- 1925(March)
-
W. K. Kellogg purchased 11 Arabian horses before
selecting a ranch site.
- 1925(May)
-
After looking at locations from Ventura to Pomona,
Mr. Kellogg purchased 377 acres of land in Pomona, at a cost of
$250,000, as a site for his Arabian Horse Ranch. A legend says that
the choice of the ranch site was decided on the flip of a coin. One
day Mr. Kellogg stopped his car and flipped a penny up in the air
while saying, "Heads it's Pomona; tails, it's Santa Barbara." The
ranch eventually became the present Cal Poly campus.
- 1926-1927
-
This was an active construction period at the ranch.
Under the supervision of architects Myron Hunt and H. C. Chambers
four buildings were completed: the Arabian Horse Stables and the
Trainer's House in 1926; the Kellogg Mansion and the Manor House in
1927. (The names of some of these buildings have changed -The
Arabian Horse Stables have become Union Plaza(26), The Trainer's
House is the Duplex(95), the Kellogg Mansion is University
House(112); the Manor House(111) retained its name). Landscape
Architect Charles G. Adams developed plans for the Rose Garden in
1926 and planted the garden in 1927.
- 1926
-
Rudolph Valentino rode the Kellogg Arabian Jadaan in
the film, "The Son of The Sheik." Jadaan was the first of Kellogg's
horses to appear in motion pictures.
- 1926
-
Informal horse shows were started in the stable
courtyard, eventually these shows developed into regularly scheduled
Sunday shows which are now presented at the W. K. Kellogg Horse
Center(29); over 3 million people have seen the shows.
- 1927-1930's
-
During this period many motion picture stars came to
the ranch to have their pictures taken with the horses. Some of the
big names included Mary Pickford, Clara Bow, Gary Cooper, Olivia de
Havilland, Tom Mix, Loretta Young, and Ronald Reagan.
- 1927(March)
-
Charles Voorhis purchased 157 acres of land in San
Dimas and started the Voorhis School for Boys. The school operated
from 1928-1938 providing housing and an education to over 300 boys
until the Voorhis family donated it to the State of California.
Julian McPhee, President of California State Polytechnic School, San
Luis Obispo, was given control of the Voorhis site to establish a
southern branch of Cal Poly which could offer a horticultural and
agricultural curriculum.
- 1928(July 14)
-
The W. K. Kellogg Airport was dedicated. The landing
strip (450 feet by 2,300 feet) was located east of the Arabian Horse
Stables (Union Plaza(26)). This was the first private airport
constructed in the Pomona Valley.
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- 1930(April)
-
W. K. Kellogg purchased an additional 425 acres. The
total acreage of the ranch became 802 acres. (Today the campus is
approximately 1,400 acres).
- 1932(May 17)
-
W. K. Kellogg donated the Arabian Horse Ranch, 87
horses and $600,000 to the University of California. About 22,000
people attended the ceremony which was broadcast by NBC with
humorist Will Rogers as the master of ceremonies. The ranch became
the W. K. Kellogg Institute of Animal Husbandry.
- 1936(May)
-
Mr. Kellogg visited the ranch and was not happy with
the conditions there. Fences were down and weeds were growing in
various areas. He investigated the possibility of having the ranch
redeeded back to him or turning it over to the California Institute
of Technology in Pasadena.
- 1938(September 15)
-
The Voorhis Unit of Cal Poly opened at the former
Voorhis School for Boys in San Dimas. It was a 2 year, all male
agricultural college with 80 students and 5 faculty members.
- 1939(April 29-30)
-
The first annual open house, Poly Vue, was held at
the Voorhis Unit campus.
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- 1940(January 26)
-
The Bronc's Cheer, the first San Dimas campus
newspaper was published. The name of the newspaper was changed to
Poly Views in 1942 and finally to the Poly Post in 1962.
- 1943-1946
-
World War II forced the closure of the Voorhis Unit
campus from Spring 1943 to Fall 1946.
- 1943(October 28)
-
Mr. Kellogg was successful in getting the California
Board of Regents to turn over the Arabian Horse Ranch to the U.S.
Army for use as a remount station. The ranch was owned by the War
Department from 1943-1948 and was known as the Pomona Quartermaster
Depot (Remount). During the war many renovations, including road
improvements and fence replacements, were made to the ranch by
Italian prisoners of war, who were housed at the Los Angeles County
fairgrounds.
- 1946
-
In the fall of 1946 the Voorhis Unit reopened with
an enrollment of 270 students. In 1947 enrollment increased to 400
students.
- 1947
-
The first yearbook Madre Tierra was published by
students at the Voorhis Unit.
- 1948(April 2)
-
President Harry S. Truman signed a bill (H.R.3484)
transferring remount depots (including Mr. Kellogg's Ranch) to the
Department of Agriculture. Because of a lack of funds the Department
of Agriculture made a decision to sell the ranch and the horses.
- 1949(January 1)
-
The first Cal Poly float was entered in the
Tournament of Roses Parade. It won the Award of Merit.
