Photograph of the original Behrens Chapel building at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, before it burned down in 1957. Shows three-quarter view of the brick building from across the street, with trees and shrubs planted near the walls visible. Handwritten note on the back of the map in black ink reads, “Chapel building prior to Behrens Chapel that burned.”

Photograph of Smith Hall, previously called the Girls Industrial Home, at Hardin-Simmons University. A female student can be seen reading on the front steps of the building.

Photograph of Smith Hall, previously called the Girls Industrial Home, at Hardin-Simmons University. A female student can be seen reading on the front steps of the building.

Photograph of Smith Hall, previously called the Girls Industrial Home, at Hardin-Simmons University. A female student can be seen reading on the front steps of the building.

Photograph of the women’s dormitory Smith Hall, previously called the Girls Industrial Home, at Hardin-Simmons University. A female student can be seen reading on the front steps of the building. In the margin, the building has been described as a “Hall for Women.”

Photograph of Omar Burleson, Elwin Skiles, and Fess Parker at the Achievement Celebration St. Dedication Ceremony. A man stands behind a microphone with a “KRBC” banner.

Photograph of the 1959 Hardin-Simmons University Board of Trustees at a meeting. The photo shows the trustees eating at a table in front of a wooden podium.

Photograph of men and woman on the gym floor and bleachers at a basketball game. Women on the bleachers, left to right: Gretchen Cordell -- ? -- ? -- Patsy Kirby, Phyllis Jeffries, Welch Twins (Juanite/Annita). Front, center: Melvin Cunningham. Front, left: tentatively identified as Paul Hinds.

Group photograph of Hardin-Simmons University trustees on the steps of a building in 1959. Below the photograph is a list of names of the trustees pictured by row and those not present.

Photograph of a Hardin-Simmons University vs. University of Wichita Kansas homecoming football game. Players engage in play on the field, and it appears to be nighttime.

Photograph of one long table in the private dining room of the Hardin-Simmons University cafeteria. The back wall is wallpapered with a repeating scene of a mansion surrounded by willows. Note in pencil on the back of the photo reads, "Private dining room of HSU cafeteria -- 1958-59."

Photograph of a Hardin-Simmons University student sleeping in class. The young man sits in a school desk with his right hand propped beneath his chin, supporting his head, and his eyes closed. A note in pencil above the photograph reads, “Welch, 1960 about.”

Photograph of faculty, staff, and students having a meal at tables in the Hardin-Simmons University dining hall. The food line can be seen at the back of the room.

Public relations portrait of Ken “Model A” Ford (’58) posed with a football. He wears a number 10 jersey and full pads.

Photograph of the original Behrens Chapel on fire at Hardin-Simmons University. The photo shows a large cloud of smoke coming from the rear of the building, behind Caldwell Hall.

Photograph of the original Behrens Chapel on fire, showing a large crowd of onlookers watching as firefighters attempt to put out the fire with fire hoses. A fire truck can be seen parked in to grass, with a firefighter climbing up the ladder to the roof of the building.

Photograph of students sitting in auditorium seats to listen to W. F. Leonard during his speech. Handwritten note on the back of the photo reads, "Picture made Feb 27 - Hardin-Simmons -- W. F. Leonard speaking at Chapel program. -- 1957."

Photograph of the original Behrens Chapel after the fire, showing what was left of the building. The interior of the first and second story as well as rubble can be seen in the photo.

Photograph of the Behrens Chapel demolition after the fire, showing stacks of bricks with the burnt building in the background. Handwritten note on the back of the photo, "Demolition of old Behrens Chapel after fire -- 1957."

Photograph of firefighters attempting to put out the Behrens Chapel fire. Groups of firefighters are manning two fire hoses and aiming the stream of water at the building.

Photograph of the Behrens Chapel fire taken from between two other Hardin-Simmons University buildings and a parking lot. Flames and a large cloud of black smoke can be seen coming from the roof of the chapel.

Photograph of firefighters pointing hoses into the windows of Behrens Chapel to put out the fire.

Photograph of the original Behrens Chapel on fire, showing a large crowd of onlookers watching as firefighters attempt to put out the fire with fire hoses. A car can be seen parked on the street from where the photographer is taken the picture.

Photograph of the Behrens Chapel fire at Hardin-Simmons University, showing fire trucks parked along the street and firefighters unrolling fire hoses.