History of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Information

The history of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign dates back to 1862. U of I (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, University of Illinois, UIUC, or simply Illinois) is a public research-intensive university in the U.S. state of Illinois. A land-grant university, it is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system. The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign opened on March 2, 1868 and is the second oldest public university in the state (after Illinois State University), and is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference.

Established as one of 37 public land-grant institutions established after the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. The act was signed by Abraham Lincoln on July 2, 1862. The Morrill Act of 1862 granted each state in the United States a portion of land on which to establish a major public state university, one which could teach agriculture, mechanic arts, and military training, "without excluding other scientific and classical studies." This phrase would engender controversy over the Universitys initial academic philosophies, polarizing the relationship between the people of Illinois and the Universitys first president, John Milton Gregory. Illinois was one of seven commonwealths that had not formed a state university. The grant established eligibility for 480,000 acres of public scrip land valued at $600,000.

In 1867 the state established a university for the purpose of fostering access to higher education for the working people. After a bidding war between several cities, Urbana was selected in 1867 as the site for the new school. From the beginning, Gregorys desire to establish an institution firmly grounded in the liberal arts tradition, which was at odds with many State residents and lawmakers who wanted the university to offer classes based solely around "industrial education" The University opened for classes on March 2, 1868, with two faculty members and 77 students. This same year the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences and the College of Fine and Applied Arts (Then called the College of Literary Science) were established. This was then followed by The College of Engineering in 1868. The debate between the liberal arts curriculum and industrial education continued in the Universitys inaugural address, as Dr. Newton Bateman outlined the various interpretations of the Morrill Act in his speech. Gregorys thirteen-year tenure would be marred by this debate. Clashes between Gregory and legislators and lawmakers forced his resignation from his post as president in 1880, saying "[I am] staggering under too heavy a load of cares, and irritated by what has sometimes seemed as needless opposition." Nevertheless, Gregory is largely credited with establishing the University as it is today. Gregorys grave is on the Urbana campus, between Altgeld Hall and the Henry Administration Building. His headstone (mimicking the epitaph of British architect Christopher Wren) reads, "If you seek his monument, look about you."

The Library which opened with the school in 1868, started with 1,039 volumes and grows slowly until 1909, where an increase in library resources made the University Library. Eventually, the then University President Edmund J. James, in a speech to the board of trustees in 1912, proposes to create a research library on a par with those at the great German academic institutions. He states that the Library should accumulate "at least a million of books as rapidly as possible" and that the state "spend a million dollars to build a new building to house the collection." Today the University Library system is one of the largest in the nation.

In 1870 the Mumford House was constructed as a model farmhouse for the schools experimental farm. As of today, the Mumford House is the oldest structure on campus. Main University Hall, which was the 4th building built on the UIUC campus was built in 1871. The Original University Hall stood where the Union presently stands today. In 1877 Harker Hall was built and was known as the Chemical Laboratory Later the building was named in honor of Oliver A. Harker, who served as dean of the universitys law school from 1903 to 1916. During this same time student run initiatives such as the campus paper The Daily Illini began in 1871.

The original name in 1867 was "Illinois Industrial University." In 1885, the Illinois Industrial University officially changed its name to the University of Illinois, reflecting its holistic agricultural, mechanical, and liberal arts curricula. This remained the official name for 50 years, until it was changed to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1935. However, the institution continues to be known as "the University of Illinois", or just "Illinois" in both the media and on many of UIUCs web pages. Starting in 2008, the university began re-branding itself as "Illinois" rather than UIUC, changing the website and email addresses from uiuc.edu to Illinois.edu.

In the 1882 the College of Medicine was established. 1880s the institution experienced financial hardship which also resulted in the University changing names in 1885. In 1885, the University changed its name from then Illinois Industrial University to the University of Illinois. The name change was then to avoid confusion with schools for delinquents. Then president Selim H. Peabody struggled to maintain academic standards and sell the Universitys lands. Peabodys methods came under attack by then students and developing alumni groups. This resulted in 1891, the Board of Trustees forced him out of office.

In a three-year search after Peabodys removal the university offered the presidency to such people as Woodrow Wilson and Washington Gladden. In addition to the search the University began a period of rapid growth under the guidance of Acting Regent Thomas J. Burrill. Eventually Andrew S. Draper, was selected by the trustees. Draper also hired and broadened the Universitys offerings by adding schools of law, library science and medicine. In 1884, the Universitys first Native American student Carlos Montezuma (also known as Wassaja) graduates from the University.(pp22–31) Wassaja is believed to be the first Native American ever to earn a Medical Degree in an American University.(pp22–31)

Around 1889, enrollment, courses and departments increase. The agricultural (1888) and engineering Library and Information Science (1904) experiment stations brought public and national attention to the Universitys research interests. During this same time in 1893 the School of Library and Information Science was established followed by the College of Applied Health Sciences (1895) and College of Law (1897). Also, the now Altgeld Hall was built starting in 1896 was designed by Nathan Ricker and James McLaren White of the Universitys architecture department. The building was originally the University Library.

In 1899, Dean Eugene Davenport mobilized the states agricultural interests to put the College of Agriculture on firm footing with a $150,000 appropriation for a building. This resulted in the development of colleges. Eventually Draper returned to New York in 1904.

