Traditions and History

A brief history of Chatham University...

Chatham University, a coeducational institution with three distinctive Colleges, was chartered on December 11, 1869, under the name Pennsylvania Female College. It was founded to provide women with an education comparable to that which men could receive at the time at "colleges of the first class." The Reverend William Trimble Beatty, pastor of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church, led a group of Pittsburghers in making the dream of solid academic training for women a reality. The founders were somewhat ahead of their time: 1869 was the year that the National Association of Women's Suffrage was established, and the year John Stuart Mill published The Subjection of Women. Pennsylvania Female College occupied what was then the largest private residence in Allegheny County - the George Berry mansion atop Fifth Avenue in Shadyside. Fifteen faculty and just more than 100 students occupied the 11-acre campus.

The College's first curriculum required proficiency of all students in Latin, French, or German; higher mathematics; history; English; natural sciences; systematic Bible history; and Anglo-Saxon. In succeeding years, electives ranging from modern literature to family living were added, and the number of required courses was reduced.

In 1890 the name of the institution was changed to Pennsylvania College for Women, and in 1955 the name was changed again to Chatham College. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted university status in 2007, which was officially announced on May 1, 2007 and marks Chatham's newest tradition, University Day.

On May 1, 2008—one year after having been granted University status by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—Chatham received a gift unequaled in its history: the Eden Hall Farm Campus from Eden Hall Foundation. Originally a farm and retreat for the working women of Pittsburgh, Eden Hall Farm will be an academic eco-campus accessible to Chatham students and also a community resource for the residents of Pittsburgh’s North Hills. The nearly 400-acre campus will be a living laboratory for environmental programs, both undergraduate and graduate and will support a variety of educational, environmental, women’s leadership and community programs.

The University’s Shadyside Campus expanded in June 2008 to include Chatham Eastside, an office complex at Fifth and Penn avenues approximately one mile from Woodland Road. Chatham Eastside will allow the University to expand several successful programs, including interior architecture, landscape architecture, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and physician assistant studies.

Chatham Traditions...

Traditions are an integral part of life at Chatham.  Familiarity with the traditions is important to fully understand life on Chatham 's campus.  Most traditional events involve not only the student, but the faculty, staff, and alumnae as well.

University Colors: Green and White

Chatham College for Women Colors:  Purple and White

Class Colors: Each undergraduate class is pinned with their colors upon their matriculation to the college.  Each year, one of the four colors is passed down from graduating seniors to incoming first years. 

Opening Convocation marks the traditional opening of the school year.

Fallfest Weekend is full of various activities with an Octoberfest theme.

Harvest Fun Fest is an event that came about in 1998.

Halloween Dinner is a chance for students, faculty, staff and their families to compete for prizes in Halloween activities.
Family Weekend

Battle of the Classes is a week long event that has each class competing in several events.

Song Contest has been a tradition at Chatham for more than 70 years.

Thanksgiving Dinner is a family-style, sit-down dinner to which students often invite family and friends.

Candlelight, Fickes Eggnog, and the Holiday Ball is an event where students have the opportunity to dress semi-formally and invite guests.

Spring Fling is an extended weekend full of activities.

May Day activities consist of the first-year class members placing flowers outside the doors of senior class members’ rooms.

Closing Convocation is the traditional closing of the school year.