Wright State University

Wright State University is a public research university located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Dayton. Originally operating as a branch campus for Ohio State University and Miami University, Wright State became independent in 1967. Its name was chosen in honor of aviation pioneers the Wright brothers, who were residents in the local area. In 1969, a 173-acre (70 ha) branch campus opened on the shore of Grand Lake St. Marys in Celina, Ohio.

History

Wright State University began in 1964 as a branch campus of Miami University and Ohio State University, occupying only a single building. That building, Allyn Hall, was named for one of the university's founders and former president of National Cash Register Stanley Allyn. Much of the land that the campus is situated on was donated by the United States Air Force from excess acreage of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Groundwork on forming the institution began in 1961 during a time when the region lacked a public university for higher education. Dayton was emerging economically as a center for innovative technologies which demanded an increasingly educated work force. A community-wide fundraising effort was conducted in 1962 to establish the university, and the campaign raised the $3 million needed in seed money.