University of Nebraska Omaha - Tomahawk / Gateway Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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IN THE BEGINNING THBREDICK MANSION Observance of the Tenth Anniversary of the one million-dollar Omaha University campus recalls the humble beginning of the University nearly forty years ago. At that time, September, 1909, nineteen bright-eyed neo-scholars seated themselves before six- teen learned doctors-the first faculty. These thirty-five pioneers made themselves as comfortable as possible in the massive, austere Redick mansion, later to be christened with a more appropriate pseudonym, Redick Hall. Dr. Daniel jenkins, theologian and faculty dean of the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary, discarded his ministerial robes for the toga, becoming the first president of non-sectarian, co-educational Omaha University. Young, struggling Omaha University realized its first addition in 1911. Spurred by a donation from philanthropic Mrs. M. O. Maul, the John Jacobs Memorial gymnasium arose on the campus at Twenty-fourth and Pratt Streets.

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CHANGING TIMES AND CHANGING RESIDENCE Again affected by growing pains and encouraged by a substantial gift from George A. Joslyn, the University completed and held classes in Joslyn Hall in January, 1917. Nearly four hundred men and women toiled for their grades in that spacious building. Shortly after the last under-grad was out of Redick Hall the mansion was razed, and the campus returned to the normalcy of two halls. The year 1928 brought a movement to make the University a municipal institution. However, it wasn't until 1930 that interested voters had the opportunity to express them- selves at the polls. Shortly after the final vote a Board of Regents was appointed and assumed administration. The doors to the new Municipal University of Omaha opened in january, 1931, following permission received from the district and state supreme courts for the city to levy a tax for its support. H