Austin Wheeler Smith
Dublin Core
Title
Austin Wheeler Smith
Description
Graduated from Franklin County High School, 1909; served as Superintendent of Public Instruction in Franklin County, Tennessee, from 1911 to 1916; received diploma from Middle Tennessee State Normal, 1913; B.S. University of the South, 1918. Started at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in 1916 as the head of the History Department. He became the Registrar in 1922, Dean in 1923 and the President of Tennessee Tech on August 16, 1940.
He stepped down in 1924 and once again was the Dean while teaching history. He began to also teach Economics in 1926.
In 1927, he was designated to be the Dean, Registrar, and Professor of History when needed.
In 1931, he was designated the Dean and a Professor of History. Throughout the years after this he would switch between being a professor of History and being the Dean to just being the Dean.
In 1956, he tired from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and was deemed the Dean-Registrar Emeritus. He was the last of the original Tech faculty to serve. Before retirement, he oftentimes called himself the "Ancient Landmark" at Tennessee Tech.
In 1957, he published his book titled Story of Tennessee Tech: In the Ruggedness of Tech's Past Lies The Promise of Its Future.
He stepped down in 1924 and once again was the Dean while teaching history. He began to also teach Economics in 1926.
In 1927, he was designated to be the Dean, Registrar, and Professor of History when needed.
In 1931, he was designated the Dean and a Professor of History. Throughout the years after this he would switch between being a professor of History and being the Dean to just being the Dean.
In 1956, he tired from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute and was deemed the Dean-Registrar Emeritus. He was the last of the original Tech faculty to serve. Before retirement, he oftentimes called himself the "Ancient Landmark" at Tennessee Tech.
In 1957, he published his book titled Story of Tennessee Tech: In the Ruggedness of Tech's Past Lies The Promise of Its Future.
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rights Holder: Tennessee Technological University
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rights Holder: Tennessee Technological University
access Rights: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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“Austin Wheeler Smith,” Tennessee Tech University Archives and Special Collections, accessed April 11, 2026, https://tntecharchives.omeka.net/items/show/706.