University of North Georgia celebrates 150th anniversary

Jan. 6 was a momentous day for the University of North Georgia – not many colleges can say they have served students and the community for 150 years.

 

UNG staff, alumni, students and community members gathered on the third floor of the library to celebrate the university’s sesquicentennial anniversary and the impact it has made in the region.

 

The event started with a welcome from Vice President of University Relations and Chief of Staff Kate Maine. Then University President Bonita C. Jacobs spoke at the podium, where she informed attendees about the institution’s rich history.

 

“In January 1873, after several years of planning and effort, North Georgia Agricultural College officially opened its doors with a central mission of providing quality, free educational opportunities to the young men and women of northeast Georgia, many of whom could not afford to travel great distances for education,” Jacobs said.

 

UNG, then North Georgia Agricultural College, was one of the few colleges during the time that admitted women and administered bachelor’s degrees to women. This was a particular point of pride for Jacobs, who served as the university’s first female president for 12 years.

 

“There were 177 students—98 men and 79 women—in that first year of classes, a time when most institutions did not admit women,” Jacobs said.

 

Jacobs will retire at the end of the academic semester and is proud of what the university accomplished under her leadership.

 

“In these 12 years not only did we consolidate, but we've added additional campuses and our students are graduating and getting tremendous jobs,” Jacobs said. “Our graduation rate is high and we have tremendous research. We've done really well with providing scholarships for students. So it's a full package and I have cherished my time here and I look forward to some new adventures. And I leave with a big smile on my face because it has been a joy to be here and to see this place transform and blossom and to become the prominent institution that it is.”

 

A performance followed Jacobs’ remarks that took attendees 140 years back in time. Interpretive historian Ken Johnston portrayed David Lewis, the first president of North Georgia Agricultural College.

 

Dressed in 1800s-style clothes and wearing a long beard, Johnston’s eccentric and energetic portrayal of Lewis brought chuckles from the crowd. As he performed as Lewis, Johnston reflected on the institution’s first 10 years.

 

“It is a time for reflection," Johnston said during his Lewis performance. "That is why I carry, in my hand, my journal. Like a de' Medici Florence during the High Middle Ages, who kept a book of hours and jotted down things of interest and made sketches. Although I do not claim to be a de' Medici, I too scribble away quotes, interesting facts, cut and paste clippings from the newspapers.”

 

Johnston entertained the audience with two true, sensational stories that happened during the university’s first few years. One story involved an attempted duel between students.

 

“The facts seem to be as follows,” Johnston. “B.J. Underwood, Hancock County and B.R. Butt of Union County, hitherto two warm friends, became suddenly estranged in consequences of unfounded threats which each was made by the other. Without letting anyone know how matters stood between them and each believing he would be attacked by the other, they armed themselves with repeaters.”

 

Both students fired at each other but neither was hurt. Butt and Underwood were required to apologize to the Board of Reagents for the incident, but only Butt did – Underwood left the institution.

 

Then in 1911, a fire broke out and consumed a large portion of the library.

 

“It seems to have been purely an accident, starting in the kitchen,” Johnston said during his performance. “But as the fire raised, we were throwing the college library out the window  – books that I had donated myself – attempting to save whatever can be saved. We managed to salvage quite a bit. And it is a testament to the spirit that animated the founding of this college that we were able to raise the funds and rebuild the building and continue operations.”

 

Associate Professor and Collectives & Initiatives Librarian Allison Galloup found Lewis’ old diaries, which is how they were able to pull off this engaging performance.

 

“Col. Lewis with his journal… I had only seen pictures of him and mentions of him in meeting notes and minutes,” Galloup said. “And so the way he appears in that is completely different than he is in his journal. So reading the journal taught me a little bit more about the man – that he was actually funny and light-hearted and was a little more than just kind of the stern president of the college that he seemed to be before that.”

 

Other UNG professors, faculty and even students were also busy looking back at the past – and focusing on the present. Assistant Professor and the Program Coordinator for the Doctor of Education in Higher Education Katherine Adams was one of three editors of a new research book “The University of North Georgia: 150 Years of Leadership and Vision.”

 

The book explores the university’s past through consolidation changes, achievements in its Honors Program and shows what difference UNG has made in the community during its 150 years. It features 36 collaborations from faculty, staff, administration, graduates and current students.

 

Adams said all contributors began working and submitting proposals in October, and by December the book was complete – just in time for the sesquicentennial anniversary.

 

“They went and got firsthand knowledge from the students who've gone through those programs, and they actually made that sort of the focus,” Adams said. “And so they talked about something that when we think about honors programs, we think about how it helps build prestige of the institution. But they went back and talked to the students and asked, ‘Well, why did you like it? Oh, you did your first community engagement work? Oh, you did experiential learning for the first time? Oh, you got to feel empowered in a new way?’ And then they captured that. And I think that just continued to allow more and more new voices to it.”

 

There was also a plethora of historical artifacts on display, from old documents and student scrapbooks, old mascot heads and even a vintage cast iron embossing seal stamp. These artifacts will be on display on the third floor of the library for several months.

 

The event ended with a cake cutting and excited chatter as attendees dreamed of the next 150 years of UNG. Happy birthday, UNG!