History

About 100 years ago Texas' first architectural education program was established at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. In the ensuing century, that little college transformed into Texas A&M University, a world-class institution of higher learning serving more than 44,000 students; and that fledgling architecture program became part of a top-ranked design school, Texas A&M's College of Architecture - the largest college of its kind in the nation.

On September 1, 1905, Dr. Frederick E. Giesecke established Texas' first formal program in architectural education at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. In June of the next year, the programs first graduates received their degrees. There were three of them - James S. Dean, Max F. Mayer and J. Rodney Tabor - and all three went on to enjoy successful careers as architects.

Thus began a legacy of achievement that over a century grew to encompass all of the built environment disciplines, a cast of truly remarkable educators, and more than 14,000 graduates - architects, landscape architects, builders, planners, preservationists, special effect wizards and scholars - even a celebrated broadcast journalist, an award-winning Hollywood set designer, countless artists and a U.S. Army general.

The list is endless as the stories are unique, but they all had one thing in common with their predecessors in the Class of 1906 - the integrity, loyalty, leadership, selfless service, friendliness and a commitment to excellence that is the hallmark of this unique American Institution - Texas A&M University.