LSD MAGAZINE Cover Story After officially moving to its present location 011 April 30, 1926, LSU commemorates the sevellty-five year history "Ullder Oaks and Arches" during the campus-wide Diamond Jubilee Celebration. The celebration will take plilce sevellty-five years to the day on April 30, 2001. We take a look back at the campus' evolution during the past 75 years. Dedication ceremollies for the "new campus" on April 30, 1926. Cover photo by Jim Zietz, University Relations LSU Magazine/Spring 2001 1 Aging Gracefully LSU Celebrates Seventy ..Pive Years Under Oaks and Arches by Jamie Segar The vision of a great state university where Seventy-five years to the day, LSU commemo­ rade grounds as LSU welcomes former President Louisiana's poor could receive the same educa­ rates the anniversary of the "new" campus. "75 of the American Red Cross Elizabeth Dole as tional advantages as those more fortunate was Years Under Oaks and Arches": Building on the the ceremony's keynote speaker. The afternoon's the vision and dream of Governor John M. Legacy of the Past for the New Century will give presentation will also include other distin­ Parker. It was through his efforts during his the opportunity for the LSU family to commemo­ guished guests, music, major artistic events, and "Greater University" movement that the new rate its past, celebrate its present, and envision the introduction of the Comprehensive Cam­ Louisiana State University and A & M College its future in the next century. pus Master Plan for the continued vision for an became a reality. At relatively no cost to the tax­ The Diamond Jubilee campus-wide celebra­ even "greater university." All of LSU's alumni, payers, the new $5,000,000 campus opened its tion sponsored by the LSU Alumni Associa­ faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to be a doors on September 23, 1925 to 1,712 students tion will culminate on April 30, 2001 at 2:30 part of the festivities celebrating the accom­ and was officially dedicated on April 30, 1926. p.m. in front of the War Memorial on the pa- plishments of this great university. 1JlU)~'SiiL..- _ The Olmsteads had invested in extensive re­ search and planning into the project that later In 1918 under the Leadership of President proved to be useful in the planning and con­ Thomas D. Boyd, Gartness Plantation was pur­ struction of the campus. Architectural planning chased as the site for the new campus in re­ for the new campus now rested on the shoul­ sponse to over-crowding at the downtown cam­ ders ofTheodore C. Link, the renowned archi­ pus of Louisiana State University. That same tect of the Union Terminal in St. Louis. Link's year Governor John M. Parker requested a num­ architectural designs defined the gracefulltal­ ber of prominent members from the Greater ian Renaissance style and character of the cam­ Agricultural College Association to tour and pus, which is marked by its red pantile roofs, inspect the leading agricultural colleges includ­ overhanging eaves, and honey-colored stucco. ing: Clemson College, South Carolina, Ten­ The buildings were also designated with small nesse , Illinois, and Minnesota, as well as a intaglios and adornments depicting the build­ Guelph Agricultural College in Ontario, ings' intended uses. His work carried on with­ Canada. Upon their return, it was recom­ out him after his death in 1923. His on, C.V. mended that the state of Louisiana have an Link had continued, while the firm of Wogan agricultural college second-to-none and that it and Bernard of New Orleans completed Link' not be separated from the university. With the in-progress work. uppon of Governor Parker and the approval Link designed two quadrangles in the shape of a severance tax during the constitutional of a cross. The west side of the Quad housed convention of 1921, the construction of the the agricultural buildings. The East side of the new campus, known today as Louisiana State Quad housed the Chemistry Laboratory. The University and Agricultural and Mechanical north side of the Quad was the location for the College, began. University Dining Hall, and the south side of From 1922 to 1925 the construction of the the quadrangle hosted the engineering build­ new campus moved forward. Preliminary archi­ ings. The men were domiciled on the western tectural planning began with the Olmstead side of campus, while the women were on the Brothers from Brookline, Massachusetts. The north. Classes first began on the new campus Olmsteads had long experiences in the land­ in September 1925 with the completion of the scape layout of many great universities such as LSU President Thomas D. Boyd (above lOp) Academic Quadrangle. Stanford, Harvard, Yale and Cornell. The ar­ played an integral parr in fulfilling Governor]olm Other buildings ready before the official dedi­ chitectural negotiations between the building cation were the Gym-Armory, Tiger Stadium. M. Parker's (above boccom) vision of a ;'Greater committee and the Olmsteads eventually failed. and the Stock Judging Pavilion and Pentagon University" for the people of Louisiana. Barracks. The Gym-Armory was built west nally hoped to dedicate the C<lmpus in January In 1937, two new athletic venues were com­ of the academic quadrangle for the purpose 1926, the date that the Louisiana State Semi­ pleted as another received an expan ion. The of housing the LSU basketball team and nary of Le<lrning and Military Academy was John M. Parker Coliseum opened and served other indoor sporting events. It also housed formed in 1860, however construction was still as a multipurpose arena mostly for livestock rifles used by the ROTC drill team. Tlger Sta­ underw<lY at that time. shows and rodeos. It was also used for com­ dium was completed in 1924 for the purpose 193O.....'SolL..­ _ mencements and convocations and served as of hosting football and track events for the home of the LSU basketball team. The Uni­ LSU varsity teams. As a 12,000-seat stadium When Huey P. Long became Governor in versity baseball stadium, later named Alex Box with east and west stands, Tiger Stadium 1928, he launched a major building program Stadium in 1943 after Simeon Alexander Box, would receive additional expansions through­ that continued through the 1930's. Enrollment an LSU athlete and graduate killed during out its history. In 1928, upward expansion at LSU had begun to rapidly soar in the 1930's. WWII. Ir opened as the new home for the LSU added lO,OOO seats. During this time many of LSU's live oaks and Baseball team across from Tiger Stadium. Alex The Stock Judging Pavilion, better known magnolias were planted by landscape artist, Box Stadium also served as football practice today as the Swine Palace Theatre, was one of Steele Burden, for what has become a symbolic fields. Tiger Stadium received its second expan­ the first buildings of the "greater agricultural part of the great legacy at LSU. sion, adding a north endzone and bringing the college" at LSU. Pentagon Barracks were built The academic quadrangle continued to take capacity to 46,000. That same year, the Old in 1925 to serve as men's dorms. Four three­ shape with the additions of added classroom Law Building-Leche Hall and the Student story dorms with 240 rooms were constructed buildings. Oscar K. Allen Hall housed the De­ Health Center were dedicated. for the cadets of the "ole war skule." partment of Arts & Sciences, Junior Division, Throughout the 1930's the campus had wit­ In 1929, Smith Hall now better known as additional classrooms, and auditoriums. Stu­ nessed a sufficient growth in women's dormi­ Pleasant Hall was built on the north side of dents walking into Allen Hall would pass mu­ tories. Annie Boyd Hall, Louise Garig Hall, and campus as the first women's dormitory. It fea­ rals representing Loui. iana's agriculture and Highland Hall were first built to what is now tured two auditoriums, e<lch cap<lble of seating industry as well as arts and sciences. Under­ known as Evangeline Circle. With the help of 450 people. The Greek Theatre and the graduate and graduate art students under the the Public Works Administration (PWA), two Sunken Garden were also constructed in 1929. instruction of university art professor, Conrad additional new dormitories were constructed in It served as <l venue for religious, military, and Albrizio, painted the frescoes. James W. Evangeline Circle and named Evangeline Hall educational convocations, <lS well as for enter­ Nicholson Hall housed the Department of and Grace King Hall. tainment. Physics and Astronomy. The Ag Administra­ By the end of the 1930's the Howe-Russell Highlight of the Decade: tion Building housed Agricultural Economics Geology Building and Geoscience Complex and Agribusiness. Robert L. Himes Hall housed April 30, 1926 - Formal Dedication of the was built for the Department of Geology and the History department. new campus named in honor of Boyd professor Richard J. The Huey P. Long Fieldhouse was con­ The formal dedication of the new C<lmpus Russell and Henry V. Howe. structed in 1932 and served as the campus' first took place on Friday, April 30, 1926. The date Highlight of the Decade: student union. The building housed a post-of­ was chosen because on April 30, 1803 the 1934 - Colonel Castro Carazo hired by Huey fice, bookstore, barbershop, snack bar, and soda United States Congress signed the Louisi<lna P. Long as Director of Bands. fountain. The Long Field House also contained Purchase documents. The dedication festivities Band Director, Castro Carazo was hired by administrative offices and an outdoor pool that commenced in front of the Camp<lnile known Senator Huey P.