University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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UNIVERSITY

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The Completion of the Present Building Program editofCs note To record in word and picture the life of a great institution, to represent the varied activities of all its departments, to preserve in a book of memories the events of the fleeting year — this is the usual task of the editor and his staflF. On this important occasion of The University ' s golden anniversary, it has seemed proper to enlarge upon the scope of the yearbook and give a panoramic view of the passing show of the years — the Texas of yesterday as well as of today. The editor is proud of the privilege of recording on the pages that follow the romantic story or a half-century of progress and to give, as well, a picture of the rapidly developing campus of today. As we snatch these moments out from under the galloping hoofs of time and make them immortal, may we remember always our debt to The State and to The School which has made possible our participation in the fellowship of Texas men and women throughout the world.

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Mid-Victorian The Mmn BiiiiJiiij, tlie Parthenon of the University ' s Acropolis, ani oj tke Gothic Revival period, is tlic oliJest hmliing on tfie campus. AI- tlioiijli tli£ corner stone was Idiil HoDcmlicr 17, 1882, ddsses were licU in tlie olJ temporary Cipilol fcuiUing until tlie u ' csl iiiing 0 tlic present huHd ' ing ivas complctcJ January, 1884. Only tlie u ' estern section of tlic pre- sent l-iiiUing iws erecteJ ori.»imill)i anil here all tlie departments of The Uni- versity ifere housed until 1889. The graduates receii ' cd their diplomas in a down-town theatre. The middle portion and the north ininq (the recently demolished auditorium) were erected in 1889. It u ' as here that President Prather in 1899 estalilished the popularity 0 his immortal phrase, Re- member ,young adies and young gentlemen, the eyes of Texas are upon you. The UJalls of the auditorium reverheratcd with the oratory and cihortations of the Governors of Texas, six of whom addressed the students at the opening 0 the Fall semester. President Theodore Roosenelt, William Jennings Bryan, and Helen Keller were among the celelirated spealiers; Meiha, Schu- mann-Heinck, Alma Gluch, John McCormacIf, and other singers entranced large audiences; Starle Young ' s Curtain Club plays were presented here and hatchet-throiuing Carrie N.ation almost reached its stage. That dear old lady of the hill, not Carrie, hut the Main Building, draped in mported iuy, lilie a Paisley shaud, shrinks in her inharmonious and naltcd surroundings, clutching to her stajf, the tower U ' hose recently ac- quired chimes periodically peal out the hour to the Unii ' ersity community. To this same perwd hlongs old B Hall, originally built for a men ' s dormitory in 1890, and the old chemistry building built in 1891 and de- stroyed byjirc in 1926.