University Timeline (1909- 1934)

April 1, 1909 Gov. George Donaghey signs into law Act 100, which established four “public schools of agriculture” and divided the state into four districts, with a school to be located in each district.

November 13, 1909 Gov. Donaghey makes appointments for the First District Agricultural School Board of Trustees:

§  Hon. J. J. Bellamy, Smithville, Lawrence County

§  Dr. O.N. Hammett, Paragould, Greene County

§  W.L. Banks, Smithdale, Cross County

§  J.B. Lewis, Jonesboro, Craighead County

§  Sen. C.E. Bush, Antioch, White County

March 28, 1910 Jonesboro, Arkansas selected to be site of First District Agricultural School over Paragould and Mountain Home. Community leaders and residents pledged $40,000 and 200 acres for the new school.

June 1, 1910 Victor C. Kays appointed principal of the new school.

September 7, 1910 Work starts on the site of the new school.

October 3, 1910 The first day of classes begins for 189 students at the First District Agricultural School, temporarily located in the old Elks Lodge above the T.J. Ellis Jewelry Store at Main Street and Washington Avenue in Jonesboro.

November 12, 1910 The Masonic Order sets the cornerstone to the Administration Building.

May 1913 A class of three boys and two girls are the first graduates of the school.

1915 The Animal Husbandry Endowment Association is formed, and brings the first Holstein cattle to the state of Arkansas.

1917 Aggie receives its first federal grant to fund beef breeding experiments.

September 1, 1918 The school begins work as a junior college.

1919 Construction begins on a YMCA building for campus that will provide apartments for faculty and students. It is constructed almost entirely through student labor.

1924 The Alumni Association is formed.

1925 The school becomes “First District Agricultural and Mechanical College.” The athletic teams become the “gorillas.”

1927 A 74,290 square-foot armory/gymnasium is completed and is the largest gym in the state.

1930 A four-year degree program is initiated.

January 11, 1931 Fire destroys the Administration Building, which houses the school’s records and most of its classroom space. Some records, kept in a cast-iron vault, are charred but readable. Classes begin the next day in other campus buildings, including the dairy barn.

1932 R.E. Lee Wilson Hall is completed and first classes are held.

1933 A&M becomes Arkansas State College through Act 222 of the Arkansas General Assembly.

Next 25 Years (1935-1960)