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The Boyd Brothers—the Founding Fathers David and Thomas Boyd—When most people hear these names they think of fee bills, the chancellor, and graduate work, but few people know of the people behind the buildings. The Fathers of LSUDavid French Boyd, commonly referred to as one of the founders of Louisiana State University, and his younger brother, Thomas Duckett Boyd, devoted much of their lives to LSU to make it the great university it is now. LSU's Second President
As LSU's first English professor, David Boyd taught under William Tecumseh Sherman in 1860. Shortly after joining the University, he left his position to become a private in the 9th Louisiana infantry of the Southern Confederacy. In 1862 David became a major in the "Tiger Brigade" of Stonewall Jackson's corps, serving with Jackson when he was shot and killed by his own troops. While in the Confederate Corps of Engineers constructing Fort DeRussy, which is located near Alexandria, David was captured by the federals and shortly afterward met General Sherman for the first time since the war began. When Sherman saw him, he introduced David as "one of my assistants in the State Seminary and Military Academy of Louisiana…-- he calls himself major. He is no such thing. He is Professor Boyd." Sherman exchanged David for two federal officers of the same rank. David soon re-entered the Confederate service and in December 1864, he became major and adjutant general in Brent's cavalry brigade, which guarded Kirby-Smith's front from Arkansas to the Gulf of Mexico during the last stages of the war. He later surrendered in New Orleans in June 1865.
Soon after his surrender, David was elected president of Louisiana State Seminary and re-opened it in October 1865 after It had been closed for more than two years because of the Red River invasion by Union forces. In 1869 the school, then located near Alexandria, burned. Following the fire, the school moved to Baton Rouge and was housed for several years near what is now the state capitol building. During the peroid from 1873 to 1877, the school survived solely by David's personal finances. An excerpt from his diary tells of the school's deplorable conditions: "July 23, 1874. This day finds our school in very bad condition, terribly in debt, ourselves so poor that we are in actual want—no money and no credit—and the impression pretty general throughout Louisiana that the University cannot long stand—if indeed it is already not broken up. The anxiety and care of this place is now very great,…with all the while the greatest difficulty to procure bare subsistence. We are using up now what we promised to pay for at the end of the month. We have not a dollar…in the treasury." The school's financial situation improved when the Agricultural and Mechanical College, then located in New Orleans, merged with LSU in 1877 and the name was changed to Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. In 1880 David was dismissed on a charge of mismanagement of funds. Four years later the same board recalled him and dismissed the charges, claiming they were false. During his second administration David secured the Baton Rouge military post as a campus. He realized that it would be impossible for the University to grow and develop without a home of its own. In 1884, he persuaded the state legislature to petition the U. S. congress to allow the university to use the abandoned army post near downtown Baton Rouge. In 1886, the year David resigned from his presidency, Congress granted his request. In 1902, three years after his death, Congress fulfilled David's earlier hopes and converted the loan of the barracks and grounds, with full title to the university. David, remembered as being a devoted southerner, nonetheless retained a deep affection for General Sherman. In an article titled "General W.T. Sherman as a College President," David wrote, "I am proud of my unique experience—a professor under Sherman and a soldier under Stonewall Jackson." Thomas, the fashion expert
This happened when the first short skirt appeared on campus in 1906. Coincidently, Thomas' daughter Annie was among the first 17 women admitted to LSU. In those days a "lady" did not show her ankles. So Thomas was given the task of deciding how long a co-ed's skirt must be. Thomas was the president from 1896 to 1927. He guided LSU in its transition from a military school into a true university. Although many fashion changes over the years conflicted with his standard of social ideals.
For example, when the abbreviated tracksuit first came into use he disapproved. The uniform he thought exposed too much skin. So LSU athletes produced many photographs and literature to prove that the school could not win unless it had the proper uniform. He relented, but only because LSU could not win without it. Thomas became familiar with LSU during the same time his older brother was a professor and later the president. He came to Louisiana State Seminary from 1868-1932, only to leave for eight years to be president of the Louisiana State Normal School in Natchitoches. He received a Master of Arts in 1872 and became an instructor the following year when the university was funded through David's finances. During those years, he continued teaching math, English, history, and commandant of cadets. During those years Thomas wrote, "At the opening of the session the University had to furnish its commandant with a respectable suit of outer clothing, and since then a few dollars for shoes and hats have enabled him to retain the extreme semblance of a gentleman; but I would not advise anyone to examine him too closely." Thomas became president in 1896, when the student body was 220 and there were 22 faculty members. LSU was housed in antiquated buildings of the Baton Rouge military post and received a yearly appropriation of $10,000. Thomas is remembered as being shy, yet persistent and persuasive. His achievements at LSU were staggering. His policy as Thomas stated was to, "Strive to give the people the sort of institution they need. If their representatives are unwilling to go that far, take what you can get and make it render the maximum service to the state." Under this policy, Thomas garnered many accomplishments while at LSU including:
After his death an editorial stated, "his contributions to (LSU's) physical growth and expansion, great as it as been, probably was less important than the spirit of the devotion and loyalty which characterized his long service." Their Legacy at LSU
Theodore C. Link completed both David and Thomas Boyd halls in 1924. David Boyd hall houses the Graduate School and the Office of Research and Graduate Studies while Thomas Boyd hall houses the Chancellor's office, Undergraduate Admissions, Records and Registration, and the Treasurer's office. In 1954, LSU Board of Supervisors established the Boyd Professorships in name of the Boyd brothers. The Boyd Professorship, the highest professorial rank awarded by the University, is given only to professors who have attained national or international distinction for outstanding teaching, research or other creative achievement. Contact LSU
University Relations Related Links History of Women |
During
the Civil War, LSU's second president, David Boyd, was captured
by "jayhawkers," sold to the federals, and released by
a famous Yankee general, who happened to be his former boss.
In the days before mini-skirts and shorts, the 5th president Thomas Boyd was called upon to be the fashion expert and dictate the proper length of the 
Although the Boyd brothers never stepped foot on the present location of LSU, they are remembered for their contributions to the university through building names and professorships. 
