The Tennessee Alumnus (USPS 016-952, ISSN 15216411), established in 1917, is published quarterly for the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association and distributed to contributors to the Annual Giving Program. Donors of $10 or more are eligible for a subscription.
Would you like to reach more than 66,000 University of Tennessee alumni with your commercial message four times a year? For the first time ever–through the pages of the respected Tennessee Alumnus magazine–you can. Your advertisement will reach UT’s premiere audience, its contributors. For more information, call or e-mail Diane Ballard at 865-974-5032 ().
Some interesting facts about the Tennessee Alumnus:
In 1917, the first issue of Tennessee Alumnus spilled off the press of Stubley Printing Company in Knoxville, Tennessee. The university’s alumni association had just undergone a rejuvenation of sorts and added as its new secretary L.R. Neel, a 1907 graduate. Neel doubled as editor of the fledgling book, which he sent to all 5,000 alumni with high hopes they would remit a $2 association membership fee/magazine subscription. Most were able to resist; some 500 paid the price and received the second issue.
Those inaugural issues were graphically subdued six by nine inch volumes with only four black and white photographs adorning their 24 pages.
In the 1920s, the magazine blossomed to tabloid newspaper dimensions for three years before retreating to traditional magazine format of approximately 8 ½ by 11 inches. Harry M. Watson, a 1927 graduate, became editor in 1928. At the helm of alumni activities during that era was Vic Davis, who remained until his death in 1948. By 1940, the alumni magazine was being sent to 1,500 paying alumni association members. World War II interrupted the normal collegial tone of the alumni magazine with accounts of combat and lists of war dead, prisoners of war, alumni decorated for valor, and those missing in action.
Succeeding Davis as alumni director was John Smartt, who oversaw publication of the Tennessee Alumnus. But a 1964 reorganization shifted responsibility for the magazine to the university’s public relations office, where it has remained. Neal O’Steen, a 1950 graduate, was named editor.
When the university system was formed in 1968, the Tennessee Alumnus – and the alumni association – became creatures of the system, not the Knoxville campus where they had their roots. The magazine began offering a range of feature articles representing all segments of UT.
Diane Ballard, a 1969 graduate, has been editor since Neal O’Steen’s retirement in 1986.
2007 Tennessee College Public Relations Association bronze award
Fall 2006 issue
2007 Tennessee College Public Relations Association silver award
”Of Crimes and Clues” by Amy Blakely
2007 Public Relations Society of America (Knoxville chapter) award of merit
“Back on Their Feet Again” by Amy Blakely
EDITOR: Diane Ballard ‘69
ART DIRECTOR: Chuck Thomas
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amy Blakely
PRODUCTION: Penny Brooks, Mary Marshburn ‘73
WEB: Darren Hughes
