378.77359 U6U 2 Northern Illinois Stole College I89S University of Illinois 1867 Eastern Illinois State College 189S Southern Illinois University 1869 ^ewtennial ^Jea/i 495J MARKING THE FOUNDING OF ILLINOIS STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY AND THE START OF STATE- SUPPORTED HIGHER EDUCATION IN ILLINOIS ^dp. 1 8, 1 857, Governor William H. Bissell signed the legislative act establishing Illinois State Normal University as the irst state supported institution of higher education in Illinois. Gov- ernor William G. Stratton is shown to the right as he signed the legislative act providing an appropriation for observing the University's Centennial 1 00 years later. ^^ \ ^it 5S7 w K "m\ ^F A. Members of the State Teachers College Board shown above govern not only Illinois State Normal University but the Eastern Illinois State College, Northern Illinois State College, and Western Illinois State College. Standing from left to right they include: William E. Reed, Alexander Summers, Royal A. Stipes, Jr., J. A. Houle, Jr., Chauncey B. Watson, Sr., Carl Dunbar, and Clarence Ropp. Seated from left to right they are: Vernon L. Nickell, Morton H. Hollingsworth, Lewis M. Walker (chairman), and Mrs. Harriet Lowden Madlener. MUM HISTORICAL SURVEY 37?. 7734"? Tuvv * }r On October 5, 1857, nineteen students met in Major's Hall, a rented building in Bloomington, for the first day of classes at Illinois State Normal University. President Charles E. Hovey was assisted in the teaching by Ira Moore and, a few weeks later, they were joined by Charlton T. Lewis. Before the end of the first term, the Model School for the primary grades had been opened with the capable Miss Mary Brooks as teacher. Thus, a university to educate teachers finally became a reality. Illinois State Normal University was the first state-supported institution of higher learning in Illinois as well as the second state normal west of the Alleghenies. As early as the 1830's, voices had been raised requesting the establishment of a state-supported normal school. The 1848 Constitution of Illinois gave added impetus to this movement by providing for free public schools. Those concerned with schools and teaching felt that Illinois needed to do more in education; and some interested persons met in Bloomington on December 26-28, 1853, to organize the Teachers' Institute, which later became the Illinois State Teachers' Association. At that organ- ization meeting, a vigorously endorsed resolution called for the establishment of a normal school to prepare teachers for the public schools of Illinois. Leaders in keeping this idea before the public were such able men as Jonathan B. Turner, Simeon Wright, Newton Bateman, and Samuel Moulton as well as Daniel Wilkins, Ninian Edwards, and William Powell. Three years later in the winter of 1856 and 1857, Moulton engineered a bill creating Illinois State Normal University through the state legislature; and, on February 18, 1857, Governor William H. Bissell signed the act establishing the University. The act provided for a committee to choose a site and a principal. Largely because of the efforts of Jesse Fell, the site chosen was McLean County and the first principal was Charles E. Hovey, then superintendent of the Peoria Schools. President Hovey, with the aid Jonathan B. Turner Jesse Fell Simeon Wright Fells, the Holders, Moulton, Powell, Rex, Denio and others, money for the first building. On September 29, 1857, the cornerstone was laid for that building on about sixty acres of land that had been donated by Joseph Payne and Meschack Pike. The first class to graduate — with ten members in 1860 — held its exercises in the almost completed four-story building, known through the century as Old Main. Illinois State Normal University rapidly became the leading institution for teacher education in the Midwest. Educators watched its curricular experiments and development, and they saw its graduates and staff assume important positions in schools and colleges throughout the country. The growth of the University has been continuous. In 1857-1858, there were 127 students and pupils, six teachers, about ninety-six acres of land, two floors of rented classroom space, and the partially constructed first building, Old Main. In 1956-1957, there were 4,868 students and pupils, 286 teachers, twenty-five major buildings includ- ing a library with 178,912 volumes and a student union building, a sixty-eight acre main