In Oakland University’s first years, few traditions were more extravagant and involved than Matilda Dodge Wilson’s annual birthday parties hosted on campus on or around Oct. 19.
Although Wilson gave her entire estate to Michigan State University to create OU, she reserved Meadow Brook Hall as her home until her death and lived close to the students on campus. She was frequently seen at the university’s events and, on many occasions, would invite students into her residence. Thus, Wilson became a beloved figure to OU’s first students.
The first known large birthday celebration in Wilson’s honor was a surprise party in the Oakland Center (OC) in 1962, planned by a group of students. Nearly all the students were present to sing “Happy Birthday” and give Wilson a giant card.
1963
The following year, for Wilson’s 80th birthday, the party was also hosted in the OC and included a giant replica of Meadow Brook Hall, measuring 64 inches long, 40 inches wide and a foot high. The dessert was created by Ed Goodwin, the manager of University Food Services, and took more than 150 hours to make.
The oversized birthday card of the previous year made a return. Wilson was given a 15-foot birthday card signed by all student and faculty members.
She was given 35 roses — the average age of OU’s faculty at the time — and the guests celebrated with music from Stan Kenton and his orchestra.
1964
At midnight on her 81st birthday, Wilson and students rang a bell repainted with OU’s colors that had been retrieved (under somewhat dubious means) from Delta Upsil-On at MSU, which kicked off the evening’s celebration.
The party was held in the resident cafeteria and was a semi-formal affair. Students, faculty and Wilson herself enjoyed the five-foot-tall birthday cake, topped with a model of the recently-built Baldwin pavilion, which additionally adorned the birthday card she was given, signed by 1,500 students.
The roses made a return — one red rose to signify 50 years of life and 31 yellow.
1965
On her 82nd birthday, Wilson laid the cornerstone of the building to be named in her honor — Matilda R. Wilson Hall. Inside the cornerstone were sealed OU catalogs, issues of The Oakland Observer (OU’s student newspaper of the time) and a copy of the Pontiac Press’s issue announcing OU’s opening.
A birthday party was planned for that Friday night, and a dance was hosted Saturday in the Oakland Center. Goodwin once again created an extravagant cake modeled after the new building.
1966
Wilson’s most extravagant birthday party at OU — her 83rd — was hosted on Oct. 28 and 29.
The plans for the weekend included a performance from Back Porch Majority, a popular folk band, on Friday night at the Sports and Recreation building. Students held house parties on Saturday in Fitzgerald, Van Wagoner and Pryale House. Wilson visited each.
Jack Runyon and his orchestra provided the music on Saturday night for the dance. Vandenberg Hall was also dedicated this weekend.
She once again received flowers, an oversized card and a massive cake.
1968
Wilson passed away a month before her 84th birthday in 1967 and paused the traditional celebrations. However, the university once more hosted a fun weekend to celebrate her legacy the following year.
Titled Wilsons’ Weekend, students attended the week’s soccer game on Oct. 12, hosted pre-parties in their dorms at 8 p.m. and “The Night of the Knights Dance” in Vandenberg Hall at 9 p.m.
The Wilsons’ Weekend traditions continued throughout the years. The birthday celebrations in mid-October echo what is now considered OU’s Homecoming weekend, meaning Wilson’s legacy of parties continues to be honored.
Information for this article was compiled from OU Libraries’ archives and The Oakland Observer archives.
