Memorial Union Timeline

The idea of a student union arose in the 1910s as students increasingly called for its creation. This movement was realized in the Memorial Corporation, which was established to fund and build a union.

1920 - University of Kansas Memorial Corporation was founded
1921 - Cornerstone laying ceremony for the Kansas Union, a memorial building for
the 129 students and alumni who died during WWI
1927 - Cafeteria opened in the Kansas Union basement under manager Ethel Evans

1937 - Hermina Zipple became the director of the University Dining Room
(and later the overall Union director)
1938 - Kansas Union construction fully completed; Student Union Activites began

1940 - All Kansas Union spaces became co-educational, equally open to men and women
1946 - KU Bookstore opened in the Kansas Union

1952 - Frank Burge became the Memorial Union director; the Hawks Nest opened
1953 - Additions to the Kansas Union completed, doubling its space; Katherine Giele
became the first director of Student Union Activities; the Jaybowl opened with six lanes

1967 - Additions to the northwest side of the Kansas Union were constructed

1970 - Firebombing of Kansas Union caused $1 million in damages
1979 - The Satelite Union opened (later renamed the Burge Union)

1982 - Frank Burge retired, Jim Long became the Memorial Union director a year later
1986 - Three year renovation of the Kansas Union began

1993 - Kanas Union rededicated to WWI fallen with new time capsule placed
1999 - David Mucci became the Memorial Union’s director

2004 - The Underground dining location opened in Wescoe Hall; KJHK radio station moved
to the Kansas Union
2008 - Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center opened

2016 - DeBruce Center opened; the original Burge Union is demolished
2018 - New Burge Union opened