History and Tradition

The Saturday evening before the University of Tennessee GE College Bowl team was to take on Manhattan College, they went to Broadway’s Majestic Theatre and saw Camelot with William Squire…

In 1961, students on the dance floor in Knoxville were doing a dance called the U-T, and a wave of songs dedicated to good ol’ UT soon followed.

From the beginning, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s partnership with the University of Tennessee has fueled an era of American research innovation.

From the Civil War to World War II and its aftermath, UT has been a center of activity in times of unrest.

The career of sportscaster Lindsey Nelson (’41), one of the best-known voices in TV sports, began and ended at UT.

The spirit that University of Tennessee President Emeritus Joe Johnson (’60, ’68) found when he first walked into Ayres Hall on January 3, 1956, still pervades the Knoxville campus, and he hopes it will continue to guide the university into its future.

Curious about how and when our traditions began? We’ve got you covered with this extensive (but not exhaustive) timeline.

A timeline of integration at the University of Tennessee.

Volunteers have always worked to make the world a better place—it’s what we do. Read about a few of our alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who have helped to light the way for others.

On January 4, 1961, Theotis Robinson Jr. arrived on campus as an undergraduate student. It was his application and subsequent meetings with UT administrators, including President Andy Holt, that led to the change in the admissions policy that barred black undergraduate students.