Pat Neff Hall Time Capsule Unsealed
A time capsule sealed in the cornerstone of Pat Neff Hall was opened by Baylor University officials during a 1:30 p.m. ceremony Thursday, Dec. 7.
The unsealing of the cornerstone comes almost 62 years to the day from its ceremonial leveling, which was presided over by former Texas Gov. and Baylor President Pat Neff and observed by 4,000 Masons and Baylor faculty, staff students and friends. The cornerstone, located at the building's northeast corner, is being disturbed as part of a restoration project to replace much of the administration building's stone trim, which has been crumbling in recent years.
Representatives of the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M., will be on hand for the opening of the capsule on Thursday. The contents of the capsule will be resealed in the cornerstone during a separate ceremony on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Participants in that ceremony will include recently installed Grand Master David B. Dibrell of Richardson and other officers of the Grand Lodge.
According to an article in the December 1938 issue of The Baylor Century, the time capsule includes the following items: a Bible; a copy of Lightfoot's Masonic manual; the celebration program; the November issue of the Grand Lodge magazine; a gavel moulded from lumber taken from the former home of Anson Jones, first worshipful master of the Grand Lodge and last president of the Republic of Texas; the Dec. 6 issue of the Waco News-Tribune; the Dec. 2 issue of the Baylor Daily Lariat; a Baylor catalog; a Baylor directory, containing names of all students, faculty members, trustees and employees at that time; a pamphlet that includes pictures of the original buildings of Baylor at Old Independence; photographs of Stephen F. Austin and Judge R.E.B. Baylor; a photograph of the Baylor board of trustees signing the amended charter of Baylor University, 1936; a pictorial bulletin containing pictures of all buildings on the Baylor campus at that time; a picture of Dr. Samuel P. Brooks, former Baylor president; a 1923 issue of The Baylor Bear with pictures of the baseball team that won that year's Southwest conference championship; a photograph of Dr. K.H. Aynesworth, founder of the Texas Room; a picture of Mrs. John Maxwell, founder of the R.E.B. Baylor Room; a publication of John K. Strecker, founder of the Baylor museum; a picture of the Philomathesian literary society taken in 1903 with Dr. Rufus C. Burleson; photographs of Maggie Houston and Cowden Halls on South Fifth Street; a photograph of eight sets of twins in the University at that time; psychological test scores of 1938 freshmen; the Texas state song; a 1938 nickel; flowers typifying the eternal green and pure gold of Baylor University's colors; and The Baylor Century, Vol. I, No. 1, October 1938.
Media representatives needing more information about the ceremony may contact Lori Scott Fogleman, director of media relations, at Lori_Scott-Fogleman@baylor.edu or (254) 710-6275.