Golden graduates
A look back at commencement ceremonies at Mizzou through the years
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Photo captions
- 1843 - The first commencement at MU, in November 1843, had only two graduates and lasted three hours. The graduates, Robert B. and Robert L. Todd, were cousins of Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary.
- 1902 - Mark Twain with MU curators. Twain received an honorary degree.
- 1929 - Summer commencement.
- 1930 - Commencement ceremony in the Fieldhouse.
- 1932 - Chief Marshall Chester Brewer leads the academic procession.
- 1939 - A graduate places a wreath at Memorial Union to commemorate those who have died while serving in the military.
- 1950 - Missouri-born President Harry S Truman gives the commencement speech.
- 1956 - MU President Elmer Ellis delivers brief remarks at summer commencement in Jesse Hall.
- 1968 - Summer commencement ceremony on Francis Quadrangle.
- 1970 - Journalist Walter Cronkite gives the commencement speech and receives an honorary doctorate.