A day in the life at the University of Pretoria. 05 September 1944

5 September 1944: Senate announced that Spring day will be a University holiday. In a letter to the Student Council (pictured below) on this “Day in the life of the University of Pretoria UP’s management stated that they will adhere to the student’s request and grant them the official holiday every year. This exempted student from attending lectures on Spring day and enabled them to join in the university festivities.

1944 Student Council © University of Pretoria Archives

Spring day had originally been associated with the laying of the foundation stone of the Old Arts Building on 3 August 1910 (construction pictured featured below). The first Spring day festivities included a college ball, a play and, ultimately, a church service.

Building the Old Arts 1909 © University of Pretoria Archives

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