Slagle, William M 1970, 1973
Dr. William Slagle, a Tech faculty member for 34 years, recalls the establishment, growth and development of Texas Tech during his career as an educator.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: William M. Slagle
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: November 4, 1970; March 2, 1973
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Harry Krenek, Jeff Townsend
Length: 1 hour 15 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Early life and education,
Born in Kilgore, Texas (1886),
Moved to Lubbock (1916),
Degrees from Southwestern University and University of Texas,
Attended and taught at Tech (1926-1927),
Early recollections of Texas Tech (late 1920s),
Buildings,
Salary as a teaching assistant,
Teaching experience,
Impression of students,
Changes at Tech,
Chemistry department faculty,
Methods of teaching,
Larger enrollment,
Textbooks,
Football,
Basketball,
Advice to prospective college teachers,
Early recollections of Texas Tech and downtown Lubbock.
Tape 1, Side 2: Blank
Tape 2, Side 1: Biographical information reviewed,
Attended school in Troup,
Discusses college education,
Taught at Lubbock High School prior to and following World War I,
Farmed land at 4th and University following the war,
Lubbock High School in 1914 recalled,
Service during World War I described,
Stationed in France,
Expresses opinion of the League of Nations,
Teaching career related,
Taught in Ennis one year (1921),
Returned to Lubbock High School until 1926,
Became a teaching assistant at Texas Tech,
Recalls the location and establishment of Texas Tech at Lubbock,
Celebration held,
Mentions commercial development around Tech,
Uncle Sam’s General Store,
Early buildings on Tech’s campus described,
Stock Judging Pavilion,
Administration Building,
Early relations of Tech students and townspeople very good,
Early faculty meetings at Tech characterized,
Greek fraternities not allowed on campus during Tech’s first years.
Tape 2, Side 2: Texas Tech history (continued),
Explains faculty opinion of the governors Ferguson,
Tech during the Depression,
Salaries and budgets cut 25%,
Building of the library in 1938,
Family information given,
Married in Ennis (1922),
Two sons and two grandchildren discussed,
Texas Tech history (again),
Dr. Paul Horn’s relationship with the faculty,
Expulsion from Border Conference examined,
William Whyburn and E. N. Jones administrations recalled,
Dormitory building program of 1950s,
J. Evetts Haley’s membership of Board of Directors recalled,
Discusses firing of three professors in 1950,
States opinion of tenure policy,
Chairmanship of Schedule and Office Space,
Committee noted,
Served on Faculty Advisory Committee,
Recalls basketball games in old "Mule Barn",
Miss Craddock’s social center on campus,
Name change controversy examined.
Range Dates: 1886-1960
Bulk Dates: 1914-1960
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
