Illinois College of Optometry - Annual Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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It it 'K ...- 'x -'33, 245'- N w :Hit , N ,iqfgipw - 44 'lm 1' -6 iiwishfm v. u ' M Ag I., vi- W - Mu. li . I 3 N The first optometric institution, the Needles Institute of Optometry, was ' founded by Dr. William Bray Needles in Kansas City. After purchasing the 71 Northern Illinois College in 1922, he attempted to upgrade the curriculum. It was possible to attain the degree of Doctor of Optometry . following completion of a 2-year program. -5' In 1926 the Northern Illinois College of Ophthalmology and Otology and the Needles Institute of Optometry consolidated into the Northern I Illinois College of Optometry. Located at Drexel Boulevard, the 12,000 square foot facility included nine lecture rooms and ten examination rooms. It was the largest optometric institution in the country and concurrently tuition was increased to S225 per year. Having become a non-profit institution in 1927, the curriculum was expanded to a 3-year program. In 1938 the Northern Illinois College of Optometry was expanded to a 4-year program and became accredited by the AOA's Council on Optometric Education. During the same year, the Monroe College of Optometry at Adams and Wabash was founded. It offered a 4-year program leading to a Doctor of Optometry degree, and was open to high school graduates. However, it was necessary in 1942 to consolidate the 4-year course into a 2-year course with summer sessions to comply with the war effort. ,,,,,,,w,,wwv ' 7

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2 5 sw rr, 2 sf I A Memorable Heritage ' ICO boasts a rich and memorable heritage: that ' ' K - 5? of 112 years of clinical service to the Optometric x 1 profession, Dr, Henry Olin, an ocularist and aurist founded the Chicago College of Opthalmology and Otology in 1872 before Optometry even became an independent entity. Located at 240 W. Madison St., the college admitted physicians wishing to specialize in these disciplines. The college was renamed the Northern lllinois College of Ophthalmology and Otology in 1891, moved to the Masonic Temple Building at 159 N. State St., and offered a 10-week correspondence course for physicians. It wasn't until 1898 that refracting opticians gained entry to the college. Dispensing opticians, in those days, filled the ocularists' prescriptionsg X refracting opticians concerned themselves with '- conducting vision examinations and dispensing ' glasses lOtology was no longer offeredi. xx A S25 tuition fee in 1907 permitted a student to complete a 6-week correspondence course or a 4- week classroom course after which the degree of Dr. of Optics would be conferred. Upon the I ,J completion of two additional weeks of classroom 9 l l study the Bachelor of Ophthalmology degree 9 would be awarded. 1 . J ' Northern Illinois College of Ophthalmologiy Practical Courws in Optometry For izaiormariou addreui Northern Illinois Folie-KP of Ophlhnlrrinloky nm! Uinlnlp Masonic- Temple- :: 1.1114-B10 ln

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:lr 'Zf ln 1948 the Monroe College became the Chicago College of Optometry with facilities located in the Lincoln Park area and clinics in the Loop and South side. It offered a 4- year program of pre-optometry and professional study with a fixed tuition of S640 per year. In 1955, because of administrative and financial difficulties a merger between NICO and CCO was formed, and the lllinois College of Optometry was born! Dr. Glenn Moore of NICO became the first chairman of the ICO Board of Trustees. Dr. E. Strawn of CCO became the first ICO president, and Dr. E. R. Tennant served as clinic director. One year later, Dr. Alfred A, Rosenbloom was appointed Dean and initiated an extensive institutional reorganization. His efforts resulted in a 4-year professional curriculum by 1967 with subsequent accredidation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary schools. Ze! -' il 45 l- I 4- as milf N i ffgigl! . ,, I :Lf:'t:x--. ' -, ,'-aff.. .f ,rtrufl EE V Te' ' W 4 ' 'B'-2 lllll' till. Q ai' 'wel I , ' , Lg.g..,i i',S'lfiE:QG eksgqtfqy 'x'-i AV'l' 'S'--'A lilrfml' ww H it ntl lls. - 1,1militiatls..ff,7i1i2!a1:'iiY1.