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Digitized Resources

Selected Inaugural Speeches of Penn Provosts and Presidents

The following inaugural addresses accompany our Penn History exhibit Inaugurations and Installations of Penn Provosts and Presidents.

Links followed by an asterisk (*) lead to external sites providing free access to those resources

Rev. John Ewing, Provost 1770-1802
Rev. John Ewing, Provost 1770-1802
University of the State of Pennsylvania 1770-1792;
University of Pennsylvania 1792-1802

Address given at Commencement on July 4, 1780

Rev. William Heathcote DeLancey, Provost 1828-1833
Rev. William Heathcote DeLancey, Provost 1828-1833
Address given at Opening Exercises on September 17, 1828

Rev. John Ludlow, Provost 1834-1853
Rev. John Ludlow, Provost 1834-1853
Address given at Inauguration on December 22, 1834

Rev. Daniel Raynes Goodwin, Provost 1860-1868
Rev. Daniel Raynes Goodwin, Provost 1860-1868
Address given at Inauguration on September 10, 1860

Charles Janeway Stillé, Provost 1868-1880
Charles Janeway Stillé, Provost 1868-1880
Address given at Inauguration on September 30, 1868

Dr. William Pepper, Provost 1881-1895
Dr. William Pepper, Provost 1881-1895
Address given at Inauguration on February 22, 1881

Thomas Sovereign Gates, President 1930-1944
Thomas Sovereign Gates, President 1930-1944
Speech given at Commencement on June 17, 1931

Gaylord Probasco Harnwell, President 1952-1970
Gaylord Probasco Harnwell, President 1952-1970
Speech given at Convocation on September 25, 1953

Martin Meyerson, President 1970-1981
Martin Meyerson, President 1970-1981
Speech given at Commencement, May 18, 1970

Dr. F. Sheldon Hackney, President 1981-1993
Dr. F. Sheldon Hackney, President 1981-1993*
Speech given at Inauguration, October 23, 1981

Dr. Judith Seitz Rodin, President 1994-2004
Dr. Judith Seitz Rodin, President 1994-2004*
Speech given at Inauguration, October 21, 1994

Dr. Amy Gutmann, President 2004-2022
Amy Gutmann, 2021
Dr. Amy Gutmann, President 2004-2022*
Speech given at Inauguration, October 15, 2004