The first director of UT’s Honors Program, Dr. Becker joined the History Department in 1974. She was a graduate of Ohio University and the University of Pittsburgh and received the PhD from Case Western Reserve. She received the Woodrow Wilson and Mellon Fellowships and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She served as chair … Continued

In 2011 the UT and Kentucky Timbersports teams have had a side bet to take home a beer barrel similar to that previously used to award the bragging rights to the winner of the Tennessee-Kentucky football game. The lumberjack team, as they are known, is part of UT’s chapter of the Society of American Foresters … Continued

The tradition of having the name of the winning team in the annual Tennessee vs. Kentucky football game inscribed on a beer barrel, which remained for the year in the possession of the winning team, began in 1925. When it was announced that this prize would be called a beer keg or beer barrel, the … Continued

In fall 1889 an electric bell was installed with bells in all the halls of all the buildings. The November Tennessee University Student reported that the Officer of the Day from the guardroom rang all the bells. He sat at his desk, and with the touch of a button, he “puts the whole school in … Continued

A 1908 graduate of UT, L. Theo Belmont had a distinguished career in athletics at the University of Texas. He achieved national acclaim for establishing the Texas Relays and helped to form the Southwest Conference. He went to Texas in 1909, serving as head of physical training for the Houston YMCA and inaugurated the playground … Continued

The university has had gift clubs and recognition societies since 1960. The Benefactors Society was established in 1982 to recognize donors of $100,000 to $1 million. In 2001 the society was redefined to recognize contributions of $100,000 to $499,999.

In 1915 wealthy financier Benjamin Rush Strong left the bulk of his considerable estate to UT. His family contested the will. Following two mistrials, a settlement was worked out in 1919 that provided funds to UT to construct the Sophronia Strong Hall; to establish the Benjamin Rush Strong Loan Fund, directed to agriculture students; and … Continued

In 1989, somewhat overshadowed by the nearby shantytown erected by the Anti-Apartheid Coalition, UT’s College Republicans erected a facsimile of the Berlin Wall near the Humanities Building and asked passersby to sign the wall as a statement of their opposition to Communist oppression. College Republicans treasurer Heath Murphy explained that the group wanted to raise … Continued

Berry Hall, a 7,140-square-foot facility, was built in 1939 as an Engineering Experiment Station building. The trustees named it for Harry S. Berry, who was the administrator for Tennessee of the federal Work Progress Administration (WPA). Berry greatly assisted the university in efforts to tap resources of the WPA for campus projects. WPA funds could … Continued