Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self)
A new book celebrating the history of University of Tennessee at Martin offers a visual journey through 125 years of growth, traditions and memorable moments on campus.
Contributors Samuel Richardson, Nathan Morgan and Karen Elmore created the recently released commemorative book. Published to coincide with the university’s 125th anniversary, the project combined historical research with archival photography to highlight the evolution of the institution from its earliest days to the present.
According to Samuel Richardson, the idea for the project began years before the anniversary itself. He started gathering photographs several years ago while considering ways to expand on an earlier book that commemorated the university’s 100th anniversary.
“Actually, what became the inspiration was the 125th anniversary coming up,” Richardson said. “We already had a book that commemorates the 100th anniversary, and we were deciding whether we should update it with the next 25 years or create something completely different. We decided to come up with a different type of book.”
The result is a photo-driven publication that traces the institution’s transformation over more than a century. The book begins with the early days of the Hall-Moody Institute, the small Baptist school that originally occupied the site in Martin, before following the campus through its transition to a junior college, then a four-year institution and eventually the modern university it is today.
Nathan Morgan, who works in the university’s Office of University Relations, said the department’s extensive photo archives helped shape the stories that appear in the book.
“Our office does the news releases and photography for the university, and we have an archive of photography from the past 25 years,” said Morgan. “Because this is primarily a photo book, what we had photographs of played a big role in what we were able to include.”
The team compiled long lists of potential events, people and moments before they narrowed them down to fit the publisher’s format. The book was ultimately limited to 228 pages. Several stories were left out simply because of space or the absence of photographs.
One story Richardson wished could have been included involved a performance by legendary musician Prince in the early 1980s before he rose to global fame. However, without a photograph documenting the concert, it could not be featured.
Still, the research process uncovered several surprising discoveries. The authors learned that future music stars such as Billy Joel once performed on campus early in their careers. They also found references suggesting bands like ACDC played in Martin before reaching mainstream popularity.
Other unexpected findings came from old campus publications and archives. Morgan said the student newspaper or earlier publications like The Volette proved to be a valuable resource for confirming events and uncovering unusual campus stories.
One article from the early 1920s described a small zoo that once existed in Martin. When the zoo closed, larger animals were transferred to Memphis while smaller animals such as squirrels were released locally—a detail some jokingly say explains the abundance of squirrels on campus today.
The authors said one of the most fascinating aspects of researching the book was realizing how much campus life has changed and how much has stayed the same. Old articles revealed students complaining about parking shortages and roommate conflicts decades ago, issues that still resonate with students today.
For Karen Elmore, one story in the book perfectly represents the university’s impact. It focuses on former Skyhawk basketball player Lester Hudson, who arrived at UT Martin from Memphis and eventually went on to play professionally in the NBA and overseas.
“To me, it embodies what UT Martin does,” she said. “We wrap our arms around students and help them succeed.”
Although the book captured more than a century of history, the authors see it as a snapshot rather than a final chapter. Since the book’s completion, the university continues to grow with new academic buildings, residence halls and expanding enrollment.
“In the past 125 years, this property has always been an educational institution,” Morgan said. “It’s fascinating to think about how many generations have come here to learn.”
Even so, the contributors believe the book preserves something timeless about the institution, the sense of community and support that has defined the campus for generations.
