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What is a Quaker? Explaining the origin of Penn's nickname, mascot history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After their thrilling 2026 Ivy League Tournament championship win, many college basketball fans became more familiar with the University of Pennsylvania Quakers.
However, few fans know about the colonial ties of the school's mascot. Philadelphia, where UPenn is based, is also known as "Quaker City," and Pennsylvania was originally founded as a safe haven for all religious practices.
The UPenn mascot has evolved over time. Traditionally, the Quaker was always dressed in 1700s clothing, but today the mascot wears the school's athletic uniforms.
Here is everything you need to know about the history of UPenn's mascot.
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Why is Penn's nickname the Quakers?
Despite UPenn not being a Quaker institution, its mascot is a tribute to William Penn, the Quaker who founded Pennsylvania.
According to The Penn Gazette, the first sighting of the Penn Quaker mascot appeared in 1949. A student named Jack Melnick, in costume known as William Quaker, came to a Penn-Dartmouth football game dressed in Quaker attire.
Before this, Penn's athletic teams were reportedly cited as "the Quakers" in newspapers as early as the late 1800s. This may be due to Philadelphia being known as "Quaker City," where UPenn resides.
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What is a Quaker?
Quakers, also known as members of the Religious Society of Friends, are a historically Protestant Christian group that came from 17th-century England. Quakers believe in a personal connection to God (in Quaker religion, known as the "Inner Light") and stress equality, peace, simplicity, and truth. Quakers are known for silent worship, humbleness, and active social justice work.
Pennsylvania served as a haven for Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) seeking freedom from persecution. The eventual U.S. state was founded by William Penn in 1682 as a safe place for religious tolerance.
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What is Penn's mascot?
Penn's mascot is a Quaker that dons a Penn athletic uniform, depending on the sport, or a navy blue vest with the Penn crest.
The mascot is a nod to the religion adopted by William Penn, who established Pennsylvania as a Quaker Province in 1682.
Quaker is one of the few mascots in the Ivy League. Traditionally, he only wore colonial-era clothing. Nowadays, he more frequently dresses in UPenn merch.
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