Chronology

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1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

2. 1937
   Naming or commemoration · Woollen Gymnasium, UNC, Chapel Hill The university names its new gymnasium for Charles T. Woollen

   The university named its new gymnasium for Charles T. Woollen, its longtime registrar, business manager and comptroller, who had advocated for the building and helped oversee its construction. He died the following year.

3. June 1942
   Construction or physical change · Swain Hall, UNC campus, Chapel Hill The Naval ROTC moves out of Woollen Gym and Lenoir Hall into Swain Hall

   By university decision the Naval ROTC left its quarters in Woollen Gymnasium and the basement of Lenoir Hall during June 1 to 9, 1942, and moved into Swain Hall, which its commander thought below the Navy's minimum standard.

4. Civil rights era · 1945–1975

5. 1956–57 season
   Competition or sporting achievement · Chapel Hill McGuire's undefeated Tar Heels play their home games at Woollen Gym

   McGuire's 1956-57 team won 32 straight games and the national championship, beating Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain in triple overtime as 12-point underdogs. Only eight of those wins came at home in Woollen Gym, where a hole was drilled in the wall for a television camera lens.

6. December 7, 1957
   Publication, speech or performance · Chapel Hill The first televised ACC regular season game is played at Woollen Gym

   Television producer C. D. Chesley brought his cameras into Woollen Gym for Carolina's fourteenth meeting with Clemson, the first regular season ACC game ever televised. McGuire's team won 79-55.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 1, 2026.