History and Tradition

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.

The climax of Southern university desegregation came in the early 1960s with rancorous confrontations and even riots on some campuses of the Deep South. The white leadership of the University of Tennessee was reluctant, but its path to racial integration was quieter and less acrimonious.

Ask what it means to be a Vol, and chances are you’ll hear a lot about serving others. Service is one of the strongest elements of our shared identity—it’s literally what makes a Volunteer a Volunteer. That strength is reflected in the many campus initiatives aimed at giving students, faculty and staff, and alumni opportunities to serve.

Betsey Creekmore possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of University of Tennessee history and traditions—that she has translated into an enduring gift to present and future Vols: an online encyclopedia of university history, facts, legends, and traditions.

From early classrooms to our first cheerleader, take a look at these snapshots of life at the university.