About: BG History

Before this institution reached “University” status, a charter started it all in 1910 and it was originally known as Bowling Green State Normal School. In 1914 the school opened its doors, the intended goal of the institution was to serve as a “training of teachers” institution. This tradition has been carried forward today, along with other traditions. The passing of the Emmons-Hanna Bill in 1929, legally changed the name of the institution and it became known as Bowling Green State College. In 1935 the institution was given the name Bowling Green State University as, during this time the institution began to offer more majors. By 1940 BGSU became a four-year degree-granting university. Just like its name the university went through countless changes and grew into the university we all know today—Bowling Green State University.

This website tells the unique and interesting history of our institution and how it grew through ups and downs of America’s history, while building an institution. This University experienced events such as the Great Depression, the end of prohibition, World War II, all the way to the passage of the 26th Amendment, 911 Attacks, and current national events. The information and stories on this website comes from the BG Falcon Media resources and its staff. This includes journalists, photographers, and etc. from FYI 100 years (1910-2010), BG News (85 years), Key Magazine, and Key Yearbooks (1918-2012). The BG Falcon Media want to express the importance of BGSU’s history, by creating an accessible condensed online version of 100+ years of history.