UT’s Andrews Hall named for first female graduate

Ask any UT freshman. Those first few weeks on the Forty Acres are eye openers, to say the least. There’s also much to be learned, which isn’t listed in any class syllabus and isn’t charged for in the tuition.

My parents accompanied me from Dallas to Austin. This wasn’t my first visit to campus, but UT also wasn’t my first choice of universities. I’m not saying UT plays second fiddle, academically, to any university in the nation. However, after spending my entire life -- almost 18 years at that point -- I was ready to see something else, something new. So, after gathering the required alumni recommendations, I applied to Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia.

At the time, it seemed like years, but I finally received my acceptance to Mary Baldwin as well as a substantial scholarship. But, within a week, my mother decided Virginia was too far from home and UT would be in my near future.

Because I was not in the first group of applicants, my first dorm choice -- the new-ish Kinsolving -- was not to be. Instead, I was assigned to Andrews Hall, one of the quadrangles of older dorms, actually located closer to campus. (I learned the value of proximity to campus and classes and libraries my first week of school -- and also earned my first blisters.)

One other thing: From my third-floor room in Andrews Hall (no elevators in dorms during those days), I could lie in my bed, next to the windows, and see the Texas Tower, a thrilling experience when it was lit burnt orange against the night sky. It also gave me a bird’s eye view (pardon the pun) when the presidential helicopter brought Lynda Bird Johnson back to campus after the holidays.

Having a third-floor room meant one thing to an incoming freshman: many trips up and down three flights of stairs. Always a good sport and a well-conditioned athlete besides, my father only gently suggested that next year, I cut down on the number of shoe boxes. Besides that, a shared dorm closet had limited space for my shoe collection.

Our graduate advisor (GA) was a senior looking toward law school after she graduated with her undergraduate degree. I thought her always serious expression was good practice for facing a jury. She also played the flute in the Mighty Longhorn Band, and her band practices every week gave us plenty of time to boobytrap her room, which we did with utter delight and regularity. Nothing awful -- just short-sheeting her bed during away games, Vaseline on her inside doorknob. Gluing her toothbrush to its holder and putting a raw hotdog under her pillow on several occasions.

Of course, I was still very immature back then, but not one time during my year of residence in Andrews Hall – Circa 1934 –å did I ever think to ask and, therefore, I never knew anything about my freshman dorm’s namesake. But, for all her accomplishments, I wanted to use this column as an apology of sorts, to introduce Miss Jessie Andrews as one of the outstanding Texas women to be recognized during Women’s History Month.

Born in Washington, Mississippi, February 17, 1867, Jessie was one of five children in Jesse and Margaret L. Andrews family. In 1874, Jessie, her four siblings and their mother joined Mr. Andrews in Austin. He had come to Texas earlier for his health. Unfortunately, he died a year later. To support her family, Margaret Andrews opened a boarding house near the state capitol.

Jessie graduated from Austin High School May 31, 1883. Along with five fellow graduates, Jessie received testimonials of merit for attendance, deportment and scholarship. She also earned the prized Peabody Award as the school’s outstanding graduate.

When The University of Texas (then called “State University”) opened its doors, September 12, 1883, 58 of its 221 students in that first freshman class were women. Throughout her years at UT, she distinguished herself, earning certificates of proficiency and honors in mathematics, German, French and history.

Only three years after entering The University, Jessie Andrews was selected on March 30, 1886, to serve as the official representative of the graduating class. At commencement ceremonies, she also became the school’s first female graduate, earning a B. Lit. degree…an honor recognized by the male graduates that year with a special award as well as another award given by The University’s Alumni Association.

Two years after graduation, she was welcomed once again by The University of Texas, this time as the first female appointed to the faculty, where she taught German and French.

Not satisfied with her academic achievements, Jessie traveled by train to study at the University of Chicago. After nine consecutive summers of travel and classes, she earned a Master’s of Philosophy in 1906. In the interim, she dedicated herself to writing poetry, published her works and was named poet laureate by the Texas Woman’s Press Association. She also was very active in the Arts League, University Women, the Y.W.C.A and she taught a Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church for several years.

After 30 years on the Texas faculty, she resigned from teaching, citing disillusionment with Germany due to World War I. She joined her sister Fannie, who also attended UT, in operating a store and died the next year, 1919, from pneumonia. This woman of many contributions and accomplishments was buried in Austin’s Oakwood Cemetery, not living quite long enough to be able to vote.

UT’s Andrews Dormitory, built in 1936, is named for her. So is a rose, named in Jessie Andrews’ honor by the Tyler Rose Growers Association in 1938.