The history of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign dates back to 1862. The University of Illinois 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.
Beginnings
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."Illini Years: A Picture History of the University of Illinois (1950). p.6" This phrase would engender controversy over the university's initial academic philosophies, polarizing the relationship between the people of Illinois and the university's first president, John Milton Gregory.Illini Years: A Picture History of the University of Illinois (1950). p.11" 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, Gregory's 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"Brichford, Maynard. (1983), A Brief History of the University of Illinois The university opened for classes on March 2, 1868, with two faculty members and 77 students.McGinty, Alice. "The Story of Champaign-Urbana" Champaign Public Library 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 university's inaugural address, as Dr. Newton Bateman outlined the various interpretations of the Morrill Act in his speech."Address of Dr. Newton Bateman" in "Some Founding Papers of the University of Illinois" (Urbana, 1967). p.17 Gregory's 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. Gregory's 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 grew slowly until 1909, when an increase in library resources created the University Library. Eventually, then University President Edmund J. James, in a speech to the board of trustees in 1912, proposed to create a research library on par with those at the great German academic institutions. He declared 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 school's 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 university's law school from 1903 to 1916. During this same time student run initiatives such as the campus paper The Daily Illini began in 1871.
Evolution of name University names Name 1867 Illinois Industrial University 1885 University of Illinois 1935 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2020 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign*Official name change where "Urbana" & "Champaign" were used in publications previously 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; "at" was dropped in the 21st century. However, the institution continues to be known as "the University of Illinois," or just "Illinois" in both the media and on many of UIUC's 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.
Growth and expansion
In the 1882 the College of Medicine was established. In the 1880s the institution experienced financial hardship which also resulted in the university changing names in 1885, from the 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 university's lands. Peabody's 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 Peabody's 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 broadened the university's offerings by adding schools of law, library science and medicine. In 1884, the university's first Native American student Carlos Montezuma (also known as Wassaja) graduates from the university.Marino, Cesare (1998). The Remarkable Carlo Gentile: Italian Photographer of the American Frontier. Nevada City, California: Carl Mautz Publishing. Wassaja is believed to be the first Native American ever to earn a Medical Degree in an American University.
Around 1889, enrollment, courses and departments increased. The agricultural (1888) and engineering Library and Information Science (1904) experiment stations brought public and national attention to the university's 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 university's architecture department. The building was originally the University Library."The History of Altgeld Hall" on the website of the Mathematics Department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
In 1899, Dean Eugene Davenport mobilized the state's 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.Solberg, Winton U. (2004) "Edmund Janes James Builds a Library: The University of Illinois Library, 1904-1920" Libraries & Culture 39(1)P: pp. 36-75, p. 67Solberg, Winton U. (2004) "Edmund Janes James Builds a Library: The University of Illinois Library, 1904-1920" Libraries & Culture 39(1)P: pp. 36-75, p. 37Mary Timmins, "Enter the Dragon" , Illinois Alumni Magazine December 15, 2011. 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 China's 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 Jame's presidency, class rivalries and Bob Zuppke's winning football teams contributed to campus morale. The Altgeld Chimes were installed in 1920 in the University Library's tower (Altgeld Hall Tower)
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 Kinley's 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. Willard's 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.
Post–World War II 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, which 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.