In the sequence of events presented below, the origins of the movement to bring SFA to Nacogdoches can clearly be seen. The editor has chosen to allow the texts to speak for themselves, for the most part. The origins of the famous "23 Reasons," the 1917 pamphlet which outlined Nacogdoches's case, can clearly be seen in the important meeting on March 22, 1915. The excitement and the disappointment of these days in 1915 as reported in the Daily Sentinel are worth reliving as the town and the university remembers its origins. [Editorial Note-JLJ]

February 24, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "State Normal for East Texas"

Austin, Texas, Feb. 22 -- The house today took up the Jones bill providing for the establishment of a state normal college for East Texas....Representative Jones of Bowie made a speech for the measure and told how his section of the state needs more teachers and how a great population in that section of the state has no normal privileges."

March 13, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "East Texas Normal School Wanted Here"

"There was a meeting of several prominent business men in the city hall, Friday at 3 p. m. to consider the question of securing the location of the proposed East Texas Normal School at Nacogdoches. The bill has passed the house and it will probably come before the senate right away. If it passes and becomes a law, then the Normal must be located somewhere, and then Nacogdoches wants it, and is going after it. But first Nacogdoches wants the law passed.This meeting elected John Schmidt president, J. Thomas Hall secretary, and W. T. Wilson treasurer. A committee was appointed to take the proper steps to start the move. The subject was discussed from many stand points. "As to the place where the school should be located Nacogdoches has many advantages. One is that this is exactly the center of East Texas, the section that needs the school. "To get this benefit, which cannot be over estimated, let everyone try to assist.

March 17, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "Three New Normal Colleges Created"

Austin, Texas, March 15 - A bill providing for the establishment of three new normal colleges, one in Central west Texas, one in northeast Texas, and in south Texas, was passed finally in the senate Monday morning, after heated debate of more than an hour over an amendment including the twenty-fifth and twenty-seventh senatorial districts in the territory to be considered in selecting a site for the proposed central west Texas college which amendment was adopted."

March 20, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "Mass Meeting Called"

Every citizen of Nacogdoches is earnestly requested to attend the Mass Meeting to be held in the City Hall on Monday morning at 10 o'clock to receive the verbal report of the committee, Messrs Lindsey, Davis, and Smith appointed to visit Austin in behalf of the New Normal School to be located in East Texas. "Our hat is in the ring now and we have a chance to secure the location here as good as any other city in East Texas, therefore I earnestly request everybody who has the welfare and further growth of our lively little city at heart to attend this meeting and assist. "Respectfully, John Schmidt, Chairman."

March 22, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "Mass Meeting Held"

The mass meeting of citizens held at the city hall at 10 a.m. today to consider the means of getting the proposed Stephen F. Austin Normal School for East Texas located at Nacogdoches, was truly a hummer, and no question. There were 63 leading business men of the town present, and each and every one voted himself a committee to promote the work. "Nacogdoches is out after that plum, and you need not doubt that she will get it. "Reasons: "Because Nacogdoches is the original and undisputed capital of East Texas. "Nacogdoches is the mother of all Texas, and the true geographical center of East Texas. "Nacogdoches has everything necessary in the way of local advantages, of any and all classes. "Nacogdoches is directly accessible by railroads from all directions. "Nacogdoches is right ‘on the map.’ Look at the map&emdash;put your pencil down in the very center of East Texas, and there is Nacogdoches, exactly halfway from north to south, and from east to west. "All of these points and many others were clearly shown up and thrashed out at the mass meeting this morning. "Adequate committees were appoint and their duties elaborately defined. "The loudest thanks were voted to the committee who reported their recent action at Austin, and due praise was given our members of the Legislature. The following committee for general purposes was appointed: "Prof. R. F. Davis, Judge, V. E. Middlebrook, Hon. S. M. King, Hon. A. T. Russell, Robert Lindsey, W. T. Wilson, D. K. Cason, H. T. Mast, Charles Perkins, E. H. Blount, S. B. Hayter, and John Schmidt, chairman. "When such men as these start after anything, they get it."

