1854

St. Stephen's High School founded by Rev. M.J.Jennings, Chaplain of Delhi.

1877

Foundation of the Cambridge University Mission under the inspiration of Dr. Westcott. Delhi chosen as the center of work

1878

Rev. S.S.Allnutt arrives in Delhi.

1879

Rev. R.R.Winter (a missionary of the Society for the propagation of the Gospel) hands over the charge of the St.Stephen's High School to Rev. E.Bickersteth of the Cambridge Mission. This becomes the first distinctively educational undertaking of the Cambridge Mission.

1881

St. Stephen's High School opens an FA (First Examination in Arts or XI and XII) Class for four students at the invitation of the Government, local effort having failed to replace the Old Delhi College, closed in 1876.

1882

The College established as one of the original Colleges of the Punjab University which received its charter in 1882.

1890

Foundation stone of the Kashmere Gate buildings laid by Sir Charles Elliot.

1891

Kashmere Gate buildings designed by Sir Swinton Jacob (chief engineer of the Jaipur State) completed.

1899

Rev. S.S.Allnutt retires as Principal. Under him the number of students had grown from five to ninety-nine. The study of Sanskrit revived and M.A.classes in English and Sanskrit opened.

1899-1902

Rev J.W.T.Wright appointed Principal. He developed the social side of College activity, especially games, and acquired the playing fields for the College, laid the foundation of the close fellowship of Indian and English members of the Staff and appointed S.K.Rudra as Vice-Principal.

1902

Wright Memorial Block added to the Main Hostel.

1902-1906

The Rev G.Hibbert-Ware assumes charge as Principal. A period of quiet growth. Number of students in 1906 goes upto 120.

1904

Rev C.F.Andrews joins the staff.

1905

Purchase of Maitland House as a Residence for members of the staff.

1906-1923

S.K.Rudra becomes Principal. Marked by a great expansion of the College and its growth in reputation, by a large increase in the number of staff, the origin and development of the tutorial system, and close association of the staff with the students, and by the transformation of St. Stephen's into a largely residential College.

1907

Foundation stone of Science building laid

1907

Foundation stone of Science building laid

1908

Westcott Memorial Block added to the Main Hostel

1909

First Branch Hostel opened near Kashmere Gate under the superintendence of Mr.Sharp

1910

Management of the Branch Hostel taken over by the Baptist Mission under the superintendence of Mr.Young.

1912

Games organised under a constitution, placing the management mainly in the hands of the students themselves. F.F.Monk becomes the first President of Games. Baptist Mission Hostel transferred to Civil Lines. Second Branch Hostel opened in Civil Lines (Commissioner's lane) under the Superintendence of Mr.Monk.

1913

Third Branch Hostel opened near Kashmere Gate under the superintendence of Mr.Khub Ram. New Constitution granted to College by the Cambridge and S.P.G. Committees, conferring on it a large degree of local autonomy. Simultaneous agreement with Government to limit numbers and develop intensive education.

1914

Rev C.F.Andrews leaves the college for Shantiniketan

1917

(7th Dec.) Death of Canon Allnutt, the founder Principal

1917-22

Social Service grows; night schools and hospital visits undertaken

1920

Commissioner's Lane Hostel closed

1921

Reading Room Committee formed - mainly students

1902-22

M.A. classes added in Philosophy, History, Arabic, Economics and Persian - also M.O.L.(Master of Languages) in Arabic since 1913.

1922

Allnutt Hostel opened

1922

Formation of Delhi University with St. Stephen's as one of its original constituent Colleges (other two being Hindu and Ramjas).

1923

Retirement of Principal Rudra after 36 years of service. Appointment of Mr. Francis Fitz-Hugh Monk as Principal

1925

Death of Principal Rudra.

1926

Resignation from Principalship by Mr.Monk and appointment of Mr.S.N. Mukarji as the sixth Principal. Rudra Dinner instituted; to be held each year on Feb. 12th

1926-45

Principalship of S.N.Mukarji ; great expansion of College and its growth in reputation. Greater interaction between staff and students

1928-29

Women admitted to College for the first time to post graduate courses

1929

Lord Irwin becomes the first and only Viceroy to preside over the Dismissal Service

1930

Mr.S.N.Mukarji appointed as one of the two Indian members on the Lindsay Commission to look into higher education in Christian Educational Institutions in India

1931

College celebrates Golden Jubilee

1936

Title of Rai Bahadur conferred by the Government on Principal S.N.Mukarji

1939

Monday 27th, March the foundation stone of our present buildings (University Campus) laid by Rev C.F.Andrews. Sir Walter George is appointed as the architect, assisted by R.N Mathur.

