While Baylor’s 50th anniversary passed without much fanfare, its 75th could not have been more different. The Diamond Jubilee was an all-out celebration of all that Baylor had accomplished throughout its lifespan — and there truly was so much to celebrate. While the school started as essentially a small liberal arts college, by 1920 it had blossomed into a true university with multiple developing schools of education, business, music, law, graduate studies, and nursing.
It was former Baylor President Samuel Palmer Brooks who was adamant that the 75th anniversary was an occasion for celebration. He was, in fact, responsible for much of the University’s recent growth and success at that point as president since 1902, so it was only fitting that he would want to celebrate.
The jubilee was scheduled from June 13-16, 1920. For three days, the Baylor campus hosted an abundance of sermons, meetings, theatrical productions, concerts, poetry readings, luncheons, receptions, and dinners. One such event, listed as a “Browning Benefit,” served as the occasion for the formal acceptance by Baylor of the famous bronze casting of the clasped hands of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning currently housed in the Armstrong Browning Library.
The festivities culminated in a commencement ceremony held on June 16. After presenting all the degrees, Brooks impressively summoned 62 distinguished guests to the podium and proceeded to summarize their careers and accomplishments before the packed audience without any notes — and he didn’t stumble over his words once.
The celebration, while exhausting, was also worthwhile. It was a reminder to every member of the Baylor family just how far they had come and a moment for President Brooks to reflect on all the time and effort he had poured into the school he loved so dearly.
