In 1908 UT announced that any town or city could arrange for one to five lectures by UT faculty “upon the payment of ten dollars for the lecture and the entertainment of the lecturer.” The purpose of the endeavor, governed by an Executive Committee of which P. P. Claxton was chair, was “to extend the benefits of The University as widely as possible,” and it was anticipated that most of the lectures would be given at public or private high schools. The fifteen lecturers from which cities and towns could choose included President Ayres and future Presidents Morgan and Hoskins.
The Division of General Extension was formed in 1922 to administer correspondence courses and other extension activities. During the direction of its first dean, Fensington C. Lowry, the division developed a series of adult training courses; audiovisuals for the state and campus; specialized library materials, such as playbooks and debate books; and short term conferences and institutes. It also promoted speech and dramatics in high schools throughout the state. The division pioneered in the use of radio for educational purposes and placed a radio station on campus. This division also edited the catalog of the university.
From 1942 to 1945, the Division of University Extension assisted in the war effort by serving as a War Information Center for Tennessee. It circulated packages and films on subjects concerning the war. As the Engineering Science Management War Training Program, presided over by Dean Nathan Dougherty, was phased out following the War, Lowry retained the centers at Chattanooga, Kingsport, Memphis, and Nashville as locations for offering university extension work. The Nashville center eventually grew into the University of Tennessee at Nashville.