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

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m the attic. t oilt . I tB fi !W, I btcune jfStVsaaiUnivmi. fapFm!8 until itehi wcom- ana i Macs ofies ... -.:-. l yUijiunen i coot :tie from inc.Afo iwstr iiumni i (tat Hood it the rt- Ik Awut.no Onto! the aBaiAetefi l.i ni the umige . : . ' I- -,::id -- WH ot a . , .. ' : Littlefield Home 11

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Until 1957, the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps had ' headquarters ' there, with its anti-aircraft guns on the front lawn and a firing range in the attic. AKING A STAND majestically and serenely near the northwest corner of the campus, the Littlefield Home was a unique relic from the University ' s past. While not as large, modern, or imposing as the rusty Communications Complex that loomed darkly from behind, it still presented a dignified, commanding presence that almost whispered aloud the history of the University it patiently watched grow from infancy. Ornately and almost pretentiously Vic- torian, the house provided a taste of the elegance and luxury of an irretrievable, earlier period, and also showed a glimpse of the man who built it, and much of UT. George Washington Littlefield, a former Texas Ranger, fought for the Confederacy in the War Between the States. In Tennessee, he was wounded in the leg by shrapnel and was promoted to the rank of major for gallantry on the battlefield. He returned to Texas in 1863, married Alice Payne Tillar, and proceeded to amass a huge fortune in the cattle business. The Littlefields moved to Austin in 1883 the year the University opened and became a prominent banker. Although not a highly educated man, Lit- tlefield became a member of the Board of Regents in 1911 and served until shortly before his death in 1920. During his ad- ministrative relationship with the young and still relatively poor institution, he served as a sort of financial guardian and generous The House That George Built by DOUGLAS JOHNSON benefactor. His bank covered overdrafts for the University without interest and when Gov. James Ferguson vetoed the Texas Legislature ' s 1917-1919 operating appropria- tions for UT, Littlefield pledged his personal fortune to keep the school afloat. Littlefield donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to UT for various construction, scholarly and memorial projects. One con- tribution included a $250,000 donation to honor men and women of the Confederacy. This donation formed the Littlefield Foun- dation and is responsible for the statues of notable Southerners on the South Mall. Construction of the house began in 1893 and was completed in the spring of 1894, at a cost of $50,000. Constructed of red-brown brick and dark red sandsto ne, the house combined the grand Victorian style with a French flair. Elegant turrets reached toward the sky, polished blue granite columns fram- ed the front entrances on both the first and second floors and a veranda encircled both floors, with lacy, iron grillwork on the por- ches, railings, fanlights and doors. Fifteen kinds of woods were used throughout the 17-room house, and there were five marble coal-burning fireplaces for heat; gas and electrical fixtures supplied light. In the front parlor, the scene of several family weddings, a framed mirror ran from the floor to the ceiling, decorated with a mural. A two-story carriage house at the back of the lot once held the major ' s match- ed teams of horses and the carriages. A red cement carriage drive was lined by red hibiscus, the major ' s favorite flower. The north yard was Mrs. Littlefield ' s rose garden. As in Littlefield ' s will, the house became University property in 1935 and then housed several different tenants. In 1936, it became the headquarters of the Austin and Universi- ty Centennial Exposition. From 1938 until 1942, when the Music Building was com- pleted, the Department of Music ' s offices were there. Until 1957, the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps had headquarters there, with its anti-aircraft guns on the front lawn and a firing range in the attic. After 1957, until restoration by University alumni began in 1967, the house was again used for music student rehearsal rooms. In 1982, the Littlefield Home stood at the corner of 24th Street and Whitis Avenue, no longer on the outskirts of a tiny rural col- lege, but surrounded by the large, modern buildings of a major university. One of the oldest buildings on campus, it sheltered the UT Development Board, and the carriage house held the offices of the University News and Information Service. But even though much of its surround- ings were altered in 88 years, the Littlefield Home remained a constant reminder of a time before the University of Texas was so large, so rich, and so imposing. It stood as an elegant symbol of, and memorial to, the man with a dream who through the gift of his wealth and talents, helped push the University toward excellence. 10 Littlefield Home

