In an effort to allow the alumni the chance to reminisce and to make students more aware of how far the university has come over the last 133 years, Darryl Kemp, director of facility for the MSC, assembled a historical museum in the Memorial Student Center, Thursday, Oct. 25.
Originally starting out as Alta Vista Agriculture & Mechanical College of Texas for Colored Youth in 1876, Prairie View A&M University has undergone six name changes. First it was Prairie View State Normal School in 1885, Prairie View State Normal & Industrial College 1899, Prairie View University in 1945, Prairie View A&M College of Texas in 1947, and eventually earned the name Prairie View A&M University on Aug. 27, 1973.
The name of the institution was not the only change made to the school. Buildings and roads have changed drastically over time as well. In 1879 Kirby Hall, a plantation house was the first building to become a part of the newly formed college.
“I remember when we didn’t have sidewalks to get to Hobart Taylor. We used to call it Hobart, Texas because it would take us forever to get there,” said Pamela Floyd, Prairie View A&M University Alumna, Class of 1984.
Kemp said, ” The project was on my mind for the past couple of years. Students enter college not knowing much about the history of this institution.”