The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Tracing its history to a series of private schools and military academies, The University of Texas at Arlington has grown with the community to become one of the area's most important public institutions. Arlington College, a private school for students in grades 1-10, opened here in 1895 in a two-story frame building. It was succeeded in 1902 by Carlisle Military Academy, operated by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction James M. Carlisle. Financial difficulties forced the Academy into receivership, and in 1913 H.K. Taylor opened Arlington Training School in its place. It in turn was replaced in 1916 by Arlington Military Academy, which closed after only one year. The school became a state-supported institution in 1917. Known as Grubbs Vocational College for local supporter Vincent W. Grubbs, it was affiliated with Texas A&M (then called The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas) through two more name changes--North Texas Agricultural College (1923-49) and Arlington State College (1949-65). Transferred to the University of Texas System in 1965, it was renamed the University of Texas at Arlington in 1967 and has become the second largest University in the System, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The University of Texas at Arlington grew from a string of modest private schools and military academies, beginning with Arlington College in an 1895 frame building. It passed through Carlisle Military Academy, an Arlington Training School, and Arlington Military Academy before becoming a state institution in 1917 as Grubbs Vocational College, affiliated with Texas A&M. Through successive names — North Texas Agricultural College, Arlington State College — it joined the University of Texas System in 1965 and took its present name in 1967, growing into the System's second-largest university.
Why it matters
UT Arlington's evolution from frontier academies to a major public research university mirrors the broad American expansion of higher education and its power to grow alongside the communities it serves.
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Related people
- · James M. Carlisle
- · Vincent W. Grubbs
- · H. K. Taylor
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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