Olivet Nazarene University Archives

Olivet Nazarene University Archives Know about our special events. See artifacts from our collection. Learn how we can assist in your research. Also important is local history.

University Archives focuses our collection on the history of our institution and Nazarene history.

There was a time when all Olivet's home football games were played during the day. That was until September, 2002, when ...
09/04/2026

There was a time when all Olivet's home football games were played during the day. That was until September, 2002, when the very first night game was played. Thanks to a 2002 facelift of Ward Field which including adding lights, night football could be enjoyed. The first game under the lights was played against Platteville on September 7, 2002. Enjoy photos from that exciting evening.

Move-in day happened last weekend. By now, the students should be all settled in. These photos take us back to move-in d...
08/28/2026

Move-in day happened last weekend. By now, the students should be all settled in. These photos take us back to move-in day, 2004.
Join us in praying for our students, that this will be a year of growth in both wisdom and understanding.

"The organized chaos & utter pandemonium, that has come to be known as Ollies Follies" will begin on campus soon! Descri...
08/21/2026

"The organized chaos & utter pandemonium, that has come to be known as Ollies Follies" will begin on campus soon! Described in the 1974 Glimmerglass school newspaper, this event kicks off the fall semester. It's inception was the "brain child of the 1970 Social Committee" to strengthen school spirit & class unity. The greased pig chase, the bathtub stuff, and mattress race were early favorites. What do you remember about Ollies Follies?

We'll soon hear the delightful sound of fall as Olivet's marching band members arrive early on campus to begin practice....
08/14/2026

We'll soon hear the delightful sound of fall as Olivet's marching band members arrive early on campus to begin practice.
As you can see from these photos, Olivet's marching band dates back to its earliest days but began in earnest in 1955 ending around 1961.
Nearly forty years later, in September of 2004, Olivet’s Marching Tigers had their inaugural performance. Since then, the Marching Tigers have performed in London, Italy & Washington D.C.
Long live marching bands!

Classes start at the end of the month, but already the football players are on campus to begin practice for the coming ...
08/07/2026

Classes start at the end of the month, but already the football players are on campus to begin practice for the coming season.
This year marks 50 years since Olivet has had an intercollegiate football team. The first team was organized in 1976 under the direction of Butch Ward. Shown here is the team picture and roster of players from that first season.
This school year another intercollegiate football team will have their inaugural year at Olivet. Women's flag football will begin their first season this spring under the direction of Kyle Hastings. Kyle played Olivet football back in the late 1990's when the team was experiencing great success.

Brenda Kirts, a 1969 Olivet graduate was the first female athlete to be inducted into Olivet's Athletic Hall of Fame. Ac...
07/31/2026

Brenda Kirts, a 1969 Olivet graduate was the first female athlete to be inducted into Olivet's Athletic Hall of Fame.
According to a family member, "She was a very special person. She taught PE and coached tennis at Bradley, Bourbonnais High School for many years. She was amazingly generous with family and friends. She loved people." Are there any Olivet classmates out there that remember Brenda?

Here is a link to a list of Awards & Recognitions from the Olivet Archives' Website: https://archives.olivet.edu/olivetHistory/awards/index.php

For nearly 80 years, Olivet's Williams Hall has been the first place incoming female students call home on campus. Cons...
07/24/2026

For nearly 80 years, Olivet's Williams Hall has been the first place incoming female students call home on campus.
Construction began on the structure in 1947 and was completed in 1951. Students lived in sections of the building as they were completed. The unique design of the building, a modified "U- shape", boasted of ... " providing maximum circulation & direct sunlight to every room sometime during the day".
Originally named "Eunice Williams Hall", after the wife of R. T. Williams, General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene, it has gone through several renovations over the years. Pictured here is the "parlor", as it was first called, and pictures showing its changes over time.
The photo of Eunice Williams and her sons, R.T., Jr. and Reginald, was taken at the dedication ceremony in 1951.

"Signing the Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776", a Goebel, limited edition piece of artwork, has recently been ...
07/17/2026

"Signing the Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776", a Goebel, limited edition piece of artwork, has recently been relocated to the library just in time for the 250th celebration of country's independence. The piece had been in display in Benner Library for years, and it seemed very fitting to bring it back this year.

This week we're completing our list of women (all distinguished alumni), who have been awarded the Olivet "O" Award in t...
07/10/2026

This week we're completing our list of women (all distinguished alumni), who have been awarded the Olivet "O" Award in the lay person category.
Dr. Teresa Woodruff '85, Suzanne Bell '98 and Joy Yoon '99 were honored with the award in 2016, 2017 & 2022, respectively. These women have excelled in their work in medicine, science, and humanitarian efforts.

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Bourbonnais, IL
60914

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