The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940 Page: 282
576 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
call that might come to me to contribute to a better and fuller
understanding of the recorded events of my administration of the
University, for I have an affection for it and an interest in it
which the passage of time can neither efface nor diminish. Let
me say further, in this preamble, that I am painfully aware of
the personal pronoun in this paper. If I knew of any literary
device by use of which this could be avoided I would certainly
employ it. Lacking this I can only beg your indulgence.
After almost a score of years spent in other interests and
activities, my years at the University of Texas seem marked in
my memory by two conditions. One is the loyalty and whole-
hearted support of the faculty and friends of the institution.
This I can never forget. Whatever of importance and value came
to the University out of those years, the credit for it lies there
more than in any other thing. It was more than compensation
for the pains and penalties experienced. It made the work a
joyous undertaking. The other recollection that I have is that
my administration was largely characterized by controversy. It
presented more things to fight about, I think, than is usually the
case even in the life of a state university. It began with a "bear
fight," the struggle to maintain the freedom and integrity of
the institution; it plunged from this immediately into service
to the nation during the World War, when all systematic and
formal educational methods and processes were held in abeyance;
before these could be readjusted in an orderly manner, there
came a tremendous upsurge in the demands made upon it by
increasing attendance; internal adaptation of the organization
to this larger task was required; the physical plant was absurdly
inadequate; these were, in broad outline, the conditions that had
to be met. Most of them were controversial in nature or pro-
vided large room for difference of opinion both as to method
and extent. They were, too, imperative and came so quickly,
each upon the heels of the other, that decisions had to be made
often upon the spur of the moment. The quiet shades of Academe
were invaded and dispelled. Conscious as I am of their many
imperfections and inadequacies, I am glad to have lived long
enough to see that they were growing pains and that peace and
constructive effort have come with greater maturity.
During all those years and throughout all those controversies282
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940, periodical, 1940; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101111/m1/306/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.