Since 1878, the Purdue Alumni Association has existed to champion personal, professional, and intellectual success in the lives of all Purdue alumni.
1878—J. B. Harper founded the “General Alumni Association” so graduates could stay in touch. Harper served as the first president.
1890—Purdue alumni clubs were founded in Chicago and Indianapolis to help keep Purdue connections strong with alumni away from campus.
1912—Purdue alumni were active in fundraising campaigns to build the Purdue Memorial Union. It was dedicated in 1924.
1914—The Purdue Bulletin, the first publication for alumni, was renamed Purdue Alumnus.
1927—A state statute was officially enacted that added three alumni-elected trustees to the Purdue University Board of Trustees. George Ade (S’1887) had been the sole alumni trustee since 1909.
1953—R.J. Rudolph (LA’48) became the first executive director of the Purdue Alumni Association.
1958—Purdue’s athletic booster group, the John Purdue Club, was founded thanks to the involvement of the Purdue Alumni Association.
1964—The Purdue Alumni Association hosted its first international tour, traveling with a group of alumni to Europe.
2004—The Purdue Alumni Association moved to the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center on the south side of campus.
2005—PASE (Purdue Alumni Student Experience) was launched. It quickly became the largest student group on the West Lafayette campus.
2020—The Purdue for Life Foundation was created.
2021—The Purdue Alumni Association joined the Purdue for Life Foundation.
