The roaring of the 1920s was heard loud and clear at Baylor University. During the 1920s, Baylor University faced financial challenges related to her location, conference association, and constituent contributions. Baylor was experiencing strong success from her athletics program in Waco, while all also facing a potential move to Dallas. The formation of the new Southwest Conference and the creation and implementation of the Greater Waco campaign coalesced to create a new era of financial complexity. A group of constituents was coaxing Baylor to move its campus to Dallas in order to pay off some of Baylor’s indebtedness from the Dallas medical campus. t the same time, their football team in Waco was winning championships, and making money for the university.
The two research papers in this section discuss the specific aims of the Greater Waco Campaign and the Southwest Conference as they pertain to finances. It is important to note that the complexity of both of these topics supersedes finances, but both were uniquely tied to the funding of Baylor. The fundraising campaign to keep the campus in Waco exhibits the unique appeals and benefits that Baylor uses to procure gifts for Alumnae and locals alike. The success of the athletic program illustrates the financial benefits and regulatory stressors of touting a successful football program. Overall, the 1920s marked a period of significant growth in the formation of Baylor University, and finances represented an integral root in that process.
Ray’s Paper: Finances on the Gridiron
MIchelle Diaz: Baylor Town and Gown: Why Waco? (A Story of the 1920s Greater Baylor Campaign)