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

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History of the I. S. N. U. , , XXX ,X BRIEF history of an institution whose power for good has reached every -1t't state in the Union should be of interest to every one in any Way con' nected with it. Hoping that those who may chance to read this may if, have their interest in a noble institution enhanced. we think it fitting . 1 MX N to prepare a brief statement of facts concerning the past life of the F X Illinois State Normal University. VD The teachers of the state in the early titties began agitating the question of a State Normal School, but it not until lH57 that the state legislature became in- terested in the movement. In February, WBT, the legislature passed, and Gov. Bissell approved 'tAn act for the establishment and maintenance of a Normal University. There were two reasons why the school was called a university. It received the income of a fund that Was set apart for a University: and it was also thought that other departments Would be added to the normal, thus constituting a real university. The act provided for a board of education to which was given power to locate the Normal University at a place, not objectionable.where the people would make the largest gifts. May T, IHBT. the Board met at Peoria to receive bids and decide upon the location. There were several competitors, but the principle ones were Peoria and Bloomington. The buildings were to be erected from funds donoted. McLean county gave 370,000 in

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.2wGBoard of Education of the State of Illinois 665 HON. XVILLIAM H. LJHICICN. titiru. Presidcllt. HHN. S. M. INWQLIS. Ex-Ulticiu Mc-luher and St'A1't,'I.lT'Y. ENOCH A. 19AS'1'MAN, 17f.'l'lltLll'. HON. M.X'l'Hl'lW P. IZILXIJY. Vhivagw. HON. EDWARD ID1jnQr1'lCY. Pittxrield. XVM. H. I I'1'ZHER.xLD. Vhiczxgw. MRS. ELLA F. YOUNG, tjtniumgu. FOKICEST F. Cuwli, thlly-slmrg. PELIfIl,l R. XVALKICH, ICm'ktw1'4l. HON. E. R IC. K1.MHROI,f15I1, 17LiI1Yi1lf.'. CHARLIGS 1. PARKER. l'l1il'dp1H. JACOB L. HAILICY. M4 n'4t mlm, M. E. PLAIN. gXL1I'H1'l1. CHARLES L. CAPEN. lgllllllllillgllfll. CHARLES S. THORNTON. Chivalgw. FRANK D. MARQUIS. lilnulnillgtrm. '1'1'CZls1l1'Cl'.

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The lndex. I3 swamp landsf' and citizens gave about as much more, thus making Bloomingtons otter exceed that of Peoria's about StlO.HUlfl The corner-stone of the building was laid September ffl, 1HTiT. with appropriate ceremonies, presided over by the late Hon. A. .l. Merriman. lVhat is now the beautiful campus, was then a corn tield, with neither tree nor shrub. In this book we present a cut of the university and grounds as they appeared in ltloll. The hard times ot IHST caused Work upon the building to be suspended for about eighteen months. so that it was not entirely completed until 1HtS1. The actual work of the school began on the Sth of October. IHBT. in Majors Hall in Bloomington. Here Charles E. Hovey. principal. and lra Moore, assistant. with twenty- nine pupils in attendance, began the lirst work in the Illinois State Normal University. At the close of the third year the tirst class. consisting of six young men and tour young Women, had their graduating exercises in the assembly room ot the present building- Supt. Gastman, of Decatur. gave the tirst commencement speech. ln three years time the school had outgrown its temporary quarters. and as the new building was completed sutiiciently to be occupied, the whole school was removed to its present quarters in Sep- tember, 18641. The civil War. beginning IHIS1. drew from the university Mr. Hovey. the principal, all of the instructors but two, together with most of the young men. Perkins Bass was made temporary principal, and began the fall term with about eighty students. nearly all ladies. In June. 1Hl32, Dr. Richard Edwards was made principal, and held the otlice until 1876, when he resigned. The Board of Education in 15466 voted to change the title of the head of the school from principal to president. Dr. Richard Edwards was succeeded by Dr. Edwin C. Hewett, who had been an instructor in the school since IHSH. After four- teen and one-half years of judicious management. Dr. Hewett resigned and was succeeded in June, 1890, by President John W. Cook.