A new pictorial history book written cooperatively by Austin College faculty members and students examines the rich 160 year history of the school. This book, Austin College, is the culmination of a collaborative learning project led by professor Light T. Cummins, with the assistance of college archivist Justin Banks.
This book marks the presidenital transition of Austin College from the leadership of Dr. Oscar C. Page to that of Dr. Marjorie Hass. It is scheduled to be released by the Arcadia Publishing Company on November 9. Advance copies will be available for purchase at the Austin College campus store beginning on Thursday, November 5 as part of the festivities marking the inauguration of Dr. Marjorie Hass as the fifteenth president of Austin College.
“This volume tells the story of Austin College in photographs,” Cummins said. It uses pictures to document the history of Austin College from the era of the daguerreotype to that of the digital image.
Eight students in a history class taught by Light Cummins during the spring of this year wrote the text for the new book. Four archival students under the direction of archivist Justin Banks selected the pictures used in the volume.
The student authors are: Elizabeth A. Elliott of Arlington, Texas; David C. Loftice of Van Alstyne; Trang Ngo of Amarillo; Joshua Pollock of San Antonio; Paige Rutherford of Amarillo; Victoria Sheppard of El Dorado, Arkansas; William Weeks of Euless; and Jacqueline M. Welsh of Greeley, Colorado.
The student archival assistants who selected the images contained in the book are: Gunjan Chitnis of Irving; Susan Le of Garland; Rebeka Medellin of San Antonio; and Ayesha Shafi of Mansfield, Texas.
The archival students chose the 200 images in the book from thousands contained in the college’s extensive collections. College archivist Banks prepared the images for publication. The student authors then wrote the narrative, linking it to the photographs. The text explains what appears in the pictures while it also provides a full chronological history of the college. Light Cummins edited the volume and provided continuity for the narrative.
“Most college history books are written by historians,” Cummins said. “This is one of the few that has been written by students, and, as such, it offers a student perspective about the history of the college.”
The book highlights the history of student life, the academic program, athletic activities, and the growth of the campus. It also examines how the college has responded to changes in American life from before the Civil War to the present day.
"Austin College has a unique history,” Cummins noted in that regard. “One of the school's greatest historical qualities is that it can adapt positively as it changes with the times.”
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