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MIAA Facts

Of the fourteen schools that have belonged to the MIAA, eight are still members: Adrian, Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Kalamazoo, Olivet, and Saint Mary's. And not one of these eight schools have belonged to another athletic league.

Founded on March 24, 1888, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) is America's oldest collegiate athletic conference. Of the 14 schools who have belonged, 8 are still members.




The Campus, Albion, Mich.
Albion College
1888-present
Founded in 1835, Albion is one of the original members of the MIAA and is the only school to hold continuous membership. On February 12, 1900, Albion defeated Hillsdale 36-7 and 8-6 in the first known intercollegiate women's basketball games between two MIAA schools.




A7916 Adelphic Society Hall, Olivet College, Olivet, Mich.
Olivet College
1888-1940, 1952-present
Founded in 1844, Olivet College is a charter member of the MIAA and in 1889 engaged with Albion in an exhibition "football match." A special page on Olivet postcards and ephemera is listed in the left navigation right below Student Biographies.




7980. Womans Building, M.A.C. East Lansing, Mich.
State Agricultural College
1888-1907
In 1884, State Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) met Albion College for in the first intercollegiate football game in the state of Michigan. In 1886 Albion beat State Agricultural 79-0.




A4814 The Campus, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Mich.
Hillsdale College
1888-1961
Founded in 1844 as Michigan Central College, Hillsdale College assumed its current name in 1853. In 1891 Albion defeated Hillsdale 36-4 in the first official football game between MIAA members.




Gymnasium, Michigan State Normal College, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Michigan State Normal College
1892-1926
Originally called Michigan Normal School, the school today known as Eastern Michigan University was the first teacher training college west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its name was changed to Michigan State Normal College in 1899 and then to Eastern Michigan College in 1956. In 1959 the name was changed to Eastern Michigan University.




Kalamazoo College Buildings, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kalamazoo College
1896-present
Founded in 1833 as The Michigan and Huron Institute, 1855 saw the school change its name to Kalamazoo College. "K" College won all six MIAA championships in 1937-38 for the only "grand slam" of league-sponsored sports in the history of the MIAA. (Source: www.miaa.com)




Real Photo "College Grounds", Alma, Mich.
Alma College
1902-present
In 1940 during WWII, Albion defeated Alma 4-1 in a field hockey game which replaced the traditional homecoming football game between the schools. Alma College was founded in 1886.




8457 North Hall, Adrian College, Adrian, Mich.
Adrian College
1908-1922, 1937-present
Adrian College evolved from a theological institute founded by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1845. The institute united with Leoni Seminary in 1855 to form Michigan Union College. The College relocated to Adrian and changed its name to Adrian College in 1859.




Hope College Campus, Holland, Mich.
Hope College
1926-present
Officially chartered in 1866, Hope traces its history back to 1851 with the creation of Holland's "Pioneer School". The largest school in the MIAA, Hope College has won the MIAA All-Sports honor 24 times.




Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Calvin College
1953-present
In 2000, Calvin became the first MIAA school to win two NCAA Division III national team championships (women’s cross country and men’s basketball) during one school year.




Chapel from Lower Orchard, St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana.
St. Mary's College
1997-present
In 1844, St. Mary's College was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Four years after joining the MIAA, St. Mary's won its first MIAA championship, capturing the women's tennis crown in 2001.




Defiance College, Delaware, Ohio.
Defiance College
1997-2000
Founded in 1850 as Defiance Female Seminary, Defiance College took its present name in 1903. Defiance holds the distinction of being the college with the shortest membership in the MIAA. The yellow jackets failed to win a conference championship in any sport while a member of the MIAA.




No postcards available of Wisconsin Lutheran. Here's their hometown of Milwaukee.
Wisconsin Lutheran College
2002-2007
Wisconsin Luthern was the first associate football member in the MIAA. WLC is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was founded in 1973. The fall of 2008 saw the Warriors depart the MIAA to join the Northern Athletic Conference.




Engineering Buildings Tri State College, Angola, Ind.
Trine University
2004-present
Tri-State Normal College was founded in 1884 and reorganized in 1906 as Tri-State College. The year 1975 hearlded the name change to Tri-State University. In 1990 the school changed its nickname from the Trojans to the Thunder. With Tri-State's admission in 2004, the MIAA now has two member schools in Indiana. On August 1, 2008, Tri-State Univesity changed its name to Trine University.