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

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This early veterinary science class was an important stage in the development of L-S.U. ' s agricultural pro- gram. that the first football team was organized under two of the professors, Dr. Charles Coates and Dr. H. A. Morgan, and the first in the LSU-Tulane grid classics was played. The purple and gold colors were chosen because the local merchants happened to have an abundance of those colors in stock for the impending carnival season. Early losses caused the administration to decide to enlist the services of a professional coach; therefore in 1894 A. P. Simmons of Yale was hired. LSU ' s first home game against Ole Miss on December 3, 1894, was a 26-6 loss, even with Coach Simmons playing in the backfield. In the following year it was a different story, however, as this Simmons-coached team, was the University ' s first undefeated team. Since various teams around the country were adopting the names of ferocious animals and since purple and gold looked tigerish enough, the University team in 1896 became the I SU Tigers. The first undefeated and unscored upon team came in 1908 with E. A. Chavanne, left tackle and captain of the Tiger team, as head coach. For the next 50 years the 1908 team was the one by which all the teams were measured. Until 1958 it was the only undefeated and untied team in the history of the University. Colonel Nicholson, being primarily interested in the writing of textbooks, resigned the presidency in 1896. He was succeeded by Thomas D. Boyd, the brother of David Boyd. Under this younger Boyd ' s administration, which lasted for thirty-one years, the University grew from a small institution of less than 300 enrollment to a well-financed University of nearly 2,000 students. Thomas Boyd had to cope with many problems ranging from low student morale to lack of funds. Systematically and effectively he solved these problems and parallel to his accomplishments the University took on a new life. With greater financial support the University grew, resulting in a need for the replacement of the out-moded structures built nearly 100 years before. It was during this period that several contributions The members of this 1907 squad are the rugged ancestors of our present-day Fighting Tigers.

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' - H cfe? i t y The coeds of the early 1900 ' s entered collegiate sports with the formation of their own varsitv basketball reams. The 1907 Coed Club was the first women ' s organization on the L5.U. campus. were made which made the financing of certain construction projects. Notable among these were the William Garig gift of 10,000 for the construction of an assembly hall and the John Hill donation of $33,000 for a library. These beginnings marked the start of a period of construction that was to result in almost a totally new University plant. During this physical expansion courses were being added, and the academic standards were being im- proved. The Law School was established u $d6 and two years later the University was reorganized into schools and colleges. The year 1904 marked the intrusion of co-education on the LSU campus when Miss Olivia Davis was permitted to enroll in a calculus class taught by Dr. Nicholson. Two years later the first freshman class of women, numbering seventeen, were enrolled. The number of women students increased rapidly and new courses were organized to meet their needs. In 1910 the University marked the end of a period of broad expansion by commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the institution. The celebration was followed by another period of expan- sion of the institution from a departmental standpoint. The departments of Forestry, Speech, Journal- ism, Music and Home Economics were established. The Department of Geology, which had been ex- tinct for several years, was re-established. An emphasis was placed on the new Department of Agricul- tural Extension bringing about a revival of interest in scientific agriculture in the state. These enlarged agricultural facilities were largely responsible for the construction of the Greater University on the present campus. It was realized sometime earlier that the University site was too small and that adjacent property could not be bought. It was found that the Gertness Plantation, a krge tract about three miles south of Baton Rouge, was for sale. After much discussion in the legislature the bill appropriating the money for the purchase was passed. Thomas W. Atkinson was president of the University at the time and saw the institution through the major part of the move. Construction of the first building, a dairy barn, began on March 29, 1922, and classwork was begun at the new plant in September of 1925. The cadet corps was moved from the old barrack to the dormitories of the new campus in 1926; however, the classes for freshmen and sophomore women were conducted 23