Time Capsule Reveal

Crumbled newspaper packing from Daily Toreador 1975

On Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, we celebrated Founder's Day by revealing the contents of a time capsule sealed fifty years ago at Texas Tech College of Media & Communication.

Time capsule in photo studio

Greetings: May this day of February 10, 2025 be as beautiful as was this day, September 9, 1975.

We have enclosed several items in this time capsule which we thought would be of interest to those of you reading this letter. At this time in the history of Texas Tec University we have tried ot gather items that we felt would give you a picture of Texas Tech and the Mass Communication programs in 1975. Included in the capsule you will find:

- - UNIVERSITY DAILY, September 2, 1975
  - UNIVERSITY DAILY, April 1, 1975
  - Charter Day printed programs and tape, 2-10-75
  - KCBD-TV News Script 2-10-75
    - KCBD-TV News on tape
    - KCBD-TV Videotape
  - KFYO-AM News, 2-10-75
  - EXORDIUM
  - Mass Communications Week Program, 1975
  - Department Brochure
  - Texas Tech News Briefs
  - Morning and afternoon editions AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 2-10-75
  - Texas Tech Catalogs (1975-6)
  - List of Mass Communications faculty and staff
  - Exerpts of:
  - AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 10-21-1925
  - AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 5-31-1925
    - Donated by Mrs Hadena Hester, Elbert K. and Elmber W. Hester
    - The 1925 edition carries a list of students enrolled at Texas Tech.
    - The 1927 edition has a picture of the first graduating class at Texas Tech
  - List of the Mass Communications Advisory Committee members
  - Tape interview with Steve Coggins, Student Station Manager, KTXT-FM
  - History of Department of Journalism
  - Presentation for School Status

A brief history of the past 100 years

Texas Technological College

Established on February 10, 1923 (Founders Day)
Opened for classes on Oct. 1, 1925
Became Texas Tech University on Sept. 1, 1969

College of Media & Communication

Newspaper article by Montemayor, The First 50 Years

The first edition of “The Toreador” (student newspaper) was published before registration began for the first term at Texas Technological College in 1925.
The first college catalog included a listing for a Journalism course that were taught through the English Department.
First Journalism degree candidates graduated in 1933.
Department of Journalism was established in 1936.
First Journalism Building opened in 1941.
Department of Mass Communications established in 1971 – pulling together courses in Journalism, Advertising, and Telecommunications.
New Mass Communications Building opened in June of 1976.
School of Mass Communications established in 1988.
College of Mass Communications established in 2004.
Renamed College of Media & Communication in 2012
Moved into new Media & Communication building in August 2012.
Enrollment in 1975: 898
Enrollment in Fall 2024: 2,372 (Note: Most recent public data available)

Mass Communications Time Capsule

University Daily Student-run Newspaper Cover

Conceptualized and organized by Department Chairman, Dr. Billy Ross.
Dedicated on February 10, 1975
Created during Texas Tech’s 50th anniversary (1975), to be opened during university’s 100th anniversary in 2025.
Placed in new Mass Communications building during construction in 1975.
Originally encased in a wall outside the 1st floor north entrance to Rm. 101, the building’s largest lecture hall.
Removed from former Mass Communications building in August of 2012.
Moved to new Media & Communication Building and stored inside glass display case in MCOM Tower Building on 2nd floor across from elevators.

The 50 years between the placement of the time capsule and its opening represent huge growth and change for Mass Communications/Media & Communication:

From Department of Mass Communications, to School of Mass Communications, to College of Mass Communications, and finally College of Media & Communications.
From a 2-story facility to a 13-story building with more than 204,000 square feet.
From three majors to seven.
From 24 faculty members to more than 60.
From less than 900 students to more than 2,300.

1975 La Ventana Man of the Year Bill Dean

The items inside the time capsule create a snapshot of history to show us how far we’ve come but also make us think about how far we’ll go in another 50 years.

The alumni represented in the items inside the time capsule represent a range of professionals who have left their mark on the communications field, locally, nationally, and around the world.

Time capsule tape recordings and reports