Recording by:  WRUF (Gainesville, Florida)

Title: Inauguration of UF President J. Hillis Miller

Dates: March 5, 1948

Duration: 0:45:50

Identification: Tape recording 140

File name: WRUF 36

 

Originally recorded on reel to reel tape at 7.5 ips

Digitally reformatted in February 2008

 

The tape begins with J. Hillis Miller’s Inaugural Address.  The preceding events are missing.  Miller begins his speech by mentioning Florida's good economic health.  He mentions the huge growth in enrollment in higher education and he outlines three areas of development to meet this need.  He then focuses on the University of Florida and stresses the needs which must be met such as the construction of new buildings.  In particular he mentions the plans to build a new chemistry building as well as six new dormitories.  Miller also suggests that not just buildings are needed to have a great university but the university also has to be a great cultural center.

After his speech concludes the conferring of honorary degrees takes place.  Five were awarded but the first two are missing from the tape.  The citation to Governor Millard F. Caldwell, the singing of the Alma Mater, the Benediction, and the Recessional conclude the tape.

The sound quality is not good especially near the end of the tape when there is a lot of cracking and popping sounds.