Building Traditions, Educating Generations: A History of the University of Central Oklahoma (Oklahoma Heritage Association, Summer 2007)  By Patricia Loughlin, Kenny L. Brown and Bob Burke 

            Building Traditions, Educating Generations is a book-length manuscript on the first institution for higher education in Oklahoma Territory, the University of Central Oklahoma (then called the Territorial Normal School).  The book offers an abundance of images of Edmond and Central history alongside thoroughly-researched text. The book is an Oklahoma Centennial Commission project.

Building Traditions, Educating Generations is divided into eight chapters according to the name changes of the institution, and covers the institutional history from the early 1890s to the present. The book also offers twenty-five vignettes of UCO history written by UCO students, alumni and staff. Vignette topics range from the graduates of 1897 to the “forgotten years” of World War II to the African American Student Union during the 1960s to George Nigh.

Uniquely, the Department of History and Geography, in partnership with Archives and Special Collections, has launched an oral history project in connection with the book project. The process of collecting oral histories from past presidents, retired faculty and alumni at the university has provided a prism through which to view the collective memory of the institution. These stories will appear throughout the text and enhance the larger narrative of institutional history as it connects to the history of higher education and the development of Oklahoma.

Building Traditions, Educating Generations is written in a popular style to promote readership among general readers, yet it also makes connections to state and national events. In addition, the UCO community of faculty, staff and students will also be interested in the book. In addition to the Oklahoma Heritage Association, Building Traditions, Educating Generations will be available for purchase from the UCO bookstore, Alumni Association, Full Circle Bookstore, Best of Books.

This book tells the story of Central’s vibrant past as inherently connected to the establishment of Oklahoma Territory, the uniting of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory at statehood in 1907, and the legacy and important place Central holds in the history of higher education in the state and the nation.