Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
A collection of photographs and documents of Ernest Langford, one of the giants in the history of Texas A&M's architecture program, is being readied for public use by the staff at the College of Architecture's Technical Reference Center.
Langford, headed the Texas A&M architecture program for 27 years, 1929 through 1956, helping turn it into one of the best in the country. Another aspect of his remarkable life, he also served as the mayor of College Station, Texas from 1942-1966.
"We're in the process of photographing, digitizing, recording and creating a searchable database of more than 400 photographs and documents," said Paula Bender, head of the TRC, the college's architectural reference library. The Langford family donated many of the collection's items, which include photographs, correspondence and newspaper clippings.
The family also provided funds for the project, which is funding a graduate student's assistance in preparing the collection.
The photos show Langford at various stages of his life: as a student in 1912, already adorned with his trademark bowtie, as an educator, and in color photos of the 1976 dedication of the buildings that now bear his name.
His family also donated his college graduation invitation, his professional licenses and certifications, and the manuscript for his 50th anniversary history of the program, "The First Fifty Years of Architectural Education at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas."
During Langford's tenure as head of the Texas A&M architecture program it became known as one of the preeminent architectural education programs in the country.
“The department was a struggling infant in the early days,” Langford, who died in 1981, once recalled. “We graduated only three or four men a year. At the time of my retirement we had more than 300 architecture majors and graduated about 50 a year."
Langford still wasn't finished contributing to the university after he stepped down as the architecture program's head, serving as the university's archivist from 1957-71.
"He's a big part of architecture history at Texas A&M, the university as a whole, and College Station's history," said Ian Muise, visual resources curator at the TRC, who is also preparing the collection.
“An editorial appearing in the Bryan-College Station Eagle after Langford's death on Sept. 14, 1981 read:
"Few men who measure their accomplishments against their dreams as life nears its end can be truly satisfied with the final tally. Count Ernest Langford as worthy of that privilege."
"During his lifetime," the editorial concluded, "Langford not only watched as his dream become reality, he worked to insure its success. He brought a dedication and zeal to every task he undertook, and the entire community benefited from it. He was, in a very real sense, the builder of a community and a positive influence on generations of men. That is a legacy worthy of both respect and imitation."
An opening reception commemorating the Langford collection will be scheduled later this fall, depending on the project's progress, said Bender. Eventually the collection will be accessible online.
See related archone. story, "Langford influenced generations of men, lead development of College Station," at
http://archone.tamu.edu/college/news
- Posted: Oct. 5, 2010 -
Contact: Phillip Rollfing, prollfing@archone.tamu.edu or 979.458.0442.
