In a real sense there has been a University of Texas System since the beginning of The University of Texas on September 15, 1883. At that time the main university at Austin and the Medical Branch at Galveston were under the authority of the Board of Regents. Over the years, other branches and components were added to the system. . . 1881 Texas voters locate the main university in Austin and the medical branch in Galveston .
Classes begin in Austin.
The Galveston campus opens. The institution now known as UT El Paso is created by the UT Board of Regents. The institution now known as M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is created by the Legislature under the authority of the Board of Regents. The UT Dental Branch in Houston comes under the authority of the Board of Regents. The institution now known as UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas was established by the Legislature under the authority of the Board of Regents.