Prairie View A and M University - Pantherland Yearbook (Prairie View, TX)

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HISTORY The Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Texas met in the year 1876. One of the acts of that Legislature provided for the establishment of an agricultural and mechanical college” for Negro citizens to be located in Waller County. In that year L. M. Minor was elected first principal of the school. He served in this capacity until 1880. In the last year of his principalship a legislative act provided for reorganization of the college and made available funds for the training of public school teachers therein. The second principal, E. H. Anderson, served from 1880 1884, and L. C. Anderson, the third principal, held the position for the next twelve years. The gray stone Administration Building, whose architectural design is widely admired, was erected in 1889, and the Old Agriculture Building was erected in 1890. For the next nineteen years, E. L. Blackshear served Prairie View Normal” as principal. During his administration, significant growth was made in the curriculum and the plant. In 1899 the name became Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College,” and the new name indicated the enlargement of the curriculum: A four-year college course was authorized by the State Legislature in session in 1901. Among additions to the plant were: two dormitories for men, Foster Hall (1909) and Luclcic Hall (1909); a dormitory for women, Crawford Hall (1912); and a combination Auditorium-Gynasium-Dining Hall Building 0911). I. M. Terrell, the fifth principal, held the position during the war years 191V 1918- Despite the stricture of the world conflict, the school plant expanded widely to accommodate mechanic and household arts; A Household Arts Building, the Power and Ice Plant, and the Laundry were erected in 1916; and in 1918 Spence Building, for the Division of Agriculture was erected. The sixth principal of Prairie View State College was J. G. Osborne, whose tenure lasted from 1918 to 1925. Six buildings were added to the College in 1924 and 1925. The Veterinary Hospital, the Science Building, the College Exchange, the Elementary Training School, a Home Economics Practice Cottage, and a Music Conservatory. In 1926 W. R. Banks became the seventh principal of Prairie View State College. He served until August 31, 1947, at which time he became Principal Emeritus. He held the position longer than any of his predecessors. He was succeeded on September 1, 1947, by E. B. Evans, who became the eighth principal of Prairie View University. Prairie View has developed along several lines in the past decade and a half. The physical plant has doubled its size, now having four one-hundred thousand-dollar buildings—the Dining Hall anJ the Hospital, three apartment houses for men teachers, three dormitories for women, a green house an incubator house, a class room building, a new Auditorium-Gymnasium, a new Mechanic Arts Building, and over sixty cottages for college families. A S300.000.00 Administration Building has been completed (1949) under Dr. Evans' administration with a chain of other buildings in prospect. 1948-49 saw Prairie View reach an all time peak of 2065 in enrollment.

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THE TEXAS AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM Composed of all colleges, agencies and services under the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, including: The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas The North Texas Agricultural College The John Tarlcton Agricultural College The Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station The Texas Agricultural Extension Service The Texas Forest Service The Texas Engineering Experiment Station The Texas Engineering Extension Service BOARD OF DIRECTORS G. R. White, President Banker and Ranchman — Brady Mr. A. E. Cudlipp Lufkin, Texas E. W. Harrison Ranchman — South Bend John W. Newton Oil Company Executive — Beaumont Roy C. Potts Merchant — Belton Henry Reese, III Publisher — Gonzales Rufus R. Peoples Farmer and Ranchman — Tehuscanan Tyree L. Bell Engineer and Contractor — Dallas C. C. Krueger Business Executive — San Antonio ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS Gibb Gilchrist, Chancellor D. W. Williams Vice Chancellor for Agriculture R. H. Shuffler Director of Information and Publications E. L. Angel I Assistant to the Chancellor and Secretary of the Board T. R. Spence Manager of Physical Plants W. H. Holzmann Comptroller Carleton W. Adams Architect