Established in 1848 in Clarksville, TN, Rhodes College moved to its current location in 1925 under the leadership of then president Dr. Charles E. Diehl. The college (then named Southwestern) opened for classes on Sept. 24, 1925. Four hundred and six students and 16 faculty walked into a Collegiate Gothic building, now known as Southwestern Hall, that laid the foundation for the beautiful campus we see today.
Diehl himself selected the Collegiate Gothic architectural style for the new campus. “Appropriate and beautiful surroundings will have a transforming influence upon generation after generation of students and upon the very character of the institution itself,” said Diehl. “Beauty, like truth and goodness, needs to be expressed.”
Rhodes has become a place like no other, where students meet the demands of rigorous academics, work with faculty mentors, discover and cultivate lifelong passions, and take what they have learned into the world to make a difference. This student success has been enhanced thanks to the support of staff, alumni, trustees, donors, and college partners. Many Rhodes graduates who remain in Memphis make notable contributions.
On Oct. 23, the public is invited to Rhodes Night at the Shell 2025. The college’s anniversary concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Overton Park Shell. Headlining the event is trumpeter, composer, jazz historian, and author Muneer Nasser. Come celebrate Rhodes’ 100 Years in Memphis!