(Last updated on 6/25/2002)
| 1843 Feb. 12 | Joseph Neesima (original given name, Shimeta) born in retainers' quarters of the Lord of Annaka in Edo (Tokyo). | 1864 July 17 | Neesima stows away on an American ship from Hakodate, violating Japan's law. | 1874 | Neesima's American education terminates (Phillips Academy; Amherst College; Andover Theological Seminary). | Oct. | Neesima appeals for funds for a Christian college in Japan at the American Board Annual Meeting and obtains a pledge of $5,000. | Nov. | Neesima returns to Japan. | 1875 Nov. 29 | Opening of Doshisha Academy for English Studies with eight students and two teachers, Neesima and J. D. Davis. | 1876 Sept. | Erection of the first two school buildings on Imadegawa campus. | 1879 June | The Graduation exercise held for the first class of fifteen students. | 1883 Feb. | Establishrnent of the Doshisha Constitution; installation of Neesima as its first Chancellor (Shacho). | 1884 Apr. | Neesima's second visit to Europe and the U.S. for rest and fund-raising. | Sept. | Erection of Shoeikan, the first brick building on campus (now used by Doshisha Junior High School; an Important Cultural Property). | 1885 Dec. | Neesima returns from the United States. | 1886 June | Erection of Doshisha Chapel (an Important Cultural Property). | 1887 Nov. | Opening of Doshisha Hospital and Kyoto Training School for Nurses. | Nov. | Opening of the Library (the present Yushukan, the administration building; an Important Cultural Property) | 1888 Oct. | Establishment of the Doshisha Common Statutes. | Nov. | Announcement of "Why Do We Want to Establish Doshisha University? A Manifesto" in major newspapers and magazines. | 1890 Jan. 23 | Neesima dies in Mukadeya Inn in Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture at the age of 47. | July | Erection of Harris Scientific Hall (an Important Cultural Property) by the fund given by J. N. Harris. | Sept. | Opening of Doshisha Harris Scientific School. | 1891 Sept. | Opening of Doshisha School for Government and Law. | 1892 June | Advanced Course is formed in Doshisha Girls' School. | 1894 Jan. | Erection of Clarke Divinity Hall (an Important Cultural Property). | 1896 Apr. | Futsu Gakko (General School) renamed Dohisha Koto Futsu Gakko (Doshisha Higher General School); opening of Doshisha Jinjo Chugakko (Doshisha Junior High School). | 1897 Mar. | Opening of Demachi (later, Doshisha) Kindergarten. | 1898 | Confusion over removing the Christian education articles from the Doshisha Common Statutes in order to obtain for students the privilege of exemption of military service. | 1899 | Restoration of the Christian education articles to the Doshisha Common Statutes. | 1904 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha Divinity School and Doshisha College in accordance with the Acts of Colleges. | 1907 Jan. | lnstallation of Harada Tasuku as seventh Chancellor. | 1912 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha University (Preparatory School; Faculty of Divinity; Faculty of Government and Economics; Department of English) and the Advanced Course of Doshisha Girls' School, both in accordance with the Acts of Colleges. | 1920 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha University (Preparatory School; Faculty of Letters; Faculty of Law; Graduate School) in accordance with the Acts of Universities. | 1923 | Doshisha University in the old system (under the Acts of Colleges) becomes Doshisha College (Departments of Divinity, English Teaching, Commerce, Government/Economics). | 1929 Apr. | Department of Commerce of Doshisha College moves to lwakura, a northern suburb of Kyoto. | 1930 June | The Advanced Course of Doshisha Girls' School changes its name to Doshisha Women's College. | Dec. | The Department of Commerce of Doshisha College becomes independent as Doshisha Commercial High School. | 1943 Nov. | Farewell exercise for students going to the front. | 1944 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha Engineering College (with Departments of Telecommunication, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering). | Aug. | Establishinent of Doshisha University Research Institute. | 1947 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha Junior High School and Doshisha Girls' Junior High School under the new school system. | July | Doshisha Corporation takes charge of Imadegawa Kindergarten, the former Demachi Kindergarten, as Doshisha Kindergarten. | 1948 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha Senior High School and Doshisha Girls' Senior High School. Opening of Doshisha University (with Faculties of Divinity, Letters, Law, Economics, and Liberal Arts) under the new university system. Opening of Doshisha Commercial Senior High School (night school). | 1949 Apr. | Incorporation of Faculties of Commerce and Engineering into Doshisha University. Opening of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts. Doshisha Senior High School moves from Imadegawa to lwakura. | 1950 Apr. | Opening of Master's Programs in Graduate School (Faculties of Theology, Letters, Law, Economics, Commerce); opening of Doshisha Junior College with Departments of English, Commerce/Economics. Engineering--instruction given in the evening only. | 1951 Mar. | The University abolishes the Faculty of Liberal Arts. | Sept. | Doshisha incorporates Kori School and opens Doshisha Kori Junior and Senior High Schools. | 1953 Apr. | Opening of Doctor's Programs in the Graduate School. | 1954 | Abolition of the Junior College and opening of four-year night school divisions in the University (Faculties of Letters, Law. Economics. Commerce, Engineering). | 1955 Apr. | Opening of Master's Programs in Engineering. | 1957 Mar. | Doshisha University Research Institute becomes Institute for the Study of Humanities and Social Sciences, Doshisha University. | 1958 Mar. | Opening of the Center for American Studies with the financial aid of the Rockefeller Foundation. | 1959 Jan. | Purchase of Shinmachi campus (about 27,000 square meters). | Apr. | Opening of the Science and Engineering Research Institute. | 1961 | Purchase of land in Kitakomatsu, Shiga Prefecture, for seminar house and its facilities. | 1966-68 | Purchase of land (9,990,000 square meters) in Tanabe, 16 miles south of the main campus, for a new campus. | 1975 Apr. | Events held commemorating Doshisha's centennial. | 1976 Feb. | University announces "Basic Principle for the Reform of Educational and Research Conditions." | Mar. | Abolition of Doshisha Connnercial Senior High School. | 1977 Feb. | University announces "Basic Plan for Developing Tanabe Campus." | 1980 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha International Senior High School on Tanabe Campus. | 1983 Dec. | Women's College announces "Plan for the Use of Tanabe Campus." | 1984 Apr. | University announces "Plan for Developing and Preparing Tanabe Campus." | 1986 Apr. | University and Women's College open on Tanabe Campus. | Apr. | Opening of the Junior College Division of Doshisha Women's College on Tanabe Campus. | 1988 Apr. | Opening of Doshisha International Junior High School. | 1991 Apr. | Opening of Graduate Program in American Studies at the Master's Level. | 1993 Apr. | Opening of Graduate Program in American Studies at the Doctor's Level. Opening of Graduate Program in Letters Studies at the Master's Level (Education/Sociology). | 1994 Apr. | The transfer of the Department of Engineering to Tanabe and its reorganization. | 1995 Apr. | Graduate School of Policy and Management starts. | 1998 Apr. | Semester system is introduced in all faculties. | 1999 Apr. | The Center for Japanese Language is opened. |