“The Vanderbilt Banjo and Guitar Club“

By the 1890s, student organizations expanded from their traditionally academic roles to include entertainment and social activities, as exemplified by the Banjo and Guitar Club. Students also formed clubs for firearm competitions, gambling, photography, and civic engagement. In 1891, the first form of student government at Vanderbilt developed, with the West Side Court being established to arbitrate disputes between students living in the houses on the west side of campus.