Essay. The selections below are eye witness accounts of the opening of SFA, just separated by thirty five years. The Daily Sentinel accounts are 1923; Mrs. A. W. Birdwell's reminiscences are from 1958. Almost all secondary sources rely on Mrs. Birdwell's account, a typed copy of which is located in the University Archives. While there are subtle differences in the accounts below, for instance, on the number of students enrolled, the thirty five years separation does not seem to have dulled Mrs. Birdwell's memory. Her thoughts, which she entited "Reminiscences of the beginning of SFA," were put on paper at the request of the DAR and presented to them at a luncheon on October 21, 1958. Mrs. George Barham was the DAR Regent at the time; Mrs. Guy Blount (Lois Foster, SFA's first faculty member) presented books and material for the DAR room at the SFA library in honor of Mrs. Birdwell.

Dr. Paul Boynton had just died, and Mrs. Birdwell pays a tribute to him. Mrs. Birdwell herself died in July of 1961, carried to her grave in Memorial Park by pallbearers whose families had helped the Birdwells to open SFA: Baker, Nelson, Tucker, Shelton.

Enrollment numbers are a difficult science even today, considering late registrations and withdrawals. Evidently, the enrollment process was not just a set period in 1923; they continued to admit students throughout the fall of 1923. The head count was important even then, or maybe, especially during that first semester to justify the existence of the college. The enrollment at the end of the first day was about 270, by November the paper reported 400, and President Birdwell reported an enrollment of 420 students to the Board of Regents in December, exclusive of the training school. Birdwell combined the regular college and the sub-college students in his first semester report. The official enrollment statistics, or totals, entered by J. H. Wisely, Professor of Business and College Auditor, are as follows. (There was no registrar at the time.) For the full 1923-1924 year there were 263 in the regular session and 419 in the summer session, for a total of 545. In the sub-college, there were 346 in the regular and 222 in the summer session, for a total of 458. A separate summer normal enrolled 43, and 24 were enrolled in the Demonstration School. The grand total of all categories was 1070. In the first year there were no extension sections or Saturday enrollments as there would be starting in 1925. (JLJ)

The Daily Sentinel, September 18, 1923

TEACHERS COLLEGE OPENS

"The Stephen F. Austin Teachers' College began its first term this morning with 270 students enrolled and more awaiting registration, with President A. W. Birdwell and a full corps of instructors in charge of the various departments. Pending the completion of the college building, upon which work of construction is progressing rapidly, the teacher's college is occupying ample temporary quarters in the high school building. President Birdwell is gratified with the start his new school is making and expects a capacity attendance before the end of the present term. It is thought that the college should occupy its own buildings before the end of the year. The students from other points are experiencing no difficulty in securing homes among our people. The outlook for the school looks very bright.

Dr. Birdwell stated that he was sure more than 300 students would be registered before night."

The Daily Sentinel, October 30, 1958

EARLY HISTORY OF COLLEGE RECALLED BY MRS. BIRDWELL

"The number of students who registered that first day surprised us. Just before the beginning of the opening assembly, which had been called for ten o'clock that morning, Mr. Birdwell took me to one side and said: "We have 200 students already registered. This is a wonderful birthday present. . . .

"The Shack as the administration building was a very unusual college building. A counter made of 1 x 12 rough planks was the office of the Registrar and the Auditor. The Auditor [J. H. Wisley] took his books home at night. The President's Office was walled off on one corner, but the cracks in the wall were not filled. A few time he felt the need of a rather straight talk to some young man; at such times he would take him into his own car and drive away from the campus in order to have a private talk. A card table served as desk for the Dean of Women. The bookstore was in the back of the Shack, as was the equipment for the athletes. A number of books had been purchased for the library, and the librarian, at another card table, industriously classified the books of the library."

The Daily Sentinel, September 19, 1923

BIRDWELL HAS A SURPRISE PARTY

"At his talk at the opening of the college Tuesday morning, Prof. A. W. Birdwell casually referred to the fact that the Stephen F. Austin Teacher's College was opening on his birthday. Certain members of his faculty made note of the statementa and later in the day Mrs. Lockey was given an order for a giant heart-shaped cake to contain 24 eggs, 2 pounds of butter, eight cups of sugar, 10 cups flour and two mints of milk. In addition to the above ingredients, the cake was iced with 6 eggs and 8 cups sugar.

"At 8 o'clock this huge heart-shaped mountain of sweetness was delieved to Prof. E. E. Davis, one of the two bachelor members of the college faculty. Prof. Davis delivered the giant delicacy to the other faculty members who had assembled at the shack on the high school campus where a number of appropriate songs were rehearsed under the joint direction of Misses Ida Pritchett, Virginia Broadfoot, and Jessie Ruth Gooldy.

"Gathered under the deepening shadows of the campus trees, and with only the weird lights from glimmering street lamps shining dimly through the foolage, an entire college faculty, with their wives and (maybe) sweethearts, spent a happy half hour preparing to storm Prexy in the quite of his home with visible evidences of the esteem in which he is lovingly held. When the tuneful melodies were well fixed in the minds of the serenaders, the entire part of some 35 people drove to the Birdwell home on North street, where it was was found that he had gone on a drive with Mr. and Mrs. Tom Baker. Pending his return the serenaders gather on his lawn, where they continued to rehearse for the occasion. In a short while the party returned from the drive to be met by the serenaders who sang a number of appropriate selections, after which the great cake, with it half a hundred lighted candles, was placed on a table, surrounded by the family and the visitors. Prexy did the honors with all the skill of a regular cake-carver."

The Daily Sentinel, October 30, 1958

[BIRTHDAY] RECALLED BY MRS. BIRDWELL

"That evening Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Baker called and asked the Birdwells to go driving with them. I said to my husband. "Some of the faculty people told me they would come over this evening." He said: "Let Mother and Auntie entertain them; I want to go." I told Mrs. Baker the plan of the faculty people, and she said to Mr. Baker, after we had driven a moderate length of time: "Tom, our children have some lessons to study. We had better go home." When we came to our house we saw a number of cars, and as we stepped out they began to sing: "Happy Birthday." We went into the house to be met by a heart-shaped birthday cake and then the ice cream came to be eaten with it. I think the conclusion of the day rested Mr. Birdwell from his activities."