This is the first of a three-volume history by Bill Guest of a major South African university founded as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg in 1909. Despite trying conditions, including two world wars, the university expanded, developed a second campus (Howard College) in Durban and became the University of Natal in 1949. This volume covers the Natal University College years from 1909 to 1949. It looks at the personalities, events and significant milestones in the early history of the university's two city campuses that helped shape its future role as one of the country's leading universities. The author draws extensively on the university archives of publications, reports, documents, reminiscences and minutes of meetings, recalling both the serious as well as the lighter side of campus life. An appendix lists all those who received degrees, diplomas and certificates from Natal University College before 1948.