Austin Building/Hall, Photograph - Pages 1 and 2
Scope and Contents
The May Benson Lyle Scrapbook contains Fifty-six (front and back) unnumbered pages with forty-nine black and white photographs (one each on the front and back covers of the scrapbook) recording May Benson Lyle's time as a student at Sam Houston Normal Institute from 1905-1908.
The images in the scrapbook are of campus buildings such as Austin Hall, Old Main Building, and the Peabody Memorial Library. There are also images of faculty members such as Ida Lawrence, Sue Smither, Professor Coleman, Professor Henry Fishburne Estill, Joseph (Joe) Pritchett, and his brother President Henry Carr Pritchett. Additional images show May Benson Lyle and her friends at the boarding house they lived in while attending Sam Houston Normal Institute.
Dates
- Creation: 1905 - 1908
Biographical / Historical
Austin College was established in 1849 and constructed as a two-storied building from 1851 to 1852. General Sam Houston and Anson Jones, past presidents of the former Republic of Texas, were charter members of the Austin College Board of Trustees.
In 1855, Austin College housed the first law school in Texas.
In 1876, Austin College moved to Sherman, Texas, due to the economic declines it faced during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the yellow fever epidemic in 1876.
Standford Gibbs and fellow businessmen purchased the property of Austin College to donate to the state in 1876.
Mitchell College was established in 1877 on the property of Austin College. The Methodist Church purchased the property for $1,000 and intended it as a school for boys. The effort failed within a year and was sold to the city of Huntsville.
On April 21, 1879, Sam Houston Normal Institute was established on the property of the former colleges, Austin and Mitchell.
Due to a lack of space, the construction of the third floor of Austin Hall was completed in 1882. The third floor housed the library and classrooms. Due to a leaky roof, the third floor was removed in 1927, but a portico facing south was added. Please note this postcard shows Austin Hall with three stories.
Austin Hall was considered the social area of SHNI and SHSTC until 1950 when the Student Union Building was constructed.
In 1964, Austin Hall was recognized and recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark, but it wasn't until January 2, 2013, in it was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
When Old Main burned on February 12, 1982, Austin Hall received severe roof damage from the fire but remained intact. The Hall was restored and rededicated in October 1986.
Fall of 2011 started the restoration process for Austin Hall through donations from the Houston Endowment Inc., The Brown Foundation, The Elkins Foundation, alumni, and local businesses. The cost for the restoration was $2.2 million; this included floor refinishing, new electrical and plumbing systems, a cupola, masonry work, and roof and shutter restoration. The restoration finished in 2012, and on October 12, a re-dedication ceremony was held. Austin Hall is currently open and used for special university events.
Extent
1 Photographic Prints : Black and white photograph. Writing in black ink.
Language of Materials
English
Physical Description
Page 1: Black and white photograph of a side view of the Austin building or Austin Hall. The Austin Building is depicted as having three floors in the photograph. Underneath the photograph in stylized writing is "Austin Building." in black ink.
Page 2: Blank.
Repository Details
Part of the Thomason Special Collections & SHSU University Archives Repository