The Lamp in the Desert: The Story of the University of Arizona. by Martin, Douglas D - 1960.

Tucson, Arizona:: University of Arizona Press, 1960.. 1st Edition.. Hardbound . BINDING/CONDITION: red boards with blue cloth at the spine; gilt text and seals; the top edge tint is blue; owner's name in red on the reverse side of the front free endpaper, otherwise a Very Good+ book, with a Good+ dust jacket.. 8vo (9.25 inches tall) . Appendices, bibliography, index. Photo endpapers. Description: Several black and white illustrations. The publisher's blurb reads: ''Arizona Territory, 1864 -- no public schools, courthouses, stage, or telegraph lines. Governor Goodwin said 'build schools.' The setters' answer was simple, and honest 'We cannot build schools and fight Apaches at the same time.' The 1864 constitution for a University did not result in a working school for nearly 30 years. Finally in 1885, the 'Thieving Thirteenth' Legislature had booty to distribute -- the capital to Prescott, the Insane Asylum to Phoenix, the University - which nobody else wanted -- to Tucson. Tucson didn't want it either -- almost lost it by indifference Then two gamblers and a saloon keeper gave 40 acres of desert for a building site. Five years and countless political skirmishes later, 'Old Main' opened its doors with six teachers, no books, and 32 students. Doug Martins' story brings the frontier school through 75 years and 16 presidents.''