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

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788 Permanent University Fund established UT ' s first football team in 1893 enjoyed an undefeated season. The team was organized by the McLane brothers of Laredo, Ray and Paul, who had previously played at Cornell. The Alumni Association is organized. June 17, 1885 Ashbel Smith, first president of the Board of Regents, dies. Jan. 21, 1886 A Dr. Thomas Wooten of Paris, Texas is elected chairman of the Board of Regents. Jan. 29, 1886 The Regents give control of library hours to faculty. Jan. 29, 1886 i Colonel G. W. Brackenridge is appointed as a Regent. His tenure as a member of the Board of Regents will stretch over 27 years. Nov. 27, 1886 III The Norther, a student publication appears. This is the only issue published and it calls attention to prohibition, the all absorbing topic, on campus. March 26, 1887 A joint resolution by the Legislature provides for an amendment to the state constitution to establish a Permanent University Fund. March 29, 1887 The Regents vote to build the center portion of Old Main. Plans include the construction of a desperately needed auditorium. - June 19, 1888 III The Ashbel Literary Society for women is organized. Nov. 22, 1888 Constructed at a cost of $17,000, Brackenridge Hall, the first University dormitory is opened to male students. Rent is $2.50 per student per month. Subsequently labeled Tammany Hall and the Citadel of Democracy, B. Hall was to become the epicenter of campus political activity. Dec. 1, 1890 The 22nd Legislature passes a bill containing a clause giving the University $10,000 to supplement the available fund in the support and maintenance of the University from the general revenue fund. - April 16, 1891 The School of Pedagogy, which will later become the College of Education, is established. Aug. 2), 1891 Constructed from a legislative appropriation at a cost of $25,000, the Chemical Laboratory opens and is described as one of the most complete and serviceable in the South. Jan. 1, 1892 The Regents refuse a faculty request that they divide the Academic Department into two parts the Department of Arts and the Department of Sciences. Jan. 21, 1892 Established in April of 1892, the University football team plays its first game against the Dallas Football Club, winning 18-16, which would have constituted a 21-20 victory under the present-day scor- ing system. Fall 1892 A students ' council is formed. April 26, 1894 14 The University ' s First Century

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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

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Students organize Cooperative Society 1895 CALENDAR Oct. 19 Football game: A M annihilated. Oct. 13 E. C. Routh remains sober all day. Oct. 29 Football game: Tulane annihilated. Nov. 12 Hearn attends class. Thunderstorm. Nov. 29 Football game: Arkansas annihilated. Dec. 14 Football game: Missouri not annihilated. Roman chariot race, Dr. Halstead winner. March 5 Nobody died at B. Hall today. March 29 Sammy Foster gets off a joke. 1895 Cactus 1896 Ujj Praised as one of the handsomest and costliest residences in the state, The Littlefield Home is completed and opened with an at home celebration. Dec. 18, 1894 Uj The first Cactus, student yearbook, is published and edited by Dabney White. 1894 iThe Texas Senate passes a bill giving control of the University lands to the Board of Regents. Feb. 13, 1895 All Dr. Leslie Waggener, faculty chairman for 10 years, is elected the first president ad -interim of The University. Sept. 7, 1895 ||| Vol. I, No. 1 of The Alcalde: A Weekly Journal for The University of Texas, a forerunner of The Texan, premieres. L. E. Hill and Charles D. Oldright are its joint owners, editors and business managers. Dec. 18, 1895 l|| The University Cooperative Society is organized by students and faculty so that students may save money on books and supplies. Under the leadership of Dr. G. W. Battle, the Co-Op opens on the first floor of Old Main. 7896 111 University students successfully petition to keep the law library open at night. June 21, 1896 1 Dr. George Tayloe Winston, former president of the University of North Carolina, is selected president of The University. Winston will resign in 1899 because he is unhappy with the slow progress in University improvements. June 30, 1896 :s fil r : t Mfll .-.-; - - rcccccccc Formed by students and faculty in 1896, the University Co-Operative Society was designed to save students money on books and supplies. It was located on the first floor of Old Main. The University ' s First Century 15