- 1949
-
On June 4 President Harry S. Truman signed a bill
(S.B.969) which transferred the ranch back to the W. K. Kellog
Foundation. On July 2 the California Legislature passed Assembly
Concurrent Resolution No.100 which favored the transfer of the ranch
from the Kellogg Foundation to the Cal Poly SLO. On December 14 a
sign which read "California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg Unit"
was posted at the ranch gate.
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- 1956(September)
-
550 students and 30 faculty moved from the original
Voorhis Unit to the present campus. The name of the college became
California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis. The Science
building(3) was the first building on the Pomona campus. It housed
the college administrative offices, classrooms, the library and the
bookstore. The Voorhis campus was used for continuing education
programs until 1971 when Kellogg West(77) was built (additions were
built at Kellogg West in 1978 and 1979).
- 1957
-
In February the first female faculty member, Dorothy
McNeill (later Dorothy Tucker), was hired at Cal Poly Pomona. Later
in the year Gertrude Boland and Virginia Adair also joined the
faculty.
- 1957
-
The first graduating class at Cal Poly Pomona
consisted of 57 agricultural majors. Before 1957 students spent
their senior year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and were graduated
from that campus. Diplomas were presented in a ceremony held in the
Rose Garden.
- 1959
-
This was an active year for building construction.
The following buildings were completed: College of Arts(5), College
of Engineering(9), CE,IME,ME Engineering(11), Engineering
Laboratories(12), College of Business Administration(6), Health
Services(46), and Physical Education(41).
- 1959
-
The Library was moved from the Science building(3)
to the School of Arts building(5).
- 1959(April)
-
The block letters "CP" were placed on Colt Hill by
the Poly Service Club (Phi Sigma Chi).
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- 1961
-
Women were enrolled for the first time when 329
women joined the student body of 2,436 men in the fall quarter.
Construction began on the Administration Building (1). Students
moved into Encinitas (20), Monticito (21), Alamitos (22) and Aliso
(23) residence halls.
- 1963
-
The Cal Poly Pomona chorus and band made their first
phonograph record, "The Sound of Music," which featured 12 songs.
- 1963
-
The Agriculture Classroom(2) and the Music(24),
Drama/Theatre(25) buildings were constructed.
- 1964
-
Scenes for the film "The Sandpiper" starring
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were shot on the Voorhis campus.
- 1965
-
Two buildings were completed: Manufacturing
Engineering(10) and ARO/CME/IME Engineering(13).
- 1965
-
The use of reclaimed water for campus irrigation
began. By 1990 almost 95% of the campus was irrigated by using
reclaimed water to grow tree fruits, vegetables, grains, ornamental
plants, and for livestock watering.
- 1966
-
The California Legislature established California
State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis as an independent
college. It became the 16th college in the California State College
system. In 1972 the system became The California State University
and Colleges, and in 1982 it became The California State University.
- 1967(May 1)
-
The 100,000 square foot, $3 million Gymnasium(43)
was dedicated.
- 1967(October 24)
-
Inauguration of Dr. Robert C. Kramer as President of
Cal Poly, Pomona. Dr. Kramer served as President until 1977.
- 1968(December)
-
The Library building(15) was completed; students,
faculty and staff worked together to move books and periodicals from
the School of Arts building(5) to the new library which opened
January 2, 1969.
- 1969
-
Palmitas Hall(57), Cedritos Hall(58) and the La
Cienega Center(59) were opened.
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- 1970
-
The School of Environmental Design building(7) was
completed.
- 1972(April 6)
-
Dedication of the W.K. Kellogg Horse Center(29).
- 1972(June 1)
-
The name of the college was changed to California
State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
- 1972(April 6)
-
Dedication of the W.K. Kellogg Horse Center(29).
- 1974(October 17)
-
Dedication of the University Union(35).
- 1975 (September 15)
-
The Polywagen (Tram) began operation, carrying
students, faculty and staff from parking lots to campus buildings.
- 1976(September)
-
The School of Science building(8) was opened.
- 1978(March 29)
-
The 157 acre Voorhis campus was sold for $2.31
million to the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College who had leased
the property for the previous seven years. The Voorhis campus was
sold to raise funds to purchase 100 acres of land bordering on the
northwest side of the Cal Poly Kellogg campus.
- 1978(October 31)
-
Inauguration of Dr. Hugh O. La Bounty, Jr. on
October 31 as President of Cal Poly, Pomona. Dr. La Bounty joined
the faculty in 1953 and had served as Acting President since 1977.
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- 1981(April 30)
-
Dedication of Union Plaza(26) on April 30. The
original Arabian Horse Stables had been remodeled to create Union
Plaza, a center for student organizations.
- 1983 (June 29)
-
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Voorhis Ecological
Reserve took place.
- 1984 (April 14)
-
The University Office Building(94) was dedicated.
- 1985 (September 22)
-
The University Village Apartments were opened.
-
The apartments were constructed with Cal Poly
Kellogg Unit funds. The project offered 400 additional living spaces
for Cal Poly students.