1940

(5th April) Rev C.F.Andrews dies in Calcutta and is buried in the Lower Circular Road Cemetery.

1941

College shifts to the University Campus.

1943

Women admitted to the undergraduate courses for the first time

1945

(3rd April) Principal S.N.Mukarji dies and Mr.David Raja Ram becomes the first alumnus to become the (7th) Principal of College (1945-60).

1948

Mukarji Memorial Debate begins

1949

Sports Dinner started by Mr.S.K.Bose. College becomes an all-male institution again.

1952

Chapel is constructed and Bishop Wilkinson of Lahore is the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony

1955

Westcott Lectures begin

1956

Diamond Jubilee of the College.

1958

The present Junior Combination Room, Mukarji East Block and the first Library Extension are constructed.

1960

Principal David Raja Ram retires and Satish Chandra Sircar becomes the second alumnus to become the Principal (the 8th) of the College (1960-72).

1960-61

(Old) Science Block is commissioned.

1962

The College rag mags Onset and Kooler Talk are published for the first time

1968

Mukarji West Block is constructed.

1971

Gym handed over to College by the Alumni. The Gymnasium was named after F.F.Monk, 5th Principal (1923-26) and the first President of Games.

1971-72

Mori Gate ground becomes functional, as the Kashmiri Gate is required for new developments.

1972

Principal S.C.Sircar retires and Mr William Shaw Rajpal becomes the 9th Principal of College (1972-84). New Science Block is commissioned.

1974

President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad (an Old Stephanian) and his wife becomes the first Head of State and First Lady to visit College

1975

College becomes coeducational once again.

1979

(1st May) The remains of Rev S.S.Allnutt is reinterred in the College Chapel

1981

College celebrates its centenary. Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the chief guest at the
celebrations, releases a 35p commemorative stamp of the College. Dr.T.G.Percival Spear (lecturer in History 1924-40) was the representative of the Cambridge Committee at the celebrations.

1982

Dr. I.H.Qureshi Memorial Lecturers begin.

1984

Principal Rajpal dies in harness and Dr.John H.Hala becomes the 10th Principal of College (1984-91).Rev Maqbul Caleb, former Bishop of Delhi and an Old Stephanian, lays the foundation stone for the second Library extension (7th Dec.).

1985

1986

Imperial Avenue renamed Sudhir Bose Marg to honour Sudhir K. Bose (1902-1988), Professor Emeritus of College, Lecturer in Philosophy 1937-67.

1987

The Cafe Extension and the Ladies Common Room are built. The second library extension is inaugurated (1988).

1991

Dr. John H.Hala retires and Dr. Anil Wilson (Dept. of English of the Himachal University) is appointed the eleventh Principal of College.

1992

Construction of the new Karamchari quarters by the side of the Dhobi Ghat. The Dhobhi Ghat cleared in preparation for making a playing field.

1993

Admission opened to women in Pass and General Courses from the academic year 1993-94. On 21 October work begins on the construction of the new class rooms.

1994

The new class rooms are inaugurated on 15th July by Bishop Santram, Chairman of the College Supreme Council. The new playing field is inaugurated by Principal Anil Wilson on 7th Nov.

1995

Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. William Carey visits College on 11 February, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits College on 22 November, for the first time.

1997

Allnutt South becomes Ladies’ Block 

2001

The College Website www.ststephens.edu & Email Service @ststephens.edu was formally launched on 1st Feb (College Foundation Day). For the first time admissions become web-enabled.

2002

The College Website starts accepting the Admission forms On-Line with Credit Card facility. St. Stephen's becomes the first College in the University to do so.

2004

Rudra South becomes the second Ladies’ Block.

2006

College celebrates the 125th anniversary of its foundation

2007

College Website undergoes major renovation and sports a new look with streamlined content delivery.

2008

The Rev. Dr. Valson Thampu appointed the 12th  Principal of the College.

2008

Visit of the Hon’ble Vice President of India to College to address the Dismissal Service.

2008

Rudra North, till then Residence for men, becomes the third ladies’ block in college.

2009

Visit of Shri. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, alumnus and the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal as Chief Guest of the dismissal service.