On the 100th anniversary of TCU’s move to Fort Worth, The Center for Texas Studies at TCU and the TCU Press have joined together to produce an in-depth look at the historical relationship between town and gown, between the city and the university that are inextricably linked.
Taking advantage of photographic archives newly digitized, the book explores the history of the university, how its academic programs enhanced city life, how the university’s myriad arts offerings created a reciprocal relationship with Fort Worth’s art community, how campus life was transformed and influenced by city life, how the physical makeup of the campus affected the look of the city, and how the athletic program inculcated die-hard fans with love of all things Purple.
Mayor Mike Moncrief provided a foreword to stress the importance of the relationship between the two entities, and essays were submitted by a variety of Horned Frogs—from Mary Volcansek, executive director of The Center for Texas Studies, to Ron Tyler, director of the Amon Carter Museum, to Bob Frye, emeritus professor of English, and Gene Smith, director of The Center for Texas Studies and History Curator at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Alums Vicki Vincent Cantwell and Mike Mullins present their unique views of TCU’s influence, while Mark Mourer, TCU journalism graduate, traces the history of TCU’s thriving athletic program.