March 24, 1915

Daily Sentinel: [School Would Benefit Agriculture]

Texas A&M is offering new agriculture courses that are helpful and a school in Nacogdoches would should do the same; this would benefit the local agriculture tremendously. Discusses how the city of Nacogdoches would have to pay the professors and hotel bills.]

April 1, 1915

Daily Sentinel : [Committee Meets with Governor]

A Committee from Nacogdoches goes to Austin to attempt to secure Nacogdoches as the site for the new East Texas Normal School. Senator King of Nacogdoches, Judge V. E. Middlebrook, and Charles Hoya meet with the Governor about the normal school being in Nacogdoches. Reports a hopeful prospect.]

April 17, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "East Texas Normal Lost"

Austin, Texas April 15 -- "The supreme court today unanimously declined the appointment under the act of the last legislature providing for the location of the three state normals, the members of the court having been commissioned to select two members of the locating board. This action was taken in a communication to Governor Ferguson signed by Chief Justice T. J. Brown and Associates Justice Nelson Philips and William E. Hawkins. The reasons assigned is that it ‘is a duty wholly unrelated to any proper function of the court and one which is beyond its province to assume. "We are advised by the recent act of the legislature," says the members of the court in its communication to the governor, " that under its provisions the supreme court is commissioned to select two members of the board charged with determining the locations for the three normal schools authorized by the act. "While imbued with a sense of deep appreciation of the honor of the appointment and full deference for an act of the legislature, we are convinced that this is a duty wholly unrelated to any proper function of the court and one which is beyond its province to assume. It would be unwise, in our opinion, for the court to undertake its, or any other duty not strictly within its constitutional powers. We feel obliged, therefore , with great respect, to decline the appointment."

April 26, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "Normal Matter Up To Legislature"

It is understood here Governor James E. Ferguson will submit to the coming special session of the Thirty-fourth Legislature an amendment to the law providing for the establishment of three new state normal schools, which would change the method of selecting the locating board. "This has become necessary, it is said because of the recent action of the Supreme Court of Texas, in deciding to perform the duty imposed of selecting two members of the selecting board. ‘The present law provides that the governor, lieutenant governor, the attorney general, and two private citizens, the latter to be appointed by the supreme court, shall constitute the board selecting a location for the three normals. The plan now, it is understood, is to either eliminate, through legislative action, the two citizen members or provide that the three named state officials shall select the two citizen-members. "Unless the special session of the legislature takes action in the premises there will be no new state normals until the next regular session shall have made the necessary provision for the selecting board two years hence."

May 17, 1915

Daily Sentinel headline: "The East Texas Normal"

"The legislature will probably pass the law make the Attorney General and certain other officials the board for the location of the East Texas Normal school and two other normals. Among the many towns that want this normal, besides Nacogdoches, is Jacksonville, and she is red hot. "One of her boasters puts it thus: "Show your enthusiasm by talking it to you friends and neighbors. Talk it in your clubs and in the pulpit. The State neither needs nor asks for any money. It wants your cooperation, good will and moral support. Altogether, push. "Now, let Nacogdoches awake and get busy. "1. She has decidedly the best of the arguments on merit. "2. She is the geographical center of East Texas. "3. She has the facilities of transportation and accessibility, being located on railroads at the half way point, between Beaumont and Dallas, and between Houston and Schreveport. "4. Nacogdoches leads in historic interest, in early Texas romance and in literature, in scholastic advancement, and in picturesque scenery. "5. Nacogdoches was the original Texas, and is the real and logical capital of East Texas. "6. There can be no question as to Nacogdoches being the leading candidate, if voted upon by East Texas, because no objection can be found, and merit is undisputed. "7. Nacogdoches is the real choice and preference of the majority of all concerned and her selection will be generally satisfactory."