University of Pennsylvania Commencement Notes are available online for the years 1985 through 2013. Written by University Archivist Mark Frazier Lloyd and published in the annual Commencement Program, these notes provide historical context for Penn’s commencement and typically feature milestones in 50 or 100 year increments prior to the given year’s ceremony. The topics and commencement years covered in the Notes are stated in the parentheses.
Selected Commencement Programs are also available.
2010s: 2010 (for 1760, 1860, 1960, and Penn in 2010); 2011 (for 1761, 1861, 1961, and Penn in 2011); 2012 (for 1762, 1862, 1962, and Penn in 2012); 2013 (for 1763, 1863, 1913, 1963, and Penn in 2013);
2000s: 2000 (for 1900); 2001 (for 1801, 1901, and 1951); 2002 (for 1802, 1852, 1902, 1952); 2003 (for 1803, 1852, 1903, and 1953); 2004 (for 1804, 1854, 1904, and 1954); 2005 (for 1805, 1855, 1905, 1955, and 1755 Charter); 2006 (for 1806, 1856, 1906, 1956, and Penn in 2006; 2007 (for 1757, 1807, 1857, 1907, 1957, and Penn in 2007); 2008 (for 1758, 1858, 1958, and Penn in 2008); 2009 (for 1759, 1859, 1959, and Penn in 2009)
1990s: 1990 (Founding of University); 1991 (for 1791 and 1891); 1992 (for 1792 and 1892); 1993 (for 1793 and 1893); 1994 (Commencement locations); 1995 (for 1795 and 1895); 1996 (for 1896 and academic dress standard); 1997 (for 1797 and 1897); 1998 (for 1898); 1999 (for 1899 and history of graduate education)
1980s: 1985 (for 1785 and 1885); 1986 (for 1786 and 1886); 1987 (for 1787 and 1887); 1988 (for 1788 and 1888); 1989 (for 1789 and 1889)