campus, and a 192-acre farm with a complement of twelve buildings. The visions, dreams, and hopes of the founding fathers and early teachers of Illinois State Normal University have surely been fulfilled and probably fulfilled beyond their expectations. As the University begins its second century, it faces the challenge of preparing teachers for a state that has nearly doubled its pupil enrollment during the past decade. It faces also the challenge of preparing teachers to instruct the pupils for a fabulous future, a future of jet speed, atomic power, solar energy, and TV miracles. It must also prepare teachers who are patient, able, and thoughtful. In them, the scientific and technological skills must be blended with the knowledge of the social sciences and the spirit and feeling of the humanities. In facing this challenge, the teachers, administrators and Board members of Illinois State Normal University stand confidently beside the founding fathers and the faithful teachers of the past century. Samuel Moulton Miss Mary Brooks Newton Bateman Illinois State Normal University has had nine presidents during the past century. Shown from left to right they include: top row— Charles E. Hovey (1857-1862); Richard Edwards (1 862-1 876); Edwin C. Hewett (1 876-1 890); center row- John W. Cook (1890-1899); Arnold Tompkins (1899-1900); David Felmley (1900-1930); bottom row— Harry A. Brown (1930-1933); Raymond W. Fair- child (1933-1955), and Robert G. Bone (1956- ). The University also has had three acting presidents during the past century. Shown from left to right below they include: Perkins Bass (1861-1862); H. H. Schroeder (1930 and 1933), and Arthur H. Larsen (1950, 1954-1956). 3$aAliaAfo c£TDewte'i Note: There are numerous other events scheduled and some for which dates are pending. JANUARY 1 2 7 Opening of Centennial Year Release of Centennial History Reprinting of First Edition of Vidette FEBRUARY 12 18 Dedication of Lincoln Memorial Centennial of Legislative Act Establishing ISNU; Founders' Day Banquet MARCH 2 8 9 18 State Convention of Student Branch of the Association of Childhood Education "Century of the Dance"— Orchesis School Public Relations Conference An Exhibition of One Hundred Years of Painting (March 18 through April 5) APRIL 5-6 6 13 26-27 29 Convention of Illinois Teachers of English Tenth Mathematics Conference Illinois Future Teachers of America Convention; Meeting of Illinois Academy of Science (Junior) Convention of Illinois Association of Supervisors and Directors of Curriculum Centennial College Day MAY 2-4 10-11 15 18 24-25 Meeting of Illinois Academy of Science Meeting of Illinois Section of Mathematical Association of America Centennial Honors Day Dedication of Student Union Centennial Pageant Drama (In case of rain, May 31 and June 1 are alternate dates.) . wwt4 ^ea/i ^a/enda/t a*. JUNE 7 7-8 12-14 17 25-27 I and qladlu j^B mould h* I'orn ^B> <«V and qladlu; ^ "^Bleach. University High School Graduation Class Reunions Alumni Luncheon; Graduation of Centennial Class Meeting of State Board of Managers, Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers Opening of Summer Session; Start of Round-the-World Geography Field Survey Social Science Conference JULY 7-17 15-18 16-18 Paul Christiansen Choral School Summer Session Educational Conference Summer Session Educational Exhibit AUGUST 5 9 12 22-24 Convention of Illinois Association of Student Councils- Summer Session Commencement Opening of Post Session Convention of Homemakers of Illinois SEPTEMBER 13 16 Beginning of Second Century Classwork Dedication of Schroeder Hall and Metcalf Building OCTOBER 4 11-12 13-15 17-20 Inauguration of Dr. Robert G. Bone as Ninth President Meeting of Illinois Historical Society Meeting of North Central Association of Junior Colleges Centennial Homecoming NOVEMBER 8-9 10-16 12 17-22 Meeting of Illinois Speech Association Commemoration of American Education Week Anniversary of Founding of First College YWCA at ISNU Religious Emphasis Week DECEMBER 7 26-28 31 Twenty-fifth Administrative Round-Up Convention of Illinois Education Association End of Centennial Year J860 J862 J865 4872 J876 J882 4887 4888 J890 t creating ISNU (February 18) is signed. Bloomington is chosen as site (May 7). PRESIDENT HOVEY (1857-1861) Cornerstone of Old Main is laid (September 29). First classes open in Major's Hall (October 5). Model School opens under Mary Brooks (Wiley) (Novem- ber 2). First class graduates in unfinished