52 Discoveries Regarding UTEP's History
Revisiting the history of the University of Texas at El Paso on the 110th anniversary of its establishment
It’s been ten years since the University of Texas at El Paso celebrated its centennial. For the university’s 110th anniversary, the UTEP History Mine will revisit fifty-two key discoveries made about the university that recognize historical firsts, corrections to the historical record, or highlight the university’s contributions to higher education.
The centennial research team under Keith Erekson, Ph.D., embraced as its mandate a Russian proverb made popular by Ronald Reagan during nuclear weapon talks with the Soviet Union in 1980s: Trust but verify.
Using the historiographical research methods adopted by Yale professor of Greek history Donald Kagan, we accepted UTEP’s previous histories at face value, unless proven otherwise false or contradictory by contemporary artifacts. This required us to go to considerable lengths to substantiate each claim about the university by locating primary sources behind them. This included taking up residence in Austin for three weeks to examine records belonging to UTEP’s first presidents and preserved by the Briscoe Center for American History.
The research revealed many surprises, several of which upset long established, cherished narratives. This included the first day of classes, which was the focus point of the centennial celebration. Since the 1960s UTEP had celebrated 23 September 1914, as the first day of classes. However, a review of primary sources from the time revealed 28 September 1914, as the actual first day of classes. (23 September 1914 turned out to be the first day of registration). This discovery was quietly quashed by President Diana Natalicio, while dozens of volunteers redacted “September 23” from anniversary merchandise, while thousands of silicon wristbands imprinted with “First day of classes September 23, 1914” were unceremoniously hauled off to a local landfill.
A second objective was to place many key events into perspective. This was done through the lens of contemporary analysis by placing the event into the context of the time it took place. For instance, the 1966 men’s basketball defeat of an all-White Kentucky team by an all-Black starting lineup is today recognized as a milestone in civil rights history. Yet for two decades it was rarely discussed by Black media when addressing key events surrounding the 1960s civil rights movement. The 1968 Olympic protest movement dominated the conversation regarding civil rights and athletics.
A third objective sought to uncover what previous historians had overlooked regarding diverse voices. Using the modern historiographical and rhetorical theories, we attempted to give voice to those who were not heard at the time. This led us to uncover Gwendolyn Toppin, the first Black baccalaureate to graduate from a formerly segregated institution of higher education in Texas.
Each week through 2024, the UTEP History Mine will discuss a key finding in detail, sharing not only its sources but also why the discovery matters when it comes to the writing and research of university histories.
52 Historical Firsts, Corrections, and Discoveries Regarding UTEP’s History
I. Historic and Notable Firsts
These events stand out as milestones in UTEP and Texas higher education history
1) Gwendolyn Toppin graduated from Texas Western College in 1957, making her the first Black to graduate from a formerly segregated Texas public college or university.
2) Raul R. Barberena was the first Hispanic instructor at a public university in Texas.
3) UTEP was the first integrated senior public college or university in Texas.
4) The first integrated performances on a public university or college stage took place at UTEP.
5) Sidney Mezes was the first president of UTEP.
6) UTEP’s Paso del Norte campus is home of the oldest extant public university campus in Texas
7) First post-baccalaureate degree was the Engineer of Mines degree, not the Master of Arts degree
8) First received Permanent University Funds in 1919.
9) UTEP missed out on being the first Peace Corps cohort due to time zones.
II. Corrections
Revisiting claims made in print prior to 2014 about UTEP’s history
10) UTEP was founded on 16 April 1913 by the governor, not the legislature.
11) Prospector was established in 1914, not 1915.
12) First day of classes took place on Monday, September 28, 1914.
13) First football game took place on October 15, 1914.
14) Steve, not Steven, Worrell.
15) “Cap” Kidd’s nickname alludes to the pirate, not blasting caps.
16) The decision to relocate the School of Mines from the Lanoria Mesa to Paso del Norte was made before the October 1916 fire.
17) Old Main is not the oldest building on campus.
18) The College of Mines threatened the existence of the El Paso Junior College, not the other way around.
19) Always a component of the University of Texas System, despite the 1919 act making it a branch of the University of Texas.
20) The University of Texas ceased to exist in 1967.
21) The 1919 act demoted the School of Mines to an academic division within the University of Texas despite its charter status.
22) The board of regents purchased Gibson & Robertson Bhutanese Revival architecture designs and gave them to Henry Trost.
23) The 1950s cartoon inspiration for Paydirt Pete does not belong to UTEP.
24) The burro was UTEP’s official mascot through 1999, not Paydirt Pete.
25) “Texas” was never part of the school’s original name.
26) The University of Texas System has existed since 1881.
27) The University of Texas board of regents were opposed to placing a mining school in Texas, let alone El Paso.
28) Civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall did not participate in Thelma White’s desegregation lawsuit against the university.
III. Discoveries
New claims about the university
29) Compulsory education drove UTEP’s transformation from a mining school into a regional liberal arts college.
30) Mexican revolutionary Francisco “Pancho” Villa was responsible for relocating the School of Mines to its present location at the Paso del Norte.
31) Athletic backers and schoolteachers forced President John Barry to resign.
32) President Robert Vinson fired Dean Steve Worrell.
33) UT System allows UTEP to maintain their own seal and motto.
34) The Miners nickname originated with sports reporter James G. Brann in 1914.
35) Two buildings – Holliday Hall and Burges Hall – were named after individuals who opposed UTEP’s establishment.
36) Harry Benedict is the only former UT System president to have buildings named for him on two campuses.
37) The classification of female students as seniors in 1928 drove the creation of baccalaureate degrees.
38) The El Paso Centennial Museum has a deed restriction that will turn the property over to the City and County of El Paso should the building and grounds cease to be used for educational purposes.
39) Magoffin Auditorium is a Confederate war memorial.
40) Holliday Hall’s WPA art deco mural (now demolished) was once recognized as a notable example of the style.
41) Former registrar Ruth Monro Augur is recognized for her exceptional WPA mural in Oklahoma.
42) Heritage House’s Dynamite sculpture is an unrecognized work of art.
43) President Joseph Ray forfeited the 1966 Sun Bowl to Texas Christian University.
44) President Harry Benedict placed UTEP at the southern tip of the Rockies.
45) The practice mine was replaced by a writing course.
46) The 1988 lawsuit Lulac v. Richards transformed UTEP into a top-tier research university.
47) The first Texas higher education coordinating board wanted the close UTEP because too many of its students came from El Paso.
48) East Texas bias against El Paso prompted supporters of Texas A&M University to lobby for a school of mines.
49) Texas legislators opposed placing a state-supported universities and colleges in major cities.
50) The School of Mines moved from Fort Bliss to Fort Bliss.
51) Scholars and journalists initially ignored the 1966 NCAA championship as a milestone in civil rights history.
52) UTEP has always been a leading Hispanic-serving institution.