• 1834 - Wake Forest College founded
• 1835 - February 14. The Philomathesians and Euzelians Literary societies organized (Society History)
• 1854 - First joint presentations of Orations from each society - Anniversary Orations
• 1862 - (May) to January 1866, College suspended during the Civil War
• 1872 - First public debate featuring the societies - Anniversary Debates
• 1897 - First Intercollegiate Debate - Trinity College
• 1911 - First Junior-Sophomore Debates (this evolves into Society Day, 1914)
• 1914 - First Society Day Orations and Debates
• 1917 - First Annual Declamation contest for High Schools
• 1926 - (April 6) - Pi Kappa Delta, North Carolina Beta Chapter, 119 Founded
• 1931 - First Tournament (perhaps) convention of the Southern Association of Teachers of Speech, Atlanta
• 1939 - (April 7-8) North Carolina HS Debate and Speech Tournament, said had 25 "leading high schools "
• 1945 - Intramural Tournament (near end of war years)
• 1947 - Pi Kappa Delta Co-National Champions
• 1950 - Summer Debate Workshop revived by Shirley, was stopped prior to WWII
• 1951 - Nov. 17th, Wake Forest Novice debate tournament starts
• 1956 - Dixie Classic Tournament Starts (Dec.)
• 1956 - Wake Forest College Reynolda Campus open in W-S
• 1957 - HS tournament revived
• 1961 - Dept. of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts established
• 1963 - TKA Charter Obtained
• 1967 - Wake Forest College becomes Wake Forest University
• 1973 - Hosted National Forensics League HS Nationals
• 1978 - Debater's Research Guide revived, thirty year tradition of excellence of HS service
• 1983 - Dixie Classic renamed the Franklin R. Shirley Dixie Classic
• 1984 - National Earlybird Forensics Tournament inaugurated
• 1985 – Top Speaker – NDT – Gloria Cabada
• 1995 – Copeland Winner – Brovero & Hughes
• 1996 - Hosted 50th National Debate Tournament
• 1997 - Wake Wins National Debate Tournament
• 2001 - Shirley Classic host innovative "National Debate-In" following 9/11
• 2002 - Shirley Classic becomes host of the National Coach of the Year award
• 2003 - Dixie renamed Franklin R. Shirley Classic
• 2004 - Won Novice National Title for only second time (first in 1996)