Unlike the highly organized 1882 ceremony, the 1934 event was very informal. There were no planned speeches, though among the spectators was 64-year old Arthur Stiles, the only person present to have seen the cornerstone set in place. He recounted the colorful parade that braved a true Texas Norther and the “rotund bearded figures” who spoke glowing terms of the University’s future. As the cornerstone was removed from its resting place, a lone trumpeter at the top of the building’s central tower sounded “Taps,” which officially closed Old Main. The lead box was recovered from inside the stone and taken to the president’s office, where the contents were examined, recorded, and then replaced.
Among the contents of the 1882 Old Main cornerstone:
The Austin Daily Statesman, Friday, November 17, 1882
The Galveston Daily News, Thursday, November 16, 1882
Dallas Daily Herald, Friday, November 10, 1882
Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Friday, November 10, 1882
The Daily Post (Houston), Thursday, November 16, 1882
“Governor’s Message” – Proclamation or Governor Oran Roberts,
to convene a special session of the Texas Legislature,
Executive Office, Austin, Texas, March 1, 1882
One picture card advertisement: George A. Brush, Austin, Texas, Dealer in Stoves, etc
One package of cigarette papers, belonging to N.P. Houx
A poem called “The Book of Life,” by Lee C. Hasby, Houston, Texas, November 14, 1882
“Constitutions of Grand and Subordinate Lodges of the Knights of Pythias of Texas,” adopted, Galveston, April, 1882.
Handwritten copy of the Roster of Mount Bonnell Lodge, No. 34, Knights of Pythias, April, 1882
“The Constitution and By-Laws of the Kindred Association of Texas,” 1882
A handwritten copy of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas, November, 1882
Printed Booklet: “Plan of Organization and Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Public Free Schools of the City of Austin for 1882-1883.”
A copy of “Form of State or Provincial Constitution Recommended for the Association of a State or Province,” and handwritten on the cover, “Return to James Down, Secretary and Treasurer, Austin Y.M.C.A.”
A handwritten letter to Alexander P. Wooldridge, Secretary to the Board of Regents. Dated November 16, 1882, the letter was from F.W. Hanks, then an inmate at the Travis County Jail. Enclosed in the letter was a picture of Queen Victoria, clipped from Harper’s New Monthly Magazine.
Muster Roll, Company “A” 2nd Regiment, Texas Volunteer Guards
Muster Roll of Terry’s Texas Rangers
Printed Booklet: “Reminiscences of Persons, Events, Records and Documents of Texian Times” by Mrs. W. A. C. Wilson, Austin, 1882
Drawing of the “New Capitol of the State of Texas,” by S. B. Hill, 818 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
An envelope containing the names of the artisans and mechanics employed in the construction of the University’s Main Building, a drawing of the completed building, and a photograph of its architect, F. E. Ruffini.
Advertising pamphlet for “Bandy and Parker, Manufacturers and Dealers in Saddles and Harnesses,” East Pecan Street, Austin, Texas
A piece of an envelope with the return addresses printed: J. W. Graham, Druggist, 918 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas”
The business card of “J.A. Southern, Austin, Texas, Hack No. 12” (a horse-drawn taxi)
Locks of hair from: Miss Stella Wooten, Miss Etta Wooten, Miss Maud Wooten, Miss Tommie Wooten, Miss Tully Folts, Miss Mary Goldwyn, Miss Will Elle Hardeman.
A copy of the music to “Allegheny,” by I. J. Heffley with the words “Herzog Band” written on top in pencil.
A one hundred dollar Confederate bill
A sergeant’s badge from the Austin Police Department
A copy of “The Holy Bible,” printed in New York, 1882
One U.S. Silver Dollar, 1881
One Peso, Republica de Chile, 1876
A round whistle
A cigar
Three pecans
One brass button (a lucky charm donated by Governor Frank Lubbock)
8 street car tokens for the “Austin City Railroad Co.”
A 50 Centavos coin, Republica Mexicana, 1879
2 U.S. quarters, dated 1853 and 1877
A U.S. nickel, dated 1876
A U.S. two-cents coin, dated 1865
7 U.S. pennies, dated from 1857 – 1882
One dozen marbles