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While not specifically listed on the map as one of Texas ' main points of interest, the West Mall could easily claim the slightly pretentious title The University ' s melting pot by JOANNA VAGUE and BRIAN VANICEK ATTERED, and tasteful, looking as if it had been cast by a moneyed producer with an odd interest in fashion, the West Mall ' s characters ' dress reflected their lifestyles. Hare Krishna devotees draped in flowing orange robes, soft-shoed dancers in close-fitting danskins, modified cowboys in boots and button downs and a liberal assortment of mismatch- ed students pleaded the issues of the day. A resident of Monterrey, Mexico, Rober- to Baez studied at the Technological In- stitute of Superior Studies of Monterrey for two years before he arrived at UT in January of 1982. His decision to attend UT was based on the need to improve his English and his desire to compare the two cultures. While Austin may have afforded Baez the chance to observe Americans in their native habitat, the West Mall surely gave him the opportunity to inspect people from all over the world. Baez expressed surprise at one of the prevalent American costumes which was so visible at the University. What confound- ed him was that many apparently well-to-do American girls wore Mexican dresses. To me that ' s a stupid thing because in Mexico you buy those dresses on the streets, Baez said. It ' s ironical because the Mexican girls who wear those dresses are the peasants. The University ' s official enrollment in 1982 was 45,825. Of that number, 37,776 or 82.4 percent were Caucasian; 3,576 or 7.8 per cent were Mexican-American and 1,160 or 2.5 percent were black. Foreign students like Roberto Baez ac- counted for 2,541 places or 5.5 percent. The remaining percentage points were filled by 701 Asian-Americans and 71 American In- dian students. West Mall scenarios pictured any number of students gathered together for one reason or another. For some, the Mall afforded a place to eat lunch or to consume mass quan- tities of soft drinks or caffeine between classes. For others, the Mall played a more idealistic role that of an open forum where all were free to express ideas and ideologies. Between September 1981 and May 1982, the West Mall was the scene of dozens of rallies and performances, touching such varied subjects as equal rights, fair housing, El Salvador, nuclear energy, reproductive freedom and Mexican dance. Roberto had his own impression of this academics-oriented melting pot. When the sun was out, everybody just lay there in shorts and bathing suits ... I thought, well, O.K., what about the sun? In Mexico we always have this weather. Here, just because a little ray comes out, everybody goes out. I thought they were crazy. Lisa Long, a sophomore advertising ma- jor, tagged the West Mall as a learning center. You never know what you ' re go- ing to see when you ' re out on the West Mall, Long said. Long added that the West Mall provided her with exposure to many different types of people including the Iranians, Hare Krishnas and evangelist Sister Cindy Lasseter. I always like to go out and see Cindy, Long said, I think that it ' s free entertainment. While Long felt right at home at the University and on the West Mall, Baez had to make a few adjustments. He particularly objected to Americans ' imitation Mexican food. What I mainly hate about Tex-Mex is the cheddar cheese, he declared. A taco with any cheese, but especially cheddar cheese, is not a taco. Moreover, Baez expressed surprise at the differences between American sexual at- titudes and those in Mexico. Mexican men are brought up to be very macho, said Baez. The worst thing that could ever happen to a man is to lose his feeling of masculinity. Baez perceived the overall student body as courteous, but not friendly. He explained that Latin people were more expressive, speaking emphatically and using their hands. The Americans are wonderful people when you get to talking with them, but it ' s hard to establish a relationship, he said, continuing, I ' ve met many friendly people and I like that, but I wish they would try a lit- tle harder. You can ' t expect a foreigner to act as every American does, but that ' s what you seem to expect from us. You don ' t understand that we are from another country and have different ways of saying things or doing things smiling, talking, laughing; everything is different. Everything. 12 West Mall