Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

Page 18 text:

Readin , ' ritin ' , and ' rithmetic — and whittling were naluded nj tin Iiai: versit ' ' s infant years. Stationary desks, adorned with fanc ironwork, wer Hard, straight backed chairs offered litde incentive for rekixation. S( h(Hil prograni during the Uni- Lonxentional cUrssrooni furniture. Sunday evening meetings in Wrightonian Hall furnished students and townspeople with essays and orations. Located on the now-removed fourth floor of Old Main, this second society hall was adorned widi elaborate carpeting, rich curt, tins, ni.l tv, s, .1, A wA]- 14

Page 17 text:

' Education . . . the grandest of enterprises ' Art students used stereoscopes and drafting equipment to gain Gaslight fixtures are apparent in the upper righthand corner. working knowledge of perspective drawings. President Edwards was recognized as a public speaker of great power, an inspiring teacher, and an uncompromising idealist. His crusade for increased academic training marked him as the most successful exponent of the tlieory of normal schools in America. Perhaps President Edwards ' outstanding achieve- ment may be found in his role as the first president of two normal schools — one at Salem, Massachusetts, the other at St. Louis, Missouri — and as second president of ISNU. In reality, Dr. Edwards was the second principal and first president of ISNU, because the latter term was not applied to the top-office position unHl 1866. It was a status quo curriculum during the 14-year Edwards administration, with only six standard cate- gories of subjects incorporated in the early catalogs. These embraced language arts, criticism, higher mathematics, philosophy, vocal music, didactics, edu- cation methods, and optional studies. Left: Mary Brooks, first teacher of the ISNU Model School, originally taught under Presi- dent Hovey in the Peoria school system. She resigned her ISNU position after three years ' service in Major ' s Hall to become Mrs. James Wiley. An illness caused her un- expected death in 1868. Right: Henry McCormick, an Irish immi- grant, served at ISNU for almost fort ' ears. Upon graduation from ISNU in 1868, Dr. McCormick became principal of the Normal Public School system. He joined the Uni- versity staff in 1869 as instructor of geogra- phy and later advanced to the position of vice president.

Page 19 text:

Political issues in regard to abolition and temperance sprouted in education circles, as well as other phases of life during the Civil War era. When, in 1876, Presi- dent Edwards was nominated for Congress, he de- clined the honor, realizing fully his inability to carry out the desires of some Illinois Southern sympathizers. He was a strong fighter for the Northern cause and obtained permission from the State Board of Educa- tion to admit persons, regardless of race or creed, to the University after 1872. The town of Normal received its charter during the prosperous years from 1865-1880. An irregular feature of the franchise stipulated that no intoxicating liquors were to be sold within town boundaries. -A. street car line, e.xtending from downtown Bloomington to Old Main, providing transportation facilities for com- OH ' i iiiipii Ininu was experienced li all l.sM wtnncii cational housing (.lubs were an integral part ot the olt- the erection of Fell Hall in 1918. Co-edu- boarding program until tlie late 1880 ' s. muting students. Although co-educational housing was the rule rather than the exception until 1880, both sexes complied with strict curfew and study hours. In the course of his distinguished career, President Edwards attained the goal of being the country ' s foremost educator. He presided over the American Normal School Association, led the Illinois State Teachers ' Association, and became State Superintend- ent of Public Instruction for a one-year term in 1887. Before liis resignation at ISNU in January, 1876, the noted educator had received a call to no less than 22 normals, 13 denominational colleges, and three state Universities. Prior to his death in 1908, Richard Edwards ser ed for one year as the president of Blackburn College. 15