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

Page 16 text:

1883 Lightning demolishes Old Main chimney lf The faculty approves the first list of books to be ordered for the library. Dec. 1, 1883 Classes are held in the West Wing of the Old Main Building for the first time. Jan. 1, 1884 During an electrical storm, lightning strikes Old Main, demolishing a chimney and damaging the roof. Feb. 13, 1884 J. H. Cobb makes the first documented book loan from the library. The book is titled Wilheim Weister. March 6, 1884 The Regents authorize the appointment of a Lady Assistant to serve as a campus mother figure. A proper Victorian figure, Helen Marr Kirby is selected and subsequently attains the title of Dean of Women. 7884 The University ' s first commencement exercises are held downtown at Millett ' s Opera House. Thirteen male graduates receive degrees. S. C. Red of Austin is the first to graduate; the first master of arts degree is conferred upon E. E. Bramlett who goes on to become The University ' s first instructor in mathematics and ancient languages. June 14, 1884 The Regents appropriate $25 for the purpose of designing an of- ficial seal for the University. May 17, 1884 H $ wear the colors orange and white for the first time to a baseball game against Southwestern University of Georgetown. April 21, 1885 University Hall, on the Campus, hoard $12. Mrs. A. K Isotn. 3307 San Antonio st. $16 oo. without fuel. Mrs. Jeff Horan. 809 22 ' j st., $18.00, without fuel. MM. A. Ragsdale, -jtS W. 23 4 St., $18.00, everything fur- nUhrd. Mrs. J W. Warreu. 717 W. 2yd .it.. $18.00. Mr . O Archer, 400 Bowie it., $.15 oo. Mr . W. S. Ashley, 2210 Ouadalupe St., $18.00, without fuel. Mrs. P. W. Drane, 2112 August St., $18.00, without fuel; $14 oo table board. Mrs. W. H. Kimbrough, cor. Pearl and 22nd St., four ladies, $18 oo each. Mr . P. M. Rain. 403 E. iSth St., $18.00, without fuel. Mr . S. W. Teagarden, Hyde Park, one room, with board if desired. Mrs. M. 1). Kelley, 2110 August st., $16.00. Mrs. Addie Robinson, 3300 East Avenue, $15.00. Mrs. Dill, cor. Colorado and iyth st . $18.00, without fuel. Mr . J. J. Lane, 614 W. 14111 St., $18.00, everything furnished. Mr . Burchard, 2608 Rio Grande St., table board $12.00; rooms near by. Mrs. P. Whit is. 210 W. 27th St., $20.00. without fuel. Mrs. Mary K. Moore, 715 W. 22 ' St., $16.00, without fuel. Mrs. Belding, cor. 2jth st. and Whitis ave. Mrs. Li I lie Shaver, S. W. cor. 25th and August St.. $20.00, without fuel. Mrs. P. C. Graves, 2005 W. San Marcos, rooms with or with- out board. Mrs. M. J. Russell, 1602 Colorado st., $16.00, with fuel and lights. Mr . J. T. Sample, cor. Congress Avenue and isth St., $20.00, without fuel. Mr . Love, cor. Whitis ave. and igth st., lodging only, or with board. J. W. Posey, 716 W. 22 St., $18.00, with fuel, lights and bath. Mrs. S. L- Shaw. 2501 August st., for gentlemen only, $20.00 A board and lodging chart from 1896 informed students of their housing options. Built by George Washington Brackenridge at a cost of $17,000, the orginal B. Hall was made especially for poor boys. It had hot and cold water and housed 42 students. 12 The University ' s Fjrst Century

Page 15 text:

The University celebrates opening 1883 ance Samuel Clark Red of Austin, 1883 The first student, S. J. Sheffield of Lodi, Texas, enrolls at The University in the law department. Sept. 1 1, 1883 (Jj Dignitaries and students celebrate the formal opening of The University at 10:00 a.m. in the West Wing of the as yet incomplete Main Building. Sept. 15, 1883 j j Despite the argument that there should be a separate university for females, women are admitted to The University on an equal basis with men. Sept. 1), 1883 (!) A chapter of Phi Delta Theta is installed, making it The Univer- sity ' s first social fraternity. Sept. 15, 1883 The opening assembly for 221 students, 8 faculty members and a proctor is held in the Senate Chambers of the temporary Capitol. Sept. 17, 1883 ||| The Athenaeum Society, a campus literary organization, is organized. Yancey Lewis is president of the society which enthusiastically debates issues of the day. Oct. 21, 1883 Red was conferred the first University degree; Andrews was UT ' s first woman graduate. UT ' s first faculty: (seated)John Mallet, Robert Dabney, Oran Roberts. Milton Humphreys, William Broun; (standing) Leslie Waggener, Robert Gould, Henri Tallichet. The University ' s First Century 11

Page 17 text:

Tale of Proctor, first UT color bearer 1885 THE CHOOSING OF THE COLORS VENABLE B. PROCTOR, ' 85 It is a far cry from the present University, with its thousands of students, its hosts of alumni and its heritage of memories, to the University, as I knew it in the sessions 1883 to 1885, a University without history, without buildings, without everything, save a well- selected Faculty and a handful of students, who had selected themselves. Athletics were unknown; some sporadic scrimmages with the police, a much-uniformed, also uninformed, military company, and some crude boating on the river, being the gamut of physical endeavor. In the spring of 1885, however, there came among us one, who was heralded as The only College Curve Pitcher in the State, and around this asset we framed a baseball team, that rated high in brain power, low in brute force. Southwestern University, known to us as Georgetown, challeng- ed, and a game was billed to be played at Georgetown. We hired a special train and on the fateful day there gathered at the I. G.N. depot the team and the faithful, among the latter quite a number of co-eds. As is usual on small and great occasions, a woman spoke first. One of the young ladies insisted that a University must have colors. Up to that time we had overlooked everything except the curve pit- cher, but we were not lacking in common perception, and instantly realized that the young lady was quite right. Two of us, including the writer, volunteered to get the raw material, and hurried to the nearest store that looked ribbon-like. This was a small hole-in-the-wall shop, located on the east side of the Avenue about the middle of the second block above the present H. T.C. passenger station. The train bell was ringing and there was scant time for musing or debate. In tense tones we demanded ribbon, and when asked what color, answered, anything. Anything was perforce orange and white, for my recollection is distinct that these were the only colors in full bolts. I have always deemed this peculiarly fortunate. At that time I belonged to that lager class of low-browed persons who think red the only col- or. Only the mercy of chance, therefore, saves us from the bar sinister of A. and M. We brought some half dozen bolts of the ribbon and ran back to the train. On the journey to Georgetown the young ladies made the ribbon into badges and all wore these save Yancey Lewis, who had evolved a barbaric scheme of individual adornment by utiliz- ing the remnants. The rest of the story is in a minor key. It showered, the ball got slick, the college curve curved not, our outfielders ran weary miles on a rear perspective, and the colors were christened, as all true colors should be, on a dire and stricken field. I don ' t claim to be the first color-wearer of t he Varsity but I am the first color-bearer, for I toted the ribbon from the store to the train. The Alcalde, November 1913 The Cactus yearbook was first published in 1894; above is the 1895 staff. Other names suggested for the yearbook were Broncho, Hoof and Horn and Flirts and Flunkers. The University ' s First Century 13