Edmund J. James became President in 1904. During his Presidency the now College of Education (1905), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (1913) and the College of Business (1915) were established. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was created through the merger of the College of Literature and Arts and the College of Science. James is credited for building the foundation of the large Chinese international student population on campus. James established ties with China through the Chinese Minister to the United States. James and Wu Ting-Fang and created a direct connection between China and the Urbana campus. James established the first office for foreign students in the United States. Between 1911 and 1920, the University of Illinois was educating a third of all the Chinese students in the United States. Some student alumni from Illinois later influenced Chinas development, including Coching Chu (class of 1913) who is known as "Father of Chinese Meteorology". Edward Y. Ying (class of 1939) was influential in the planning of modern Shanghai. H.Y. Moh (class of 1913) later became a cotton manufacturer and government minister. In addition, during James presidency, class rivalries and Bob Zuppkes winning football teams contributed to campus morale. The University Chime in the bell tower was installed in 1920 in the University Library (Altgeld Hall)

After James, administrator David Kinley served as president from 1920 to 1930. During this period of time, the University became known as one of the strongest fraternity campuses in the country. Prior to Kinley, Fraternity row was established in the early 1900s while sorority housing concentrated on John Street. The fraternity district moved southward towards Chalmers Street and most sororities moved to Urbana by the Greek house building boom in the 1920s. During Kinleys Presidency the now College of Media (1927) was established. On June 11, 1929, the Alma Mater statue was unveiled. The Alma Mater was established by donations by the Alumni Fund and the classes of 1923–1929. The statue was originally stood behind the Auditorium until moved to its current location on August 22, 1962

Presidents Harry Woodburn Chase followed in 1930 to 1933. During Chase Presidency the now School of Social Work was established in 1931. President Arthur Hill Daniels served from 1933 to 1934 Like many Universities, the economic depression slowed construction and expansion which was during President Arthur C. Willards term. Willard served from 1934 to 1946. Even though expansion was slow, the old University Hall began to collapse in 1938. The University replaced the original university hall with Gregory Hall and the Illini Union. Pieces of the original University hall were eventually made in the Hallene Gateway. The Illini Union was the first building devoted to social and service functions for students.

In the years following World War II, under president David Henry the university experienced rapid growth. The enrollment doubled and the academic standing improved. This included the creation of Willard Airport, It was completed in 1945 and began service in 1954.Willard Airport, named for former University of Illinois president Arthur Cutts Willard, is located in Savoy.

This period was also marked by large growth in the Graduate College and increased federal support of scientific and technological research. Whats more, during these times, the university experienced the turmoil common on many American campuses. Among these were the water fights of the fifties and sixties. The fights, also called water riots, began in 1957 and continued into the early sixties.

Leo Koch was a professor of biology at the university in the 1950s. His 1960 letter to the Daily Illini defending premarital sex provoked public outrage and prompted his firing from the university by President David Dodds Henry. Henry called the letter "offensive and repugnant." The UI Board of Trustees supported Henry, while the University of Illinois Senate voted to reprimand Koch but not to censure him. The firing and Kochs subsequent battle to be reinstated became a sensation in the press. Illinois was censured by the American Association of University Professors for the ouster.

In 1970s saw several progressive movements in serving various student groups such as Afro-American Studies Commission was established (1970), the University offering its first Womens Studies course (1970), University formed Office of Minority Student Affairs (1974), and La Casa Cultural Latina founded (1970). First official Quad Day was held in 1971 and the tradition still continues on the campus. WPGU-FM began stereo broadcasting and moved from Oglesby Hall to the new Century 21 buildings in 1972. Another impact (campus bar scene) on campus culture that still exists today began in 1976, when state law allowed 18-year-olds to drink beer and wine, The 1970s also saw several mentions to questioning of the use of Chief Illiniwek, such as an article, "A Challenge to the Chief," that appeared in the Illio (1975), calling for the removal of the Chief from University stationery. In addition, in 1978 three social work graduate students wrote a piece critical of Chief Illiniwek in The Daily Illini Forums. Another program that is still around since 1978 is the Student Organization Resource Fee (SORF) which is initiated to most various student groups and events on campus.

The campus gained national renown for its celebration of Earth Day 20 in 1990, organized by the Students for Environmental Concerns and led by Sophomore Jeremy Hayes. This three-day event mushroomed into the largest Earth-Day celebration in North America. Initially the 100+ member SECS student group hoped for 1000+ attendees but the event went viral and filled the Assembly Hall with 15,000+ attendees, with speakers from all over the country including Ralph Nader, Amory Lovins, several rock bands, and other national leaders. The Champaign County fairgrounds were filled by nationwide attendees (camping in tents) at this ground-breaking event.

In January 1998, President Bill Clinton visited the University of Illinois the day after making his State of the Union address before Congress. The campus airport gained some notoriety incident in which Air Force One became stuck in mud, requiring a backup aircraft to transport Clinton from a speaking engagement at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall. The Air Force dispatched backup aircraft SAM26000, which first entered service during the Kennedy Administration and would be retired later in 1998.

On October 8, 1998, the Hallene Gateway Plaza was funded through alumni Alan M. and Phyllis Welsh Hallene. The Plaza features the original sandstone portal of the New Main University Hall. After original University Halls deconstruction in the 1930s pieces were placed in storage until in 1994, it was rediscovered near maintenance sheds among "brush, raspberry brushes and small trees" and a backhoe had to be called in to help unearth it.

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