The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946 Page: 161
717 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Collection 161
years enough to have been first introduced to Texas history through the
medium of Mrs. Anna J. Hardwicke Pennybacker.
I call your attention to these dates that you may place in its true time
setting the origin of Baylor University a little more than 100 years ago.
Historically speaking, all these events occured only the day before Baylor
was conceived in the minds of Huckins, Tryon, Baylor --Texans whose
names deserve to rank with those of our more spectacular heroes. The
same love of freedom - political, religious, economic - the same respect
for the dignity of the individual man, the same creative vision that
impelled a small band of dauntless men to give life to the Republic of
Texas, prompted the founders of this institution to plant the seed that has
become the living, thriving tree we know today as Baylor University.
The very life roots of this tree were nourished by the same soil that
produced the Republic of Texas. I think this idea of the close relationship
between Baylor and Texas must have been in the mind of the man responsi-
ble for the inscription "Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana" on the corner stone of
the old main building of the university.
Notwithstanding this close and abiding kinship to Texas, I must in truth
tell you that for many years the history of Texas was almost wholly
neglected in the curriculum of this university. There was a period, a period
of considerable length, during which it was considered a bit provincial to
associate the two too closely together. Baylor went through a stage when
it seemed to feel towards Texas and Texas history like the country boy
who had gone to town and made good felt towards his parents, his brothers
and sisters, whom he had left behind on the backwoods farm: although he
acknowledged the relationship, he was just a little ashamed of it. Some of
you Baylor people who have come upon the scene since that time may wish
to take issue with me, but I hasten to assure you that I am speaking from
first-hand knowledge and experience gained in attendance here.
It is heartening, then, to find that this attitude has changed completely
in recent years. Today, instead of looking upon Texas history as a subject
suitable for study only in grammar school, or possibly as a snap elective
in high school, offered for the benefit of those students who are looking
for an easy credit, we find the subject ably taught in your history depart-
ment and emphasized generally on your campus. Furthermore, a sub-
stantial portion of Pat Neff Hall has been glorified by the addition of a
Texas history library that is growing rapidly in size and quality of con-
tent, and before many years have passed will undoubtedly be one of the
outstanding libraries of its kind in the whole country. We know, too, this
emphasis here on Texas history has not been brought about merely by a
desire to emulate other schools in this state and elsewhere. I think, rather,
you here at Baylor, realizing that the present is the matured product of all
our past history, know our life today --our current history --cannot be
properly understood or evaluated except in the light thrown upon it by our
past history; and you have gone to work with a will to provide all the
facilities necessary for a thorough study of that history.
I say all this is heartening because we of the Historical Association like
to believe the Association has had a great deal to do with this revived
interest in our past. For almost fifty years, since its founding by F. R.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946, periodical, 1946; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146056/m1/172/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.