UNT at 125
Established in 1890, the University of North Texas has grown from a teacher training school with 70 students above a Denton hardware store to one of the largest public universities in the nation, with 38,000 students and a 900-acre campus. For our 125th anniversary, we celebrate our storied history of leadership, inclusion, opportunity, creativity and innovation.
Suite for an Anniversary
In celebration of UNT's 125th anniversary, the UNT Concert Orchestra premiered Suite for an Anniversary, a UNT-commissioned composition by Grammy nominee Richard DeRosa, associate professor and director of jazz composition/arranging. The instrumentation includes a full orchestra mixed with classical and jazz performers, an additional jazz rhythm section and an improvising saxophonist.
UNT then and now
 |
Car traffic in front of what is now the Hurley Administration Building (Photo by Gary Payne) |
 |
A class meeting on the Auditorium Building steps (Photo by Gary Payne) |
Time capsule opening
President Neal Smatresk helped unearth two time capsules buried on campus and then revealed some of the contents with student leaders April 17 as part of University Day, the annual celebration of North Texas’ change from a college to a university. On University Day in 1962 and 1988, students had buried the time capsules ready to open in the year 2015 — the year UNT turns 125.
Read more about the unearthing of the time capsules »
 |
President Neal Smatresk and, from left, Student Government Association vice president Ike Esedebe and president Kam Willard, reveal an issue of The Campus Chat from the 1962 time capsule at University Day April 17. (Photo by Gary Payne) |
 |
Perri Hamilton, assistant to the archivist, examines the contents of the 1988 time capsule. (Photo by Michael Clements) |
 |
Smatresk and facilities staffer Joey Boernes work to free the 1962 time capsule, which was encased in concrete and unearthed from the front flower bed of the Hurley Administration Building April 15. (Photo by Michael Clements) |
 |
Under the watchful eye of the president, facilities staff members exhume the 1962 time capsule. (Photo by Michael Clements) |
 |
Smatresk and Willard pose with the successfully retrieved 1962 time capsule. (Photo by Michael Clements) |
Media Coverage
-
UNT grows from its modest beginning July 11, 2015
-
Denton Record-Chronicle’s special commemorative issue “Celebrating 125 Years 1890-2015: UNT” Sept. 16, 2015
-
Denton Television’s DTV Newsbreak segment on UNT’s State of the University address Sept. 16, 2015
-
Rare footage of historic figure in UNT history discovered Sept. 25, 2015
-
The North Texan alumni magazine special commemorate 125th anniversary issue Sept. 25, 2015
-
UNT still going strong at 125 Oct. 9, 2015
-
UNT seeks student memorabilia for 125th anniversary Dec. 9, 2015
-
UNT turns the big 125 April 1, 2016
-
UNT publishes commemorative book for 125th anniversary April 17, 2016