History of Georgia Tech

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Main article: Georgia Institute of Technology

The history of the Georgia Institute of Technology began shortly after the American Civil War and extends nearly 150 years. In that time, the Institute has undergone significant change, expanding from a small trade school to the largest technological institution in the Southeastern United States. A number of influential leaders and events create obvious divisions in the timeline of Georgia Tech's history. These divisions include the Institute's establishment, its early years, the transformation from trade school to research institute, and its modern history. The National Register of Historic Places has listed the Georgia Tech Historic District since 1978.

Contents 1 Establishment 2 Early Years 3 From Trade School to Technological University 4 From Technological University to Research Institute 5 Modern history 6 See also 7 References

[edit] Establishment

The idea of Georgia Institute of Technology was introduced in 1865 during the Reconstruction period. Two former Confederate officers, Major John Fletcher Hanson and Nathaniel Edwin Harris, who had become prominent citizens in the town of Macon, Georgia after the war, strongly believed that the South needed to improve its technology to compete with the industrial revolution that was occurring throughout the North. Many Southerners at this time agreed with this idea. However, because the American South of that era was mainly comprised of agricultural workers and few technical developments were occurring, a technology school was needed.^[1]

In 1882, prominent Georgians, authorized by the Georgia state legislature and led by Harris, formed a committee and visited the Northeast to see firsthand how technology schools worked. Using examples from the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (now Worcester Polytechnic Institute) and Boston Tech (now Massachusetts Institute of Technology), the Atlanta technology school began development on the Worcester Free Institute model, which stressed a combination of "theory and practice." The latter component included student employment and production of consumer items to generate revenue for the school.^[2]

On October 13, 1885, Georgia Governor Henry D. McDaniel signed the bill to create and fund the new school.^[3] A committee was then established to determine the location of the new school.^[3] Patrick Hues Mell, the president of the University of Georgia at that time, was a firm believer that it should be located at Athens with the University's main campus, like the Agricultural and Mechanical School.^[4] Despite Mell's arguments, the new school was to be located in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1887, Atlanta pioneer Richard Peters donated four acres of his extensive land holdings to the state;^[3] this land was bounded on the south by North Avenue, and on the west by Cherry Street.^[3] He then sold five adjoining acres of land to the state for $10,000,^[3] approximately equivalent to $182,717.44 in 2006.^[5] This land was what were then Atlanta's northern city limits.^[4] A historical marker on the large hill in Central Campus notes that the site occupied by the school's first buildings once held fortifications built to protect Atlanta during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The surrender of the city took place on the southwestern boundary of the modern Georgia Tech campus in 1864.^[6]

[edit] Early Years

Includes the administrations of Lyman Hall (1896–1905), Isaac S. Hopkins (1888–1896), and Kenneth G. Matheson (1906–1922)

The Georgia School of Technology opened its doors in the fall of 1888 with only two buildings.^[1] One building (now Tech Tower, the main administrative complex) had classrooms to teach students; the other featured a workshop with a foundry, forge, boiler room and engine room. It was designed specifically for students to work and produce goods to sell, creating revenue for the school while learning vocational skills. The two buildings were equal in size to show the importance of teaching both the mind and the hands;^[1] at the time, however, there was some disagreement as to whether the machine shop should have been used to turn a profit.^[2] The only degree offered was a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.^[7] The initial enrollment consisted of 95 men, with all but two from Georgia.^[7]

In February 1899, Georgia Tech opened the first textile engineering school in the south.^[8] It was housed in the A. French building, named after the chief donor, Aaron French. The textile engineering program would remain in the A. French building until the Harrison Hightower Textile Engineering Building was completed in 1949.^[8][9]

On October 20, 1905, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Georgia Tech campus. On the steps of Tech Tower, Roosevelt presented a speech about the importance of technological education.^[10] He then shook hands with every student.^[11]

The Technique, the weekly student newspaper, began publication on November 17, 1911.^[12]

