Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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Football rules have become considerably more complex since this 1902 LSU-Auburn game.

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The cluttered appearance of our laboratories has changed little since 1900, when chemistry classes were held on the old Army Post. Home of L.S.U. presidents, 1886-1931. Legislature became openly hostile. The race question was the conflict. The 1868 Constitution required that Negroes be admitted to any public school in the state. The University consistently refused admis- sion. Fear of trouble caused several of the best professors to leave and made parents reluctant to send their sons to the Seminary. In October of 1869 the Seminary building was destroyed by fire. As a result of this the institution was moved to Baton Rouge and located in the building housing the School for the Deaf. The name was changed the next year to Louisiana State University. The most precarious period of the University ' s existence was during the time it was located in these quarters. A disinterested state government caused numerous problems. Professors frequently were not paid. The superintendent himself seldom got use of his salary after 1869 and loans to students, pro- fessors, and employees absorbed much of what he drew out. In fact, had it not been for the foresight and perseverance of Colonel Boyd, the institution might have failed miserably. Boyd ' s guidance during the long and bitter controversy over the support of the University during these years was climaxed by its merger in 1877 with the Agricultural and Mechanical College, which was at that time located in New Orleans. This union absolved the violent conflicts which had been arising because of the competition for funds between the two schools. Three years after the merger of the two institutions Colonel Boyd resigned as president because of certain animosity and political pressure from the state Legislature. Colonel William Preston Johnson was named his successor; but Colonel Johnson served for only three years before he submitted his resig- nation, after which Colonel Boyd was re-named to the presidency. In 1886 the location of the University was again changed. This new site, the final before moving to the present location, was on the army post on the north side of Baton Rouge where the state Capitol building is currently located. Finding that there was considerable opposition to his administration, Colonel Boyd again resigned, and Colonel J. W. Nicholson, a distinguished mathematician, became president. Colonel Nicholson guided the institution for a period of eight years. During this period the courses of study were enlarged and improved, particularly in agricultural work. It was also during this period 18

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