The Republican Dialectical Adelphic Society was begun in 1827 when the institution’s new president, Rev. Charles Coffin, moved from Greeneville College, where the society had been founded. The literary societies were primarily debating societies. The first literary society for women was the Barbara Blount Literary Society, which formed soon after women were admitted to regular … Continued
The Lambda Student Union held its first awards event on April 23, 2001, to recognize members of the university community who had shown support for the group and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people on campus. The award for the most supportive administrator was not given in order to make a statement about the … Continued
In 1868 the board of trustees authorized President Humes to appoint and employ one or more persons to attend the 1868–69 legislative session in Nashville and seek to obtain the land-grant status for East Tennessee University. Edward J. Sanford, an alumnus, was hired as UT’s agent, and his lobbying was credited with helping to ensure … Continued
On April 27, 1831, a committee of the board of trustees advertised in the Knoxville Register for proposals for fencing and landscaping the 40-acre campus (the Hill). The landscaping sought was for “100 good shade trees of Locust, Cedar or Mulberry set out” and an “avenue of Lombardy Poplars to the plank fence, including the … Continued
The first Macebearer was Dr. George Schweitzer (chemistry) who carried the newly created Mace of the University at the inauguration of Dr. Andrew David Holt as president of the university in 1960.
In 1939 faculty members of the Romance Languages Department were offered an opportunity to try an experimental model of a “Voice Mirror” built by the Society of Acoustic Engineers. In 1940 faculty in romance languages used the product, in which students spoke into a microphone attached to a machine that looked like a table-model radio, … Continued
The first UT majorette camp was held in the summer of 1965.
S. Baldridge, university bursar, announced in fall 1960 that a late registration fee was immediately in effect for those who did not complete their registration within five days following the date (or dates) of registration. He explained that the fee was made necessary by the increasingly large number of students did not complete the registration … Continued
In 1993, in their first appearance at the National Collegiate Half-Time Twirl Championships at the America’s Youth on Parade competition, UT’s majorettes won the national championship. The contest, sponsored by the National Baton Twirlers Association, featured routines by more than 3,500 twirlers. The Dynasty Trophy was awarded to UT as the best team—a special honor … Continued
The first Law Hooding Ceremony was held on June 7, 1973. The speaker was Judge L. Clure Morton of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.