Little Campus

On August 16, 1856, the Texas Legislature appropriated 100,000 acres of land and $10,000 for the establishment of an asylum for the blind. This asylum was the first of its kind in the state. The plan for the site was Italian in style The contractor for the original building was Abner H. Cooke who built it with rough limestone and dark brick. Abner H. Cooke built numerous other well-known structures in the Greek Revival style of architecture in the central Texas area, for example, the Neill-Cochran House, the Texas Governor's Mansion, and the Woodlawn (Pease Mansion). The asylum operated from 1857 through 1865 when it was closed due to the disruption caused by the Civil War.*

Since 1865 the buildings have been used for various purposes. Immediately after the Civil War General Armstrong Custer and his family used the facilities as a residence while he commanded 13 regiments of infantry and 13 regiments of cavalry. Between 1866 and 1915 the building complex again served as facilities for the blind.** During this period, four additional brick buildings were constructed. In 1880 a music and literary building was constructed. This building burned to the ground in 1891 and it was immediately rebuilt. In 1883 a building was constructed for classroom use. In 1900 another building was constructed. In 1903 an auditorium building was constructed. A carriage house was also probably constructed during this period. in 1912 a two-story brick building was constructed to provide additional classroom space Between 1915 and 1917 the complex of buildings was vacant. During World War I the complex was used as one of the six preliminary air training institutes of the School of Military Aeronautics in the United States.

With the end of World Was I and the influx of ex-service people into the University of Texas at Austin, the building complex was acquired by the University. Hence, the district became referred to as "Little Campus".

By the mid 1920's the district was again used by the State Hospital system. During World War II the building reverted to use by the military.

In 1951 the Extension Service of the University of Texas at Austin acquired the oldest historic and main building. The Extension Service also occupies the building that was constructed in 1903 and it serves as the main building. The Natural Fibers Economic Research Institute is officed in the building that was constructed in 1900. The building that was constructed in 1912 is used for storage by the Department of Geology. The building that originally served as a carriage house is used for storage. The Division of Transportation uses the building that was originally built in 1880 and rebuilt in 1891 after a fire destroyed the original building.

<sup>*The initiation of the instructional program of the Institute was delayed because the first student was not admitted until December 27, 1856. This first enrollee was a boy. It was al-most two months until the school gained two more students on February 21. Then by March the school had seven pupils (all boys), two teachers (one taught literature and the other taught music). No additional students enrolled in 1857, but the school continue to grow until it was closed in 1865 with a total enrollment of seventy-five boys and girls.

**Between 1866 and 1915 the average enrollment was 250 boys and girls. The asylum served grades one through twelve. Grades one to five were elementary grades and studied the basic subjects. Grades six to eight were junior high and studied history, English, arithmetic, reading, science. High school grades were nine to twelve and they studied courses approved by the Texas Education Agency. The school was fully accredited anc twenty-two and one-half credits were required for graduation. Therefore graduates of the Asylum were not required to take a college entrance examination. Besides academic and music courses home economics courses taught to the girls made them admirable seamstresses and homemakers, and woodworking taught to the boys produced skilled craftsmen. One of the products of the woodworking classes were brooms which were sold at quite a profit. Though each boy received a commission for his brooms the school still returned $3,000 to the State Treasury every year from the broom sales. In the music field piano, pipe organ, voice, violin, band, and chorus were taught. All students were required to take physical education unless excused by a doctor's permit. Girls were taught dancing--modern, folk, tap, and others. They also participated in track and tumbling. The boys were taught wrestling, tumbling and track. In these areas they participated in tournaments with other blind schools throughout the country. Tumbling exhibitions were often given at commencement exercises. Students were encouraged -to participate in many sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, softball, croquet, and even skating. There were two gymnasiums, a boys and a girls added after the Civil War. The students were also ex-posed to the performing arts. The Austin Statesman advertised a free operetta given by the students in 1909. The characters included were the daisy, lily, rose, sunflower, onion, thistle, oak tree, clover, and goldenrod. They were all entered in a contest for the national flower and judged by a bailif, lawyers, and Uncle Sam. Amusement was also afforded the children. Every Friday night throughout the school term a movie was shown in the auditorium. Frequently on Saturdays there was a party giving the boys and girls a chance to meet socially.</sup>