Georgia Tech's Evening School of Commerce began holding classes in 1912.^[12] The school admitted its first female student in 1917, although the state legislature did not officially authorize attendance by women until 1920.^[12][13] Annie T. Wise became the first female graduate in 1919 and went on to become Georgia Tech's first female faculty member the following year.^[12][13]

[edit] From Trade School to Technological University

Includes the administration of Marion L. Brittain (1922–1944)

During its first fifty years, Tech grew from a narrowly focused trade school to a regionally recognized technological university. It was also the home of early radio station WGST AM (Georgia School of Technology) from 1924 to 1930.^[12]

In 1931, the Board of Regents transferred control of the Evening School of Commerce to the University of Georgia and moved the civil and electrical engineering courses at UGA to Tech.^[13][12] Tech replaced the commerce school with a degree in Industrial Management that eventually evolves into Tech's College of Management. The commerce school will later split from UGA and eventually become Georgia State University.^[12][14] See also: History of Georgia State University

The State Engineering Experiment Station (EES) had been chartered by the Georgia Legislature in 1919,^[12] but did not begin operation until 1934;^[12] it started out with three researchers and a $12,000 annual budget. The station was created to develop the resources, industries, and commerce of Georgia by providing high-quality research while assisting with national science, technology, and preparedness programs.^[15] EES's initial areas of focus were textiles, ceramics, and helicopter engineering. Much early research was conducted in the Hinman Building, which now houses GTRI's Machine Services Department.^[15]

Until the mid 1940s, the school required students to be able to create a simple electric motor regardless of their major.^[16] During the second world war, as an engineering school with strong military ties through its ROTC program, Georgia Tech was swiftly enlisted for the war effort. In early 1942 the traditional nine-month semester system was replaced by a year-round trimester year, enabling students to complete their degrees a year earlier. Under the plan, students were allowed to complete their engineering degrees while on active duty.^[17] During World War II, Georgia Tech was one of only five U.S. colleges feeding the U.S. Navy's officer program.

[edit] From Technological University to Research Institute

Includes the administrations of Blake R. Van Leer (1944–1956), Edwin D. Harrison (1957–1969), and Arthur G. Hansen (1969–1971), and Joseph M. Pettit (1972–1986)

Founded as the Georgia School of Technology, it assumed its present name in 1948 to reflect a growing focus on advanced technological and scientific research.^[18] Unlike similarly-named universities (such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology), the Georgia Institute of Technology is a public institution.

The Southern Technical Institute (STI) was established in 1948 in barracks on the campus of the Naval Air Station Atlanta (now DeKalb Peachtree Airport) in Chamblee, northeast of Atlanta.^[19] At that time, all colleges in Georgia were considered extensions of the state's four research universities, and the Southern Technical Institute belonged to Georgia Tech. STI was begun as an engineering technology school, to help military personnel returning from World War II gain a hands-on experience in technical fields. Around 1958, the school moved to Marietta, to land donated by Dobbins Air Force Base.

The school's first female students were admitted in 1952,^[20] although women could enroll in all programs at Tech until 1968. Industrial Engineering was the last program to open to women.^[20][12] The first women's dorm, Fulmer Hall, opened in 1969.^[12] Women constituted 28.6% of the undergraduates and 25.8% of the graduate students enrolled in Fall 2006.^[21]

In 1961, Georgia Tech became the first university in the Deep South to desegregate without a court order.^[22] However, Lester Maddox chose to close his restaurant (located near the modern-day Burger Bowl) rather than desegregate after losing a year-long legal battle in which he challenged the constitutionality of the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.^[23]

In 1981, the Southern Technical Institute was split from Georgia Tech, around the same time most of the other regional schools were separated from University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Georgia Southern University.

