The first class of Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University) graduated in 1872, and it wasn’t long after that these alumni felt the need for an association of former students. An informal meeting was first held in 1876 by Iowa State alumni and students. The Alumni Association was officially formed on November 12, 1878 with Edgar W. Stanton (class of 1872) as president. Officers were elected, a constitution was signed and it was decided that meetings would be held biennially.



The first alumni club outside of Ames was formed in Chicago in 1893, and soon there were clubs in Washington D.C., New York City, and Pittsburgh. The Chicago club has been particularly active. In 1931, they sponsored a contest for a new school song. An entry by Jim Wilson titled “Bells of Iowa State” remains Iowa State’s school song to this day.



The Alumni Association would slowly take a more prominent role in campus activities. In 1905, the Alumni Association first published The Alumnus, which made it possible to keep alumni all over the country informed about the activities of Iowa State. Alumni Hall was completed in 1907 and became the home of the Alumni Association. During the 1920s, the Alumni Association played a large part in securing donations for the construction of the Memorial Union and upon its completion in 1928, moved their headquarters there.



Since then, the Alumni Association has grown to provide numerous services to the University and its alumni. In 1932, the Alumni Achievement Fund was created, the Alumni Association was incorporated as an independent self-governing association, and the first Honors and Awards program was held. In 1973, the Student Alumni Association was formed and a year after that the alumni travel program started. In 1980, the Alumni Achievement Fund merged with the ISU Foundation to combine fundraising efforts. 1988 marked the first issue of the Alumni Association’s new publication, VISIONS. The Alumni Association moved to its new home, the ISU Alumni Center, in 2008; it is located in the Iowa State Center near Jack Trice Stadium and C.Y. Stephens Auditorium.