and speakers who participated in each commencement are also listed in most programs.

Alternative Form Available: Virtual programs were produced for ceremonies starting in 2020 and are available for viewing online. Click program title to view the digital program.


Box 1: 1914 - August 1959 (incomplete holdings)

  1. Inventory of Kent State University Commencements, 1914-1995
  2. 1914, July 29 (First Annual Commencement)
  3. 1917, Spring
  4. 1919, June 7
  5. 1920, June 12
  6. 1920, July 30
  7. 1921, June 11
  8. 1921, July 28
  9. 1922, June 10
  10. 1922, July 26
  11. 1923, June 7
  12. 1923, July 19
  13. 1923, August 31
  14. 1925, June 3
  15. 1925, August 27
  16. 1926, June 11
  17. 1930 June 6
  18. 1930 July, 1930 August
  19. 1931 May
  20. 1932 August
  21. 1933 June; Commencement and Baccalaureate
  22. 1933 August/September
  23. 1934 May 31, Class Day; June; August 5, Commencement and Baccalaureate
  24. 1935 June and August
  25. 1936 May/June; August
  26. 1937, June and August; Baccalaureate, June; Class Day, June
  27. 1938 June and August
  28. 1939 June and July
  29. 1940 June and August; Baccalaureate Service June; College of Education June; College of Business Administration
  30. 1941 June and August; Baccalaureate Service June; College of Education
  31. 1942 August; Announcement June; Baccalaureate Service Aug; College of Education
  32. 1943 September; Announcements March and June; Baccalaureate Service June
  33. 1944 June and September; Announcements June; Baccalaureate Service June
  34. 1945 June and August; Announcements June; Baccalaureate service August
  35. 1946 June and August; Announcements June; Baccalaureate service June and August
  36. 1947 June and August; Announcements June; Baccalaureate service June and August
  37. 1948 June and September; Announcements June; Baccalaureate service June and September
  38. 1949 June and September; Announcements June; Baccalaureate service June
  39. 1950 June and September
  40. 1951 June and August
  41. 1952 June and August; Announcements June
  42. 1953 June and September; Announcements June
  43. 1954 June and September
  44. 1955 June and August
  45. 1956 June and August
  46. 1957 June and August
  47. 1958 June and August
  48. 1959 June
  49. 1959 August

Box 2: June 1960 - August 1972

  1. 1960 June
  2. 1960 August
  3. 1961 June Annual
  4. 1961 August Summer
  5. 1962 June Annual
  6. 1962 August Summer
  7. 1963 June Annual
  8. 1963 August Summer
  9. 1964 June Annual
  10. 1964 August Summer
  11. 1965 March Winter
  12. 1965 June Annual
  13. 1965 August Summer
  14. 1966 March Winter
  15. 1966 June Annual
  16. 1966 August Summer
  17. 1967 March Winter
  18. 1967 June Annual
  19. 1967 September Summer
  20. 1968 March Winter
  21. 1968 June Annual
  22. 1968 August Summer
  23. 1969 March Winter
  24. 1969 June Spring
  25. 1969 August Summer
  26. 1969 December Fall
  27. 1970 March Winter
  28. 1970 June Spring
  29. 1970 August Summer
  30. 1970 December Fall
  31. 1971 March Winter
  32. 1971 June Spring
  33. 1971 August Summer
  34. 1971 December Fall
  35. 1972 March Winter
  36. 1972 June Spring
  37. 1972 August Summer

Box 3: June 1973 - December 1989

  1. 1973 June Spring
  2. 1973 August Summer
  3. 1974 June Spring
  4. 1974 August Summer
  5. 1975 June Spring
  6. 1975 August Summer
  7. 1976 June Spring
  8. 1976 August Summer
  9. 1977 June Spring
  10. 1977 August Summer
  11. 1978 June Spring
  12. 1978 August Summer
  13. 1979 June Spring
  14. 1979 August Summer
  15. 1980 May Spring
  16. 1980 August Summer
  17. 1980 December Fall
  18. 1981 May Spring
  19. 1981 August Summer
  20. 1981 December Fall
  21. 1982 May Spring
  22. 1982 August Summer
  23. 1982 December Fall
  24. 1983 May Spring
  25. 1983 August Summer
  26. 1983 December Fall
  27. 1984 May Spring
  28. 1984 August Summer
  29. 1984 December Fall
  30. 1985 May Spring
  31. 1985 August Summer
  32. 1985 December Fall
  33. 1986 May Spring
  34. 1986 August Summer
  35. 1986 December Fall
  36. 1987 May Spring
  37. 1987 August Summer
  38. 1987 December Fall
  39. 1988 May Spring
  40. 1988 August Summer
  41. 1988 December Fall
  42. 1989 May Spring
  43. 1989 August Summer
  44. 1989 December Fall

Box 4: May 1990 - December 2000

  1. 1990 May Spring
  2. 1990 August Summer
  3. 1990 December Fall
  4. 1991 May Spring
  5. 1991 August Summer
  6. 1991 December Fall
  7. 1992 May Spring
  8. 1992 August Summer
  9. 1992 December Fall
  10. 1993 May Spring
  11. 1993 August Summer
  12. 1993 December Fall
  13. 1994 May Spring
  14. 1994 August Summer
  15. 1994 December Fall
  16. 1995 May Spring
  17. 1995 August Summer
  18. 1995 December Fall
  19. 1996 May Spring
  20. 1996 August Summer
  21. 1996 December Fall
  22. 1997 May Spring
  23. 1997 August Summer
  24. 1997 December Fall
  25. 1998 May Spring
  26. 1998 August Summer
  27. 1998 December Fall

