University anniversaries

Centenary 1950-1952

Messages of congratulations

The University of Sydney Centenary celebrations commenced in 1950 and commemorated various important phases in the foundation of the University.

In late 1951, preliminary announcements in Latin of the University's intention to hold the main functions of its Centenary Celebrations in August 1952, were sent to over 150 Universities in the British Commonwealth, the United States of America, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Japan and South East Asia.

The Ceremony of Presentation of Addresses by Delegates to the Centenary Celebrations was held at 11am on 27 August 1952. Many Universities not represented sent congratulatory messages and these messages together with the ones presented in person by delegates were displayed in the Fisher Library (now MacLaurin Hall) during the Celebrations.

A sample of these messages - many in Latin - appear below.

Click (twice) on images for enlargement - they are courtesy of the University of Sydney Archives.