- 1986 (September 18)
-
Dedication of the Bronco Bookstore(66). The building
also provides classrooms and faculty offices.
- 1988 (January 4)
-
The University was authorized to change the names of
its "Schools" to "Colleges."
- 1988 (January 14)
-
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the $3
million James and Carol Collins Center for Hospitality Management
(79) situated near Kellogg West.
- 1988 (May)
-
A project was started to add the 4th and 5th floors
to the University Library(15). The 3rd floor was closed to allow
asbestos removal; site preparation began for construction of the two
floors.
- 1988 (October 10)
-
The University Art Gallery was dedicated. The John
L. and Helen Kellogg Foundation and Jean and W. Keith Kellogg II
provided major funding for the building. The first exhibit was
"Hollywood Collects, 1988."
- 1988 (November)
-
"Breakthrough," the first phonograph album by the
Cal Poly Pomona Jazz Ensemble was available at the Bronco Bookstore.
Also, site preparation began near the Music Building(24) for the
addition of a two story Music/Faculty Office building.
- 1989 (September 18)
-
Construction of two additional floors of the
University Library(15) was completed and the building dedicated as
part of the Fall Conference.
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- 1990 (February 25)
-
The James and Carol Collins Center for Hospitality
Management(79) was dedicated.
- 1990 (September 10)
-
After 14 years as president of Cal Poly and 38 years
in total service to the university, President Hugh O. LaBounty
announced his retirement, effective in the summer of 1991. Later the
same day the $4 million addition to the Music building(24) was
dedicated.
- 1990 (September 25)
-
Ground was broken for University Village Phase II.
This phase expanded student housing by 112 units, accommodating 448
students.
- 1991 (March 22)
-
Ground was broken for the
Classroom/Laboratory/Administration Building(98).
- 1991 (April 25)
-
A dedication ceremony was held at the Collins Center
to change the name of the Center for Hospitality Management to the
School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.
- 1991 (May 15)
-
Dr. Bob H. Suzuki was named President by the
Trustees of the California State University. He assumed office on
July 15.
- 1992 (April 29)
-
Dr. Bob H. Suzuki was inaugurated as 4th president
of Cal Poly Pomona. At the ceremony Bill Cosby was given the Doctor
of Humane Letters degree.
- 1992 (May 1)
-
Because of riots in Los Angeles, classes after
5:00pm were cancelled on April 30 and the university was closed on
May 1.
- 1993 (May and June)
-
Offices were moved from the Administration
building(1) to the CLA Building(98).
- 1993 (summer)
-
Scenes for the television movie "The Return of I
Spy" starring Bill Cosby and Robert Culp were shot on campus during
the summer, with Cosby playing a retired secret agent working as a
Cal Poly Pomona language arts professor.
- 1993 (September)
-
International Polytechnic High School opened on
campus.
- 1993 (October)
-
The Animal Laboratory(92) was opened. The $2 million
building, a high-tech structure has steel doors which are opened
with plastic cards rather than keys.
- 1993 (November)
-
Cal Poly Pomona's solar race car "Intrepid" finished
the World Solar Challenge as the fastest entry from North America in
the 1900-mile race from Darwin to Adelaide through the Australian
outback.
- 1994 (May)
-
The Alumni Brick Walk-of-Fame connecting the Kellogg
Rose Garden and the CLA Building(98) was dedicated.
- 1994 (June)
-
The University adopted a new logo created by graphic
design student Debora Lem.
- 1994 (November 9)
-
The University celebrated it's first Founder's Day
and dedicated the Center for Regenerative Studies(209).
- 1994 (November)
-
The Home Page Team was established to guide the
development of the campus presence on the World Wide Web.
- 1995 (February)
-
Faculty were invited to join FACNET, a campus
electronic mail listserv.
- 1995 (September)
-
The University was awarded a $12.5 million contract
for an Apparel Manufacturing Demonstration site by the Defense
Logistics Agency.
- 1995 (September 25)
-
U.S. News and World Report rated Cal
Poly Pomona as the nation's 3rd best-priced university in the
western region of the United States.
- 1996 (January)
-
The Darlene May Gymnasium(41) was dedicated.
- 1996 (Winter quarter)
-
The Bronco Access card "one-card system" was
introduced on campus.
- 1996 (June)
-
Columbia Pictures was on campus to film scenes
around the CLA building(98) for the movie The Eighth Day
starring Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawk.
- 1996 (July)
-
The Instructional and Information Technology
division was created, bringing together the Computing Resource
Center, Telecommunications, Instructional Technology and Academic
Computing, and the University Library.
- 1996 (August)
-
The campus received a $2,059,000 grant from the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation to restore and expand the University House(112)
which was renamed Kellogg House Pomona.
- 1996 (October)
-
Grand opening of the renovated Campus Center(97),
which was transformed into a marketplace-style eatery. It included
Carl's Jr./Green Burrito, Wok-a-Round, a soup & salad bar, a bakery
& coffee bar, and a convenience store.
- 1997 (January)
-
President Suzuki signed a $4.5 million computer
equipment leasing plan for the university.
