The students interested in drama at SFA organized in the college’s first semester. They met at the Stone Fort building on Washington Square on October 16, 1923. The next month, the group was formally named the Karle Wilson Baker Dramatic Club, after Nacogdoches’ famous poet. The group produced its first play in time for the Christmas season, a miracle play of the Annunciation. Membership to the club was limited to twenty-five, but their social meetings often included other campus students and college faculty. Professor T. E. Ferguson of the English Department and Miss Ruth Mays, Dean of Women, were honorary members of the club.

Miss Mary J. White was the director of the Karle Wilson Baker Dramatic club. The dramatic club offered a varied season for playgoers including full-length plays, one and two act plays, and student plays in the Aikman Gymnasium and the Austin Theatre downtown. Playwrights ranged from William Shakespeare, W.B.Yeats, and Oscar Wilde to Paul Green.

Miss White directed a special commencement play each year for performance at graduation time. Commencement included a commencement sermon on the Sunday before the Monday graduation exercises. In 1929, the dramatic club performed William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” at the Aikman Gymnasium on the Saturday night before commencement . The play was shortened by the director because of its length. Miss White was supported by Miss Mary Ann McKinney, in charge of settings and properties, and Miss Edna Wilkin, the costume designer. (JLJ)