A four-day celebration will commemorate the 135th anniversary for Austin’s oldest institution of higher education-Huston-Tillotson University. The University, a symbol of hope, with roots dating back to 1875 for Tillotson College and 1876 for Samuel Huston College, was founded by The United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ to educate freed slaves.
Its diverse student population continues its legacy and promise of access to education for all.
The Charter Day Convocation, marking the anniversary, will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 22 on the campus in King-Seabrook Chapel, 900 Chicon Street. Charter Day represents the official designated celebration of the Board of Trustees’ signing of the State of Texas Charter of Incorporation that established Huston-Tillotson College (now known as Huston-Tillotson University). The 1952 merger created one of the largest black Protestant church-related colleges in the country at the time.
A highlight of the 135th Anniversary celebration includes a concert Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca Street, by world-renowned artists Carmen Bradford and Melba Joyce against a backdrop of a 135-voice choir. Bradford, who attended Huston-Tillotson in the late 1970s, was discovered and hired by Count Basie and was the featured vocalist in the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for nine years. She played the lead role in Duke Ellington’s “Queenie Pie” that was released in Austin this summer. Joyce, her mother, was the opening act for many musical greats including Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. She also shared the jazz festival bill with Miles Davis, Freddy Hubbard, and Bobby Hutcherson to name a few. Tickets are $50 for VIP seating; $25 for general admission; and $5 for students. Huston-Tillotson University officials will also mark the observance with a site location ceremony for the new planned Health and Wellness Center. The Center, the first new building on the campus since 1974, will house the kinesiology and intercollegiate athletics departments, and a community health clinic as well as a new University gymnasium.
The celebration will begin on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. with a symposium in King-Seabrook Chapel on health disparities among underserved populations. The commemoration will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 24 with University Day at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1160 San Bernard, at 10 a.m. Alumnus Dr. J.D. Phillips will deliver the sermon. The Huston-Tillotson University Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Gloria Quinlan, will render the music.
An overview of the 135th Anniversary celebration activities is as follows:
Day/Date
Time
Event
Location
Thursday, Oct. 21
1:00 p.m.
Symposium on Health and Wellness
King-Seabrook Chapel
900 Chicon Street
Friday, Oct. 22
10 a.m.
Charter Day Convocation
King-Seabrook Chapel
900 Chicon Street
Friday, Oct. 22
12:30 p.m.
Health and Wellness Center Site Location Ceremony
Athletic Field
900 Chicon Street
Friday, Oct. 22
7:00 p.m.
Jazz Concert Featuring
Carmen Bradford and Melba Joyce
First United Methodist Church
1201 Lavaca Street
Saturday, Oct. 23
4 p.m. -6 p.m.
Jazz on Bluebonnet Hill
Seventh Street side of campus
900 Chicon Street
Sunday, Oct. 24
10:00 a.m.
Wesley United Methodist Church’s University Day
1164 San Bernard Street
Austin, Texas 78702
The University is experiencing record enrollment, increased graduation rates, infrastructure enhancements, and two successful Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmations under the leadership of President Larry L. Earvin. To learn more, visit the Huston-Tillotson University Web site at www.htu.edu.
Huston-Tillotson University milestones:
1875 Rev. George Jeffrey Tillotson built upon the work of the Freemen’s Aid Society of the American Missionary Association of the Congregational churches (now the United Church of Christ) to establish Tillotson College.
1875 What is now Huston-Tillotson University is Austin’s oldest institution of higher education.
1876 Samuel Huston College established in the basement of St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas, while the Rev. George Warren Richardson, a Methodist minister, strengthened the foundation of the school and facilitated a relocation.
1877 Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute was chartered.
1878 Samuel Huston College was moved from Dallas, Texas, to Austin, Texas, housed in the basement of Wesley United Methodist Church.
1879 The first building on the Tillotson campus, Allen Hall, was constructed on land this is now 900 Chicon Street.
1912 The three-story Evans Industrial Hall was constructed for adding industrial arts to the sciences and an academic program in home economics.
1913 Students made the cement blocks to construct the building formerly known as the Old Administration Building that is now the Anthony and Louise Viaer- Alumni Hall. Construction was completed in 1914.
1930 Tillotson College’s first woman president, Dr. Mary E. Branch, was named.
1944 Samuel Huston College President Dr. Karl E. Downs named baseball great Jackie Robinson as the men’s basketball coach. Robinson was named the athletic director. Downs also performed the marriage ceremony uniting Jackie and Rachel Robinson.
1952 Samuel Huston College, located at what is now Twelfth Street (then College Avenue) and IH-35 (then East Avenue), and Tillotson College merged officially to create Huston-Tillotson College. The 1952 merger created one of the largest black Protestant church-related colleges in the country. The Charter was signed on October 24, 1952.
1965 Huston-Tillotson College’s longest serving president, Dr. John Q. Taylor King, Sr., was named and served until 1988.
2005 Dr. Larry L. Earvin, president, facilitated the name change from Huston-Tillotson College to Huston-Tillotson University, effective February 28, 2005.
2009 Huston-Tillotson University continued its record enrollment growth while approaching 1,000 students. The University experienced increased graduation rates and infrastructure enhancements.
2010 The University completed a successful reaffirmation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
2011 The site location ceremony for the new Health and Wellness Center marked the first new construction on campus since 1974.
Huston-Tillotson University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Huston-Tillotson University.
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