Box 5: May 1999 - December 2005

  1. 1999 May Spring, autographed by Ken Howard
  2. 1999 August Summer
  3. 1999 December Fall
  4. 2000 May Spring
  5. 2000 August Summer
  6. 2000 December Fall
  7. 2001 May Spring
  8. 2001 August Summer
  9. 2002 August Summer
  10. 2002 December Fall
  11. 2003 May Spring
  12. 2003 August Summer
  13. 2003 December Fall
  14. 2004 August Summer
  15. 2004 December Fall
  16. 2005 May 14 and 15 Spring
  17. 2005 August Summer
  18. 2005 December Fall

Box 6: May 2006 - December 2013

  1. 2006 May Spring
  2. 2006 August Summer
  3. 2006 December Fall
  4. 2007 May Spring
  5. 2007 August Summer
  6. 2007 December Fall
  7. 2008 May Spring
  8. 2008 August Summer
  9. 2008 December Fall
  10. 2009 May Spring (Doctoral)
  11. 2009 August Summer (Master's and Baccalaureate ceremony)
  12. 2009 August Summer (Doctoral ceremony)
  13. 2009 December Fall (Master's and Baccalaureate ceremony)
  14. 2010 May Spring (Master's and Baccalaureate ceremony)
  15. 2010 August Summer (Master's and Baccalaureate ceremony)
  16. 2010 December Fall (Master's and Baccalaureate ceremony)
  17. 2010 December Fall (Doctoral ceremony)
  18. 2011 May Spring (Doctoral ceremony)
  19. 2011 December Fall (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  20. 2011 December Fall (Advanced degree ceremony)
  21. 2012 August Summer (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  22. 2012 August Summer (Advanced degree ceremony)
  23. 2012 December Fall (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  24. 2012 December Fall (Advanced degree ceremony)
  25. 2013 May Spring (Advanced degree ceremony)
  26. 2013 May Spring (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  27. 2013 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  28. 2013 August Summer (Advanced degree ceremony)
  29. 2013 August Summer (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  30. 2013 December Fall (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  31. 2013 December Fall (Advanced degree ceremony)

Box 7: May 2014 - May 2021

  1. 2014 May Spring (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  2. 2014 May Spring (Advanced degree ceremony)
  3. 2014 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  4. 2014 August Summer (College of Podiatric Medicine: White Coat ceremony)
  5. 2014 August Summer (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  6. 2014 August Summer (Advanced degree ceremony)
  7. 2014 December Fall (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  8. 2014 December Fall (Advanced degree ceremony)
  9. 2015 May Spring (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  10. 2015 May Spring (Advanced degree ceremony)
  11. 2015 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  12. 2015 August Summer (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  13. 2015 August Summer (Advanced degree ceremony)
  14. 2015 December Fall (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  15. 2015 December Fall (Advanced degree ceremony)
  16. 2016 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  17. 2016 May Spring (Baccalaureate ceremony)
  18. 2016 May Spring (Advanced degree ceremony)
  19. 2016 August Summer (All colleges)
  20. 2016 December Fall (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  21. 2017 May Spring (One University Commencement ceremony)
  22. 2017 May Spring (College of Nursing ceremony)
  23. 2017 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  24. 2017 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine: White Coat ceremony)
  25. 2017 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  26. 2017 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  27. 2017 December Fall (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  28. 2018 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  29. 2018 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  30. 2018 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  31. 2018 December Fall (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  32. 2019 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  33. 2019 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  34. 2019 December Fall (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
  35. 2020 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
    Historical Note: Ceremonies were virtual due to COVID-19 pandemic.
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only at the time of the ceremony. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. A printed version was later produced by the University and is also present in the collection.
  36. 2020 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
    Historical Note: Ceremonies were virtual due to COVID-19 pandemic.
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. 
  37. 2020 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
    Historical Note: Ceremonies were virtual due to COVID-19 pandemic.
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only at the time of the ceremony. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. A printed version was later produced by the University and is also present in the collection.
  38. 2020 December Fall (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
    Historical Note: Ceremonies were virtual due to COVID-19 pandemic.
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. 
  39. 2021 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremony)
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only at the time of the ceremony. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. A printed version was later produced by the University and is also present in the collection.
  40. 2021 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. 
  41. 2021 August Summer
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only at the time of the ceremony. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. A printed version was later produced by the University and is also present in the collection.
  42. 2021 October (Class of 2020 ceremony program)
    Historical Note: As part of Homecoming 2021, students who graduated in 2020 were invited to campus for an in-person ceremony honoring their achievements. This is a print copy of the program of events for that day. Names of 2020 graduates can be found in the virtual program for the semester they graduated.
    Alternative Form Available: A printer's proof PDF copy of the program was provided by the Kent State Office of University Events & Protocol.
  43. 2021 December Fall
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only at the time of the ceremony. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. A printed version was later produced by the University and is also present in the collection.

Box 8: May 2022 -

  1. 2022 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. 
  2. 2022 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
    Alternative Form Available: This program was produced in digital format only at the time of the ceremony. A print copy was made for research use and is housed in the physical collection. A printed version was later produced by the University and is also present in the collection.
  3. 2022 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)
  4. 2023 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)
  5. 2023 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  6. 2023 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)
  7. 2023 December Fall (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)
  8. 2024 May Spring (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)
  9. 2024 May Spring (College of Podiatric Medicine ceremony)
  10. 2024 August Summer (Advanced & Baccalaureate ceremonies)