1963
The College Concert Band appears in the yearbook for the first time. This student group was under the direction of Benjamin Glover, who was at the school for just three years.
Rearview Mirror
From the desk of Felicity Knox ’94, assistant university archivist librarian
ASK AN ARCHIVIST
Hey Felicity . . .
Q: Why is there an Emerson Drive on campus?
A: Why does Towson University have a street named after a 19th-century philosopher from
Massachusetts? Prior to 1968, the roads on campus didn’t seem to have names. So that
year, perhaps in honor of the Maryland governor becoming the vice president of the
United States, the roads were named after Maryland governors, and the road in front
of Stephens Hall
was named Agnew Drive. But by 1971, students wanted to honor those who had been killed
during civil rights protests and highlight great philosophers and local journalists.
Agnew Drive became Kent State Drive, and another road was renamed Jackson State Drive.
A traffic circle was named after Goethe and another one named after Thoreau. And one
road connecting
a parking lot to Towsontown Boulevard was named Emerson Drive.
In 1984, the administration changed the names again, creating the ones we have on
campus today but kept only one from those created in 1971, which is why West Village
sits along Emerson Drive.
Have a question for Felicity? Email her.
WHAT’S NEW
Unearthing TU’s History Through Oral Histories
In summer 2019, TU student and faculty researchers began the Unearthing Towson’s History Project, delving into the University Archives collections with the goal of exploring the history of diversity on our campus.
As part of that project, researchers have conducted oral history interviews with alumni and former faculty members about their experiences on campus. The first was an interview with Whitney LeBlanc, the first Black faculty member hired by the school, who taught theatre in the 1960s. More interviews will soon be added to the online collection.
TU Bands Have a History of Making Noise
1968
Hank Levy establishes the Towson State Jazz Ensemble. They would become so proficient under his direction that they would be barred from entering the Quinnipiac Jazz Festival in New Haven, Connecticut.
2018
The Towson University Jazz Orchestra celebrates 50 years of supporting students studying jazz at TU.