The Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, an integral part of the University of Oklahoma, recognizes the universal language of the arts and its crucial role in creating and sustaining a vibrant, culturally diverse environment. The College is committed to a standard of excellence in the fine arts encompassing the University’s mandate for teaching, research/creative activity, and service. The faculty, staff and students are dedicated to the promotion of the arts within the state of Oklahoma, the nation, and the international community.
Associate Professor of Painting Jason Cytacki instructing
students in the OU School of Visual Arts.
The first courses in fine arts at the University of Oklahoma were given in what was then called the Musical Department, later renamed the School of Music in 1899.
The addition of courses in painting, drawing, oratory, and dramatic work dictated a change of name to the School of Fine Arts.
The Auditorium (known today as Holmberg Hall) was built. It is one of Oklahoma's most historic buildings and one of the university's key educational and community facilities.
• The College of Fine Arts was established. Previously known as the School of Fine Arts, it would be the fourth college founded at the university.
• The then known as School of Painting and Design was begun. The school saw several name changes throughout the years, until 2016 when it was named what we now call the OU School of Visual Arts.
• The dramatic training program, which was begun during the early part of the century, was officially named the School of Drama. In 2011, it was renamed the Peggy V. Dow Helmerich School of Drama in honor of Peggy Dow Helmerich, to recognize her outstanding career as an actress and the generous support provided by Mrs. Helmerich and her husband, OU alumnus Walter H. Helmerich III.
The Auditorium was renamed Holmberg Hall after Fredrick Holmberg, professor of music and the first Dean of the College of Fine Arts.
The Department of Dance was established by Miguel Terekhov and Yvonne Chouteau. It was later named the School of Dance in 1998.
The Musical Theatre Program was begun within the School of Drama, later becoming the college's fifth school in 2009.
Holmberg Hall renovations began. Construction also included the creation of the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center and a new 18,000–square-foot facility for the School of Dance.
The college was renamed the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts in honor of the Weitzenhoffer family, which has given extraordinary support to the college as well as to many areas of the university.
Established as the College of Fine Arts in 1924, the fourth college founded at the university, the college was renamed the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts in 2004 in honor of the Weitzenhoffer family, which has given extraordinary support to the college as well as to every area of the university.
The gift of the Weitzenhoffer Collection moved OU’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art into the forefront of university affiliated art galleries. The gift also provided the University with a new vision for the museum facility.
In the fall of 1998, Max Weitzenhoffer pledged $5 million to the support of the Musical Theatre program, which endowed faculty positions, student scholarships and professional and instructional development to nurture their talents, improve facilities and to enhance productions. In 2009, the program was named the A. Max Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre.
When Fredrik Holmberg got off the train in Norman, Oklahoma, from Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1903, he looked around for the tallest buildings he could find and headed toward them. Not until he stopped and talked to someone on the "campus" did Holmberg realize he had mistaken the mental hospital for the University of Oklahoma. Clutching his violin (his favorite instrument) under one arm, he walked a mile and a half back through town in a storm of red dust before finding the real campus, which he said later was not nearly as impressive as the first.
Discouraged by the barren plain and ready to catch the next train north, Holmberg instead kept his appointment with David Ross Boyd. The OU president "had a way of giving one an optimistic outlook," Holmberg wrote, and after their initial encounter, the music professor from Bethany College decided to stay. Within his first six weeks, he organized a men’s glee club, a women’s glee club, an oratoria chorus, a band and an orchestra.
For the next 30 years, Holmberg never stopped working for the University and its students. He was a tireless advocate for fine arts education, not only at OU, but around the state as well. He often would take his show on the road, giving concerts and plays in out-of-town venues and always encouraging the local high school students to consider OU after graduation.
Donald Worthington Reynolds was an Oklahoma native spending his childhood in Oklahoma City. It was there the young Reynolds first began working in the newspaper industry – an industry he would eventually dominate.
Some of Reynolds earliest business investments included the Okmulgee (Oklahoma) Daily Times and the Southwest (Arkansas Times Record), which launched Donrey Media Group. Oklahoma continued to play a pivotal role in the success of Donrey Media Group as Reynolds acquired 16 newspaper properties in the Sooner state throughout the company’s 53 years of operation.
Throughout his life Mr. Reynolds continually expanded his business enterprise, ultimately owning over 100 businesses in the newspaper, radio, television, cable television and outdoor advertising industries. His sharp business acumen focused on businesses located in small, but growth-oriented communities.
Upon his death in 1993, the Donrey Media Group, one of the nation’s largest privately held media companies was sold. A substantial bequest from Mr. Reynolds’ estate provided the endowment for the charitable foundation which he had created in 1954 – the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
It was from this foundation that a multi-million dollar grant was awarded in 2001 to restore historic Holmberg Hall to its original grandeur.
