Daily Sentinel , September 10, 1917

In September of 1917, the newly appointed President of Stephen F. Austin Normal College, Alton W. Birdwell, visited Nacogdoches. Birdwell came to town to conduct a Teacher's Institute; he had done this on previous occasions. The Daily Sentinel, acting as official publication for the city, welcomed the teachers and President Birdwell. It also expressed irritation that the Normal was in danger. [Ed. JLJ]

"TO THE TEACHERS"

Daily Sentinel, September 11, 1917

"The Sentinel voices the spirit of this community when it extends to you a hearty welcome to the city while in attendance upon the meeting of the Teachers Institute. . . . No town in the state has a greater regard and more appreciation for the splendid work being done by the faithful teachers than Nacogdoches, and it is the pleasure of our people to have you with us on any and all occasions. The greatest effort ever put forth by this town for the capture of any enterprise was to get a teacher's normal, and we are always ready to cooperate with the teachers in any good work. . . . If the legislature lets us alone in our accomplishments, our Normal school will soon become a reality and old Nacodoches, "first in history and first in the hearts of her countrymen," will be your home in the future . . . ."

"PROFESSOR BIRDWELL WILL NOT SPEAK"

Daily Sentinel, September 13, 1917

"The Sentinel is requested to say that Prof. A. W. Birdwell, president of the Stephen F. Austin Normal, who is attending the Teachers' Institute, will not speak tonight as planned for the reasons that he is being worked so hard on the program of the Institute it would be an imposition upon him to exact further service. . . .Prof. Layton says this is the greatest Institute ever held in this city and that much good will come from it in both the school work and other matters of community interest to the country."

"TEACHERS PLEASED WITH DR. BIRDWELL"

"The Sentinel is informed that the teachers who have been here attending the Institute this week, and who have had the gentleman with them, are charmed with Dr. Birdwell, and are voting him one of the greatest educators in the country. . . . Dr. Birdwell has filled many places on the program, and has done so in such an efficient manner, and with such easy grace, that the teachers are charmed with him, and will be glad to cooperate with him in every way when he gets the new Stephen F. Austin Normal, which he has been appointed president, into operation."