In 2009, Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is celebrating its 125th anniversary. From its humble beginnings as a night school with only seven students, it has grown to be one of the leading universities in the United States with a worldwide reputation for excellence, international campuses in Rome and Tokyo, and study abroad programs around the world.

Temple University

Temple was founded in 1884 by Russell Conwell, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, writer and minister, who began teaching mathematics, public speaking and other subjects after work in the evenings to young men who didn’t have the opportunity to get a decent education. In just a few short years the number of students grew, and the first women were admitted in 1888. In the same year, the trustees applied for a state charter of incorporation as Temple College, and Temple University was created in 1907 with the merger of Temple College with the Philadelphia Dental College. The name “Temple” simply comes from the original venue for the school, which was a Baptist temple. From the beginning, the school was completely nonsectarian and included students, faculty and administrators of many denominations.

Today, Temple University has more than 37,000 students and 17 schools and colleges, making it the 28th largest among the over 4000 universities in the United States. It is the third biggest employer in Philadelphia and its direct expenditures generate more than US$3 billion per year for Pennsylvania’s economy.