One Aggie’s Perspective on Some Cowboy History Oklahoma State University is a Land-Grant research institution that was founded on December 25, 1890, as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, just after the Land Run of 1889. When the first students assembled for class in 1891, there were no buildings, no books, and no curriculum. In 1894, 2 ½ years after classes began in local churches, 144 students moved into the first academic building, later known as Old Central. In 1896, Oklahoma A & M; held its first commencement with six male graduates. Dr. Robert Terry – OSU Professor Emeriti

THE LAND RUN OF 1889 Oklahoma State University was founded on December 25, 1890, as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, just twenty months after the Land Run of 1889.

OUR FIRST PRESIDENT Robert Barker 1891-1894 Our first President was Robert Barker. He served from 1891-1894. We had 5 legislators at the time. 3 republican and 2 democrats. The three republicans had a meeting and since they were in power, they selected one of themselves to be the first president of the University. We have not always been OSU. We started out as A & M College. Robert Barker 1891-1894

FIRST CLASSES MET HERE! Dec. 14, 1891 When the first students assembled for class on December 14, 1891, there were no buildings, no books, and no curriculum. Dec. 14, 1891

FIRST PERMANENT BUILDING In 1894, two and one-half years after classes began in local churches, 144 students moved into the first academic building, later known as Old Central,

A & M MILESTONE: The first graduates in 1896… This is a picture of the six men who were the first graduates.

THE FIRST WOMAN GRADUATE: Jessie Thatcher, 1897 This is our second set of graduates. It was our smallest class and the first time to have a female graduates. Her name was Jessie Thatcher. One of our buildings is named after her.

THE CAMPUS IN 1900 We started to grow and by 1900 we had three buildings. Old Central is in the Center. The large building was our first library. It has since been replaced with the beautiful Edmon Low Library. In the early years the campus architecture was Victorian. It was designed by the same architect as did the buildings in Guthrie. OSU’s colors were the first chosen in the late 1890’s.  The selection of orange and black was a tribute to a popular faculty member whose father was a Princeton graduate.  Students adopted Princeton’s orange and black colors and some of the school's first athletic teams were even referred to as the “Tigers” in the early 1900’s.

THE EARLIEST WATERING HOLE… The pond used at the turn of the century to water the college work animals eventually took its name from the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, then located nearby. 

AND THE POND TODAY…. Theta Pond has witnessed many “memorable” moments. In the early years, classes and colleges held tug-of-war competitions across the pond, with the losers getting a dunking!

This is a picture of the firsts Women’s Dorm This is a picture of the firsts Women’s Dorm. It was called Gardener Hall. THE FIRST WOMEN’S DORM

EARLY ATHLETIC FACILITIES: This is the football stadium built by architecture students and engineering students. In the early days, ½ of the freshman class carried the football players off the field. The other ½ cleaned up the trash and filled the divets or holes in the ground. EARLY ATHLETIC FACILITIES: All Student Made

THE REAL PISTOL PETE! A tradition was born in the early 1920’s when OSU (then Oklahoma A&M College) began searching for a new mascot. The true roots of Pistol Pete go back more than a century ago. Pistol Pete is more than a character, he is a legend. The character of OSU’s mascot, Pistol Pete, originated from an actual person named Frank B. Eaton. Eaton’s life began in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut.  In the 1920’S, Eaton was involved in the Armistice Day Parade and OSU’s Homecoming Parade.  This well known and admired cowboy died in 1958. 

PETE LIVES ON! You will see him at many functions at OSU and at all athletic events.

Dr. Henry Bennett’s TWENTY-FIVE YEAR PLAN Dr. Henry Bennett was probably the president that made the most difference while in office. He really had a vision for the OSU campus and had a 25 year plan. Most of us look at 5 year plans. Dr. Henry Bennett’s TWENTY-FIVE YEAR PLAN

A&M GOES INTERNATIONAL: Oklahoma To Ethiopia Dr. Bennett is standing here with the Prime Minister of Ethopia. We started a university in Ethopia when Dr. Bennett was president. It is still there but not part of OSU.

RETURNING VETS… Now Freshmen Have Families After the war, this is what a typical freshmen looked like. It was hard to get a war hardened veteran to wear a beany.

VET VILLAGE WAS BORN…. This is a picture of what was called Veterans Village. After the war, there was an abundance of barracks that were idle. The university grew so fast that it purchased the barricks to house the students. It worked out very well.

THE WALDORF ASTORIA OF STUDENT UNIONS The building that you are in right now is the Student Union. It is considered the Waldorf Astoria of Unions and is the Largest in the Nation. THE WALDORF ASTORIA OF STUDENT UNIONS

THE EDMON LOW The Edmon Low Library A library for generations

HALLS FOR A NEW GENERATION The ’60’s: HALLS FOR A NEW GENERATION The residence Halls built in the 60’s. Very different from the Barracks that were used in the 40’s.

The ’80’s… THE NOBLE RESEARCH CENTER As you can see the architecture of the buildings changed after the 60’s to a much more modern look. THE NOBLE RESEARCH CENTER

Institute of Technology in Okmulgee OSU Institute of Technology in Okmulgee 1946 This is a picture of our branch campus in Okmulgee, Oklahoma

OSU OKC 1961 President: Jerry Carroll Our Branch Campus in Oklahoma City. It Started as a Technical institute and now has 4 year degree programs. President: Jerry Carroll

Center for Health Sciences OSU Center for Health Sciences 1988 This is a picture of our medical school. The name has recently been changed to the Center for Health Sciences. President: Howard Barnett

OSU TULSA 1999 President: Howard Barnett This is another branch campus in Tulsa. President: Howard Barnett