Welcome to the Encyclopedia of UNCG History, a project of the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives. You can search the Encyclopedia using the search box. You may view an alphabetical listing of all entries using the “A-Z Listing” tab at the top of the page.
Michael Parker was the head coach of the UNCG’s men’s soccer team from 1984 to 2010. Originally from Bradford, England, Parker earned his Bachelors of Science at Madeley College in Staffordshire, England in 1968 and a Masters of Education degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1971. Within two years of … Continued
Louise Brevard Alexander was born in 1887 in Hickory, North Carolina. She graduated from Presbyterian College (now Queen’s College) in Charlotte, where she was president of the student body, president of her literary society, editor of the yearbook, captain of the Daddy Rabbit Tennis Team, and a member of many … Continued
Field Day was an annual event held at the State Normal and Industrial College (later UNCG) from 1911 to the early 1930’s. Sponsored by the Physical Education Department, the program consisted of students participating in outdoor field events and later expanding to include dance and music performances. In 1930, the … Continued
Gym Night, also referred to as Gym meet, was an annual event sponsored by the Physical Education department from 1928-1953. The program consisted of demonstrations of physical education and performances by the students and were judged by faculty members of the department. Most of the events had a special theme, … Continued
Ellen Jean Griffin was a professor of physical education at the Woman’s College (later known as UNCG) from 1940 to 1968, and was one of the pioneers of women’s professional golf in the United States. In 1993, a seminar series was named after her and lasted until the late 1990s. … Continued
Walter Beale was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) from 1990-2003 and is Professor Emeritus of English. He was born and raised in Northampton County, North Carolina, and received his B.A. from Wake Forest College (now Wake Forest … Continued
William D. Carmichael, Jr. held various offices in the Consolidated University of North Carolina for more than 20 years, from 1940 until his death in 1961. He was a guiding force in the establishment of WUNC-TV, the founding of the four-year teaching hospital at UNC Chapel Hill, and the Morehead … Continued
Irwin “Ike” Belk is the retired former CEO of the Belk Department Store chain, which was founded by his father, William Henry Belk, in 1888. Under his leadership, Belk Inc. became the largest, privately owned department store chain in the United States. In addition to his corporate work, Belk was … Continued
The Ethel Martus Lawther Lecture was established in 1975 as an annual lecture series to honor the first Dean of the School of Health, Education, Recreation and Dance, Ethel Martus Lawther. Hosted by the School of Health and Human Sciences at UNCG, the program invites renowned scholars in the fields … Continued