Alumni Memorial Building: A Century of History at the University of Tennessee

Wedged between the historic Hill and the iconic Neyland Stadium, the Alumni Memorial Building stands as a testament to the University of Tennessee's rich past. While many who attend events in its modern Cox Auditorium may overlook this brick and stone structure, it holds a significant place in the university's history, serving as a cultural hub and memorial for over a century.

From Isolated Hilltop to Cultural Center

In the early days, the University of Tennessee was confined to its hilltop location, isolated from the bustling city of Knoxville below. Townspeople had little reason to venture up the Hill, as downtown offered a variety of entertainment options, including vaudeville shows, Broadway plays, concerts, lectures, and movies. The grand Gay Street theaters, particularly Staub's, even hosted UT events, including commencements, due to the campus's lack of adequate auditoriums. The "Pine Palace" also known as Jefferson Hall, a wooden structure, served as a venue for student assemblies and dances before becoming a National Guard armory.

However, the shifting landscape of motion pictures and radio, along with the deterioration of downtown theaters like Staub's and the unfulfilled promise of a new civic auditorium, created an opportunity for UT to step into a new role. The university, experiencing rapid growth and bolstered by state funding secured by Governor Austin Peay, embarked on a building agenda that would transform its campus into a regional cultural center.

A Tribute to the Fallen: The Birth of Alumni Memorial Gymnasium

In 1920, the All Students' Club initiated a fundraising drive to create a memorial for students who lost their lives in World War I. While their initial efforts fell short, the Alumni Association took up the cause, raising $28,000 towards the project. The association secured an option on a property at the corner of Cumberland Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard, the current location of Henson Hall. However, insufficient funds led them to request the university's assistance in purchasing the site and constructing a men's dormitory as a memorial. The trustees approved the request, combining university funds with those raised by the Alumni Association.

In 1921, the association offered gold stars for $150, representing UT men who were killed, and blue stars for $66, representing other UT men who served, as part of their fundraising efforts. The 1920 Volunteer yearbook highlighted the pressing need for a new gymnasium, surpassing even the need for a new athletics field.

In 1930, the Alumni Association gifted the property at the corner of Cumberland Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard to the university, along with the remaining funds raised for a memorial chapel. The building, designed by Barber and McMurry, was constructed on the site of the existing gymnasium and completed in 1932 at a cost of $300,000. It was named Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, a tribute to UT alumni and students who died in World War I.

The exterior of Alumni Memorial, designed by architect Charles Barber, reflected medieval ideals with flourishes by ironworker Samuel Yellin. The interior resembled a basketball arena, with seating and balconies surrounding the floor. The building could seat 3,200 for basketball games and 3,800 for stage performances.

A Hub for Sports and Culture

Alumni Memorial quickly became a central gathering place for both athletic events and cultural performances. It hosted early Vols basketball games and exhibition matches featuring early professional teams like the New York Celtics. Its completion marked a turning point for UT, transforming it into more than just an educational institution. In February 1932, the largest piece of steel ever hoisted on a Knoxville building project, a 17-ton truss, was installed in the building.

The building boasted an array of facilities, including six gymnasia, two practice walls for tennis, 12 handball courts, locker/shower rooms, offices, and an auditorium with a stage measuring 48 feet across and 24 feet deep, capable of seating 4,500 people if seats were placed on the gym floor. A notable feature was one of the largest enclosed pools in the South, measuring 30 feet by 75 feet, complete with two diving boards and a filtration system that changed the water every eight hours. Adjacent to the pool was a solarium offering artificial sunbaths using violet rays.

Commencements, concerts, and basketball games were immediately moved to Alumni Memorial from Jefferson Hall. The first chapel service was held on October 26, 1932, with Dean Hoskins delivering a dedicatory address. Its labyrinthine corridors and hidden offices were described as a system that would have "made a castle-designer proud."

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Beginning in 1932, the campus became a regional cultural center, attracting audiences from across the city. Despite the era's segregation, Alumni Memorial hosted legendary black performers, including Broadway composer and bandleader Noble Sissle in 1934 and Harlem drummer and bandleader Chick Webb. Glenn Miller performed for a dance in 1940, shortly after a national live broadcast at the Tennessee Theatre. Other notable performers included Irish tenor John McCormack, Metropolitan Opera baritone Lawrence Tibbett, and East Tennessee's own operatic soprano Grace Moore.

Rachmaninoff's Last Performance

Alumni Memorial holds a unique place in classical music history. In February 1943, the renowned Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff performed a piano concert in the auditorium, unaware that he was terminally ill with cancer. Following the sold-out show, he realized he was too sick to continue traveling and canceled the remainder of his American tour. This performance at Alumni Memorial became the final one of his illustrious career. Half a century later, a Russian sculptor created a tribute to Rachmaninoff, intending to place it at the site of his last performance.

Over the years, Alumni Memorial hosted a diverse range of performers, including Bob Hope, Al Jolson, Doris Day, William Holden, Andy Griffith, and Irene Ryan. Malcolm Miller, a British lumber baron and local arts columnist, played a key role in booking many of these shows. Despite its acoustic challenges, Alumni Memorial served as a superior venue compared to others in town.

