University of North Texas - Yucca Yearbook (Denton, TX)

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Well, Things Back Then . . . They Were . . . Just Different In 1909 North Texas was a glorified high school, com- mented DR. C. A. BRIDGES, former history professor. He is qualified to say so; he was a student here then. In fact he has graduated from NT three times. His scholastic progress followed the name changes of the school: When a new degree was offered he worked toward it. In 1911 he received histeaehing certilicate from North Texas Normal and then his BA in 1916 when North Texas was a junior college. In 1920 he received his permanent teaching certificate. llMany outstanding people then held no degrees. Dr. Bruce was probably the only person with a PhD. llFinancially, things were rough back then...Mrs. MeCracken, one of the first librarians, jokingly said once that her entire budget for the year from the state was two cents? the retired professor said. IcStudents came to school then. They werenat sent. They came from between the corn rows and the cotton rows. llWhen you look back, there is a certain amount of pride that you were one of the ones who laid the founda- tion on which the college was built? Dr. Bridges added. DR. C. A. BRIDGESH ltThe came from between the corn rowsf, y IlThat summer session of 1919 when I first came here was, as usual, larger than the regular term? said E. H. FARRINGTON, now director of placements. IiThe sum- mer normals were flooded by teachers trying to get a certificate. LcBack then? Farrington recalled, we had to do a lot more than just teach. We had to find rooms for both boys and girls. Since there were no dormitories, every- one had to have a place off-campus to stay. In the early days we worked 13 months a year? Farrington remembers the 7:30 p.m. curfew and lights out at 10:30. clIf anyone wanted to stay up later and study, they had to burn a candle. But if Dr. Bruce saw the candle burning, he wanted to know what was going on. He was really coneeznedf7 On Sept. 14, 1914, BEULAHVHARRIS landed, as she put it, in Denton. She was the 17th faculty member at North Texas. There were fewer than 600 students. MiSs Harris taught all the physical education classes, for both men and women, in the basement of what is now the Historical Building. llThe building, as is all Denton, was built over run- ning water and sand, Miss Harris recalls. llSometimes we would go four to six weeks without RE. classes because the basement would be flooded? Miss Harris can remember when the football field used to be where the Lab School field is now. To prepare the field for play, a French teacher lined up all the boys in his class and marched them across field, picking up burrs. MISS BEULAH HARRIS- ltSometimes six weeks without RE?

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iece P IOI'I ill Always Serve As A Good Conversut p a e H d U M A r e 9 n 0 II- 0 N A e U n e V A

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E. H. FARRINGTONe A 7:30 p.1n. curfew. ROY 0. HATLEYe A 131 because of the Chat. WFhere were no professors, n0 departments, just teach- ers-and only about 16 of them, .1. W. FENDER, for- mer head of the government department, recalled. Fender came to North Texas in the summer of 1912 and returned in 1913 as a full-time faculty member. llOnce when the state committee came to inspect the academic conditions at North Texas, Pender said, gthey told Dr. Bruce there wasnlt enough scholarship here. Dr. Bruce told the committee that if he had to dismiss any men to get the committees approval, he wouldn,t do it? North Texas growth is gcnatural and normal;7 Pender said, adding that he believes some of the teachers1 col- lege atmosphere will always remain at the institution. Pender can remember the first intercollegiate football game North Texas played. It was in the fall of 1913 against Texas Christian University. J. W. FENDER 1 9N0 profs, no departments, just teachers? When returning for Homecoming last fall as a mem4 ber of the honored 1914 class, ROY O. HATLEY was overcome with the growth of his alma mater. Hatlewaho edited the Chat in 1920t later taught journalism in San Antonio, and retired recently from the San Antonio Express as political writere was especially impressed by four areas of NTSUls progress. tlThe distance up, in the scholastic world, is what really impresses mef, Hatley said. 911m also impressed a though not surprised W by the broadening curriculum and the tremendous building program? Hatley was also awed by the student body growth. 111 remember Denton as a cozy little county seat just plugging along? Hatley said. He also remembers receiving a cB7 in English because he was up late working on the Chat.