The Beginning (1908–1930)

  • The University Farm School Opens - 1908
    • The university farm school opens in Davisville, offering courses in farming to an opening class fifteen non-degree students and six degree students from the Berkeley campus. 
  • Picnic Day Begins - 1909
    • The first picnic day is held 
  • First Band Formed - 1922
    • E.H. Barger of the veterinary science department forms an 18-member band to perform ay football games, but interest in the band peters out during the last half of the decade - there just weren't many musicians to be found among the small, agriculturally oriented student body
  • The White Shirt Becomes Official Uniform - 1927
    • The white shirt becomes the official uniform of the student rooters at Aggie games. This decision is made because the white shirt is the only clothing item of the day that everyone owns. 
  • Concert Band is Offered for the First Time - 1929
    • Under Gittinger's direction, the campus offers Music 1: Concert Band for the first time. It is made up primarily of Aggie Bandsmen. 
  • J. Price Gittinger is Hired - 1929
    • An energetic young instructor, J. Price Gittinger, is hired to teach English and starts a music program on campus. He begins organizing a band to play at football games and promote Aggie spirt on campus. 15 men volunteer to join. The organization is the beginning of the Aggie Band. It adopts the white studnet rooter shirt as its uniform. The band first rehearses on September 15th, and first performs on September 29th at the Davis railroad station as the football team returns from a victory against Oregon State. In its early years, the did not march. 
  • Aggie Band Does Not Form - 1930
    • Due to a lack of interest, the Aggie Band does not form this year.