Transition and Transformation

In 1959, men's basketball, commencement ceremonies, and large concerts moved to the Stokely Athletics Center. The last men's intercollegiate basketball game played in Alumni Memorial was on March 1, 1958, against Kentucky. In 1974, the east end of the building was renovated into offices and a dance studio. The university's Women's Basketball program remained in the building until 1977, and the Pat Summitt legend was born here, as the aggressive young coach led her Lady Vols to multiple national championships.

This shift marked the beginning of on-campus public attractions at larger venues, including Stokely Athletic Center and Thompson-Boling Arena.

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Architectural Details and Lasting Legacy

Built in 1931-32, Alumni Memorial Building showcases a Collegiate Gothic Revival style, designed by Barber and McMurry. It was dedicated as a memorial to University of Tennessee students who died in World War I, replacing a previous gymnasium on the same site. The building features a red brick exterior, a low-slope roof with a crenellated parapet, limestone trim, two bay windows on the north facade with limestone tracery, five entry doors with gothic arched portals and decorative light fixtures, decorative brickwork on the east and west wings of the building, and a large oriel on the rear with machicolations and decorative corbels.

In 2000, James Robert Cox, a Knoxville native and UT enthusiast, bequeathed a substantial gift to UT. A portion of the bequest was used to construct a pipe organ in the Alumni Memorial Building, which was under renovation at the time. The James R. Cox Auditorium houses a tracker (mechanical) organ made possible by Cox's bequest. Richards, Fowkes & Company of Ooltewah, Tennessee, built the instrument. The organ was installed in 2006 and 2007, with the dedicatory concert played by John Brock, UT organ professor, on January 21, 2007.

Today, the Alumni Memorial Building stands as a reminder of the University of Tennessee's evolution from a small hilltop college to a major regional university. Its history as a gymnasium, auditorium, and memorial reflects the changing needs and priorities of the university and the surrounding community. While it may not be as widely recognized as some of the university's other landmarks, the Alumni Memorial Building holds a special place in the hearts of those who have experienced its rich history and cultural significance.

The University of Tennessee: A Broader Historical Context

To fully appreciate the Alumni Memorial Building's significance, it's helpful to understand the broader history of the University of Tennessee.

Early Years and Transformation

The University of Tennessee traces its roots back to 1794, with the founding of Blount College by Samuel Carrick in downtown Knoxville. In 1807, Blount College became a state institution and was renamed East Tennessee College. The college reopened in 1820 under the guidance of Rev. David Sherman. Joseph Estabrook, the college's fifth president, led a significant period of growth beginning in 1834. The college moved west to the Hill upon finishing its first building in 1828. That building was damaged by Civil War shelling, and later torn down for the construction of Ayres Hall, completed in 1921.

The campus was significantly impacted during the Civil War. However, its fortunes changed when Congress passed the Morrill Act of 1862, which granted "land-grant" institution status to the university, allocating federal land and funds for agricultural, mechanical, and military training programs. In 1869, the former East Tennessee University officially became the state's land-grant institution. In 1879, the legislature officially changed the institutionâs name to the University of Tennessee.

Expansion and Growth

Under the leadership of Charles Dabney, the university's 11th president, science and engineering curricula were expanded in 1887, and women were admitted. Dabney also influenced the state legislature to make its first appropriation of state funds to the university. Following growth under President Brown Ayres, the medical and dental colleges moved to Memphis and officially merged with the University of Tennessee. Subsequent state appropriations helped further develop the main campus.

The presidencies of Harcourt Morgan and James Hoskins focused on expanding the university's statewide mission. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, the university experienced growth in the 1930s, fueled by legislative and citizen support. The Martin and Memphis campuses grew throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and the university incorporated large operations, such as the Tennessee School of Social Work in Nashville and what would become UT Medical Center in Knoxville.

Restructuring and Modernization

President Andy Holt, who took office in 1959, oversaw a period of rapid growth. Enrollment tripled, leading to administrative restructuring. Holt oversaw the transition of UT entities from a statewide presence into a statewide system, made official by the UT Board of Trustees in 1968. The University of Chattanooga merged with the UT System as UT Chattanooga in 1969.

The UT Institute for Public Service (IPS) was formally organized in 1971 to deliver outreach to government, business, and industry. Also in the 1970s, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine and the UT Knoxville College of Nursing opened.

Recent Developments

Former Tennessee Gov. Joe Johnson was named UT president in 1991. In 2005, UT-Battelle won an extension of its contract to manage Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In 2010, Joe DiPietro was selected as the next UT System president. DiPietro introduced a plan to transition the universityâs business model toward long-term sustainability.

Randy Boyd served as interim president beginning in late November 2018. In 2019, Boyd announced the launch of UT Promise, a last-dollar academic scholarship guaranteeing free tuition and fees for Tennessee residents with family household incomes below the state median. In June 2021, the UT Board of Trustees approved the acquisition of Martin Methodist College, which was officially named UT Southern.

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