The mascot of Vanderbilt, the Commodore, comes from the school nickname, the “Commodores.” Vanderbilt is named for Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided a million dollars in 1873 for its establishment. His penchant for steam boating resulted in his being called Commodore, and the students at the university that bore his name also became known as Commodores. Vanderbilt was a steamship entrepreneur, and the nickname “commodore” was a common one for important steamboat entrepreneurs in the 1830s, when he first began to be referred to as Commodore Vanderbilt. At the time, commodore was the highest rank in the US Navy.
Recent News
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- Black History Month Exhibit
- Knoxville’s Largest Little Library
- A Library Love Story
- Libraries Celebrates 14th Year of Big Orange STEM Saturday
- UT Libraries Receives LEAD Award
- An Evening with Appalachian authors Halle Hill and Terry Roberts, February 20
- Explore Libraries' Scopes Trial Exhibit, Part of UT year-long commemoration
Upcoming Events
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Blind Date with a Book at the Libraries
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Blind Date with a Book at the Libraries
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Of Monkeys and Men: The Scopes Trial Exhibit and Research Guide