building (June 29). Old Main is dedicated (January 24). Hovey recruits "Schoolmasters' Regiment" and leaves for Civil War (August). ACTING PRESIDENT BASS (1861-1862) High school classes begin in Model School. J. G. Howell (first graduate, second principal of Model School) is killed in Civil War (February 15). PRESIDENT EDWARDS (1862-1876) Edwards appeals for dormitories and a gymnasium. North Bloomington becomes Normal (March 4). Jesse Fell as Board member improves campus plans. Men students organize a YMCA. Right of all youth regardless of race or creed to attend ISNU is established. Lida Brown (McMurry) and students organize first college YWCA (November 12). Mrs. Martha Green Haynie becomes first woman named a full professor. PRESIDENT HEWETT (1876-1890) Quarter-Century Anniversary Celebration is held (August 24-25). ISNU becomes The Herbartian Center of America 1887- 1900. (DeGarmo, the McMurry's, Van Liew, and others) The first recorded football game shows ISNU defeated Wesleyan — 12 to 4. First Vidette is published. Ange. Vernon Milner becomes first librarian. PRESIDENT COOK (1890-1899) V^O«^«^ The first Index is published. J893 Plans for student center are dropped due to financial panic. fflibfoyiicat &a/e& JK ( )J Fortieth Anniversary Celebration is held (June 22-23), with all four ISNU presidents participating. New Buildings: North Hall (1892), Cook Hall (1896) PRESIDENT TOMPKINS (1899-1900) •y c)Cr9 Reorganization of curriculum is started. PRESIDENT FELMLEY (1900-1930) 'J tr\J / Semi-Centennial Celebration is held. Jf)OS First bachelor's degrees are conferred. J9J2 Alumni Association is reorganized; first Alumni Quarterly, published. J.9JJ ISNU offers first extension classes. 4947=48 ISNU cooperates in defense and training program. J92J First Homecoming is observed. New Buildings: Industrial Arts (1909), Metcalf Building (1912). Fell Hall (dormitory) 1918, McCormick Gym- nasium (1925), Felmley Hall of Science (1930) ACTING PRESIDENT SCHROEDER (1930) PRESIDENT BROWN (1930-1933) y j 93s£ Bureau of Appointments is organized. ACTING PRESIDENT SCHROEDER (1933) PRESIDENT FAIRCHILD (1933-1954) 4933 ISNU holds first Administrative Round-Up (December 1) . County Contact plan is inaugurated. J. ( )>J4 Radio broadcasting begins. 4943 First U. S. Navy unit arrives. 4945 First master's degree is conferred. New Buildings: Smith Hall (1938), Home Management Houses (1939), Milner Library (1940), Cardinal Court (1947), Administration Building (1950), Fairchild Hall of Special Education (1951), Barton Hall (1951), Dunn Hall (1951) ACTING PRESIDENT LARSEN (1950, 1954-1956) 4955 New Buildings: Walker Hall (1955), Start of Student Union with Funds from Alumni, Friends, Faculty, and Students PRESIDENT BONE (1956- ) 4 95 O Centennial History, Grandest of Enterprises, is published. New Buildings: Student Union (1956), New Metcalf Building and Schroeder Hall Under Construction 4957 THE CENTENNIAL YEAR Old Main, above, built during 1 857-1 860, appears in its origi- nal splendor. Still in use today as a classroom center, Old Main contrasts sharply with the new Student Union, right, constructed as a major project of the Centen- nial. The Union was financed by student fees without tax money on a bond revenue basis and by contributions from some 2,300 donors. Tp*'- *ur The recenf airview taken from the west shows the 68-acre campus but not the University Farm of 192 acres. In the foreground is Walker Hall, the most re- cently completed campus residence for students. To the left is the Fairchild Hall of Special Education as well as the new Metcalf Building under construction. >* t - . •V *? ** 'k*5*;> * S* *=!!=** II »' 71 N ^gp*-i~- _. . _ ■ - ^' Ef°*" HlfMOKin **. ■•> ^H ^H ^H ^B Mes s age _ In b ehal en- itt f ee of th, °ent ( 4 ^e ',-? L«On. tffi«M« ATo 'tud ent 'taff genu ^arij] Cent ask the Prog r ^al Un rl of Ul and thi red me Wei ive greet mo com e t f sit y, is we Pres Stat. thi ent e *nial Year ^ you foil r h« ive -ens ram, 'ip rsit y ar. in We from du ext end th each: es wh 'St ich emmx ace impi Cent ea and f in g"th« r ne s ement tly ent enniai s th: «g *«« theT^ f ^ thf e f Ait ur e Pres Ch Ex ris a ecut ent DeY, fo rmi Past ng lv e s e oung flob th * CeZu^Fy Pre er t G. enniai of sid ent Born ISNU A good educatioi consists in givin J to the body an< to the soul all the beauty and all the perfection of which they are capable. Plato ' »Ti» .»/ - . . .ATA*.*i ^ - . . %TA»r> .. A _ « V»A'«"#. _ a . »v% T A'«»A