1889
The Alumni Association was organized. N.T. Goldsbery was elected as the Association’s first president.
1889 to 1903
Only a few intermitted gatherings and meetings were held by the Association during this period.
1899
Josie P. Harris was elected the first female president of the Alumni Association.
1904
By this time, a more permanent Association had been formed.
1903-1932
Milton T. Bailey served as president of the Alumni Association, making him the longest serving president to this day. He served for 29 years.
1914
The Association grew in size and ambition as eight chapters located throughout the state of Virginia made up the Alumni Association. All chapters were in the State of Virginia. These chapters were in: Alexander; Smithfield; Suffolk; Richmond; Petersburg; Fredericksburg; Norfolk; and Boiling Green.
1919
The Alumni Association purchased the property where Locket Hall now stands. It was supposed to be called from that date, “The Alumni Field.”
1939
The Alumni Association purchased the Memorial Bench which is located on the front of Virginia State’s campus.
1943
Alumna, Amaza Lee Meredith, was one of the architects of the first “Capital Campaign” for the Association. Her goal was to build an Alumni House.
1949
Under the presidency of Georgia Davis Tyler, the Association was incorporated as the Virginia State College Alumni Association. It was also during this same year that the Association’s Capital Campaign had raised enough money to purchase a site for the Alumni House and a lot was purchased for $950.00.
1954
The Association’s membership dues was $3.00 per year.
1957
The Association purchased the University “Mace” and presented it to the University during the 72nd Annual Commencement. It was designed by Amaza Meredith.
1959
By this year, the Association’s Capital Campaign had raised enough money to start construction on the Alumni House. However, due to differences between the University and the Association on several pertinent issues, delays ensued. As a result of these differences and ensuing delays, by 1962, the Association’s capitol campaign had unfortunately diminished.
The late 1960s or early 1970s
While no exact date or designer can be identified, the Alumni Association adopted its Alumni Logo sometime during this time as the visual symbol of its distinct identify and history.
1980
Under the presidency of Edward A. Ragland, the Association changed its name from the Virginia State College Alumni Association to the Virginia State University Alumni Association. The Articles of Incorporation were amended to reflect this name change.
1984
Ms. Amaza Meredith left one half of her property, Azurest South, to the Association.
1986
The Association purchased the remaining interest in Azurest South from Dr. Edna Colson’s estate following her death. This marked Azurest South as the official “Alumni House” for the Association.
1992
Under the presidency of Dr. Foster B. Miles,Jr., the Association’s First National Convention was held in Atlanta, GA. The Prince William (VA) Chapter was recognized as having the convention’s highest attendance.
1993
Under the presidency of Annie Pollard, Azurest South was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and on the National Register of Historic Places, with the help of University Archivist and Alumnus, Lucious Edwards.
1997
Under the presidency of Marvin Parker, the Association was granted its non-profit, 501 c(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service.
1998
The Association moved its operations on campus into Azurest South to provide a more central location for the national office to operate.
The Alumni Logo was modified by the Association’s Board of Directors to include a seal around the Trojan to emphasize the full name of the Alumni Association and the date of its incorporation.
The Association’s Fifth National Convention, was held in Hampton, Virginia. This marked the first convention held within the state of Virginia. The Peninsula chapter served as chapter host.
2000
Under the presidency of J. Otis Harris, Jr., the Alumni Association entered into the New Millennium.
The Alumni Association’s life membership increased from $500 to $750.
The Association’s Board of Directors renamed its life membership status to the “Edward A. Ragland Life Membership” in honor of the Association’s 26th National Alumni President.
The Alumni Association’s first website and e-mail listserv were launched.
2001
The Association’s Board of Directors established the Alfred W. Harris VSUAA Scholarship Fund in the honor of the Founder of Virginia State.
2002
The Association amended its bylaws to allow the Board of Directors to govern itself in the election of all Board of Director executive committee offices.
2005
The Association’s National membership dues increased from $25 to $30.
2007
Under the presidency of Charylene Jackson-Fields, the University celebrated its 125th founding. The Association’s Board of Directors approved a gift of $10,000 for the University’s 125th Anniversary Gala. A total gift from the Association, which included gifts given by varying chapters, totaled $25,000.
The Association launched a new and improved Website.
The Association received a $207,000 gift from the estate of Ms. Helen Virginia Mosley Games, who graduated from Virginia State College in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics. The gift was to be used to enable the Association to continue its tradition of service, while working to increase its benevolent support for alumni and students of Virginia State University. This marked the largest bequest received by the Association in its 118-year history! .
2008
In honor of Ms. Helen Virginia Mosely Games, the Association's Board of Directors established the VSUAA, Inc./Helen Virginia Mosley Games Endowed Scholarship Fund from the proceeds gifted to the Association as a bequest from her estate. The Board voted that the initial contribution to the Fund would be in the amount of $125,000 in honor of the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the founding of Virginia State University.
