Independence in Washington County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Founding of Baylor University
— Baylor University —
Photographed By James Hulse, January 8, 2021
1. Founding of Baylor University Marker
The congress of the Republic of Texas, meeting at Washington-on the-Brazos, chartered Baylor University on February 1st, 1845. The idea of a Baptist university in Texas originated with William Milton Tryon, who with Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor, one of Texas' most respected judges, won political support for establishing such an institution for the Baptist youth of Texas, training ministers to staff the Republic's many new Baptist churches and for equipping professionals "to meet the needs of all the ages to come." Several names were suggested for the new institution but Tryon insisted that the institution be named in honor of Judge Baylor. The school was to be governed by a board of 15 trustees.
In December 1845, the Baylor trustees placed their new institution in the prosperous town of Independence, Washington County, and determined that the best permanent campus location would be Windmill Hill. This would be the home of Baylor University until 1886.
Captions
View of Independence from the Old Baylor College (Used by permission of the Texas Collection, Baylor University, Waco)
McArdle Sketch (1883)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is February 1, 1845.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Baylor University's First Years (here, next to this marker); In Recognition of the Land Donations to Baylor (here, next to this marker); Windmill Hill (here, next to this marker); Baylor University Campus on Windmill Hill: (here, next to this marker); Baylor's Survival— (here, next to this marker); A College Town (a few steps from this marker); Houston Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Home Built in 1845 by General Jerome B. Robertson (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Independence.
Also see . . . Baylor University.
Baylor University owes its founding to Robert E. B. Baylor, James Huckins, and William Milton Tryon, who in 1841 organized an education society in the Texas Union Baptist Association with the purpose of establishing a Baptist university in Texas. Baylor was chartered by the Republic of Texas on February 1, 1845, and was opened in 1846 at Independence.(Submitted on February 12, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)Source: The Handbook of TexasPhotographed By James Hulse, January 8, 20212. The Founding of Baylor University Marker is the first marker from the left of the four markers
Photographed By James Hulse, January 8, 2021
3. The markers are located in the Baylor Park Pavilion at Windmill Hill.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 12, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
