Around the nation and the world
- 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, refuses to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, prompting a boycott that would lead to the declaration that bus segregation laws were unconstitutional by a federal court.
- 1955, Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California.
Around campus
- 1950, Civil Engineering enrollment was approximately 213. Master Builders of Iowa (MBI) formally designed an Education Committee, with Mr. Klinger as chair.
- 1952, The first Greek Week was held.
- 1953, ISU registration totaled 8,000.
- 1954, Cy the Cardinal became Iowa State’s mascot. The first couple was married in the Memorial Union chapel.
- 1957, Distinguished professorships are awarded for the first time in Iowa State’s five divisions of agriculture, engineering, home economics, science, and veterinary medicine.
- 1959, A History of Civil Engineering at Iowa State, was published by Professor A.H. Fuller.
- 1959, The Civil Engineering Summer Camp program was discontinued. Started by Professor Anson Marston in 1899.
- 1959, On July 4, the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts is officially named the Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Engineering and the other four divisions are now colleges.