[edit] Modern history

Includes the administrations of John Patrick Crecine (1987–1994) and G. Wayne Clough (1994–present)

In 1988, John Patrick Crecine proposed a controversial restructuring of the university. The Institute at that point had three colleges: the College of Engineering, the College of Management, and the catch-all COSALS, the College of Sciences and Liberal arts. Crecine reorganized the latter two into the College of Computing, the College of Sciences, and the Ivan Allen College of Management, Policy, and International Affairs.^[24] Crecine announced the changes without asking for input, and consequently many faculty members disliked him for his top-down management style.^[24] In 1989, the administration sent out ballots, and the proposed changes passed, with very slim margins.^[24] The restructuring took effect in January 1990. While Crecine was seen in a poor light at the time, the changes he made are considered visionary.^[24]

“

There was controversy in every step. Management fought this, because they were the big losers... Crecine was under fire.

”

In October 1990,^[25] Tech's first overseas campus, Georgia Tech Lorraine (GTL), opened.^[12] It is a non-profit corporation operating under French law. GTL is primarily focused on graduate education, sponsored research, and an undergraduate summer program. In 1997, GTL was sued under Toubon Law because all course descriptions on its internet site were in English; these course descriptions constituted an advertisement for this private college and thus fell under the Toubon law.^[26] The case was dismissed on a technicality.^[27] See also: Toubon Law and The Georgia Tech Lorraine case.

The 1992 Vice-Presidential Candidates Debate between Al Gore, Dan Quayle, and Admiral James Stockdale, held on October 13, 1992, took place on the Georgia Tech campus at the Ferst Center for the Arts.^[28]

John Patrick Crecine was instrumental in securing the 1996 Summer Olympics for Atlanta. A dramatic amount of construction occurred, creating most of what is now considered "West Campus" in order for Tech to serve as the Olympic Village. The new Undergraduate Living Center, Woodruff Residence Halls and Dining Hall, Eighth Street Apartments, Hemphill Apartments, and Center Street Apartments housed athletes and journalists. The Georgia Tech Aquatic Center was built for swimming events, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum was renovated.^[12]

In 1994, G. Wayne Clough became the first Tech alumnus to serve as the President of the Institute, and was in office during the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1998, he separated the Ivan Allen College of Management, Policy, and International Affairs into the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and returned the College of Management to "College" status. During his tenure, research expenditures have increased from $212 million to $425 million, computers are become required for all students, enrollment has increased from 13,000 to 17,000, Tech received the Hesburgh Award, and Tech's U.S. News & World Report ranking went up.

Clough's tenure has been especially focused on a dramatic expansion of the institute; since he took office, over $900 million has been spent on expanding or improving the campus. These projects include the completion of several west campus dorms, the manufacturing complex,^[29] 10th and Home, Tech Square, The Biomedical Complex, the Student Center renovation, the expanded 5th Street Bridge, the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center's renovation into the CRC, the new Health Center, the Klaus Advanced Computing Building, and the (currently under construction) Nanotechnology Research Center. He has also spearheaded a revamped Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), and the creation of an International Plan.^[30][31]

[edit] See also

• Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District
• Georgia Tech traditions

[edit] References

Georgia Institute of Technology  v • d • e
Academics	College of Architecture • College of Management • Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts • College of Computing • College of Engineering • College of Sciences • Georgia Tech Research Institute • Georgia Tech Research Corporation • Nanotechnology Research Center
Athletics	Yellow Jackets • Athletics Director • Football (coach) • Men's Basketball (coach) • GT-UGA rivalry • Atlantic Coast Conference • Bobby Dodd Stadium • Alexander Memorial Coliseum • Russ Chandler Stadium • Georgia Tech Aquatic Center
Campus Life	Midtown Atlanta • Technology Square • Home Park • DramaTech • Under the Couch • Momocon • Wreck Radio • Georgia Tech Cable Network • The Technique • The Blueprint • Georgia Tech Lorraine
People and History	President • Faculty • Alumni • History • Legends and Traditions • Popular Culture