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

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Mizinriml Svkrtrh. A On the eighteenth day of February, 1857, the bill establish- ing the Illinois State Normal University was signed by NVilliam H. Bissell, the first republican governor of the State. This was an important step in school legislation as it recognized the duty of the State to prepare the teachers of its public schools to ren- der more efficient service. The motive prompting the act was not charity, but self-interest. The a system of free public schools to property of the people. Property to be educated were taxed on the children, and it was no more than money was thus taken that they State had recently established be supported by a tax on the owners who had no- children sa.me basis as those who had simple justice to those whose should receive in return the greatest possible benefit to themselves and their property. Many of the friends of education believed this would result from the establishment of a normal school. The friends of education in the State were much divided among themselves as to the kind of school to be established. Some wanted a normal school whose entire aim should be the preparation of teachers for the public schools of the State. Others wanted a normal school with an agricultural department attached. Still others believed that an industrial university with a normal department should be established, while a fourth party claimed that the wisest course was to establish normal depart- Page Twenty Four

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OB111' illlnihvr Our noble mother, we, 'l'hy many children, come to thee To celebrate in prose and rhyme The day most rare Thou didst begin thy fostering care. Full hfty years have flown, And thy small family has grown To be a throng of workers, far and near, In many a sphere Of usefulness. Still thou a leader art, Alive, and strong, and true of heart, Brave mother. Wfhat if the facts thou taught us are forgot, It matters not. A reaching ever toward the light, Intent to do what seems the right, The will to bring the right to be, The power to lead on valiantly, Or grace to follow reverently, Witlial a heart of syn1pathy,- These are our heritage from thee, VVise mother. Thou of thy best dicls't give, Tay children did receive And unto others gave as free, And lo, there shine thruo.ut the land Cf ear lights from off thy altar litg And many who ne'er thy face did see, Sing grateful praises unto thee, Fair mother. Still may'st thou live thy life sincere For many a year, W'ith each succeeding year the best. And may the beauty of thy living, And the joy in thy giving, Be an inspiration blest. And may thy loyal children be An honor ever unto thee, Loved mother. -1.1.0111 Brofuiz ilLfc'1ll111'ry Page Twenty-three

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Page Twenty-Five gluhrx ments in all the sectarian colleges already in operation. The persistent and persevering efforts of the friends ol' the normal school free from all entangling alliances won the day. From present indications, however, it seems that the wish of those who favored an agricultural department in connection with the school is soon to be realized, at least in part. The physical sciences are largely agricultural in their trend. Elementary agri- culture is now a lixed study in the C'lll'1'I'L'IlfIlllI, instruction being given in both the theory and the practice of that industry, so that Mr. Bakewell's -Xgricultural Che1nistry is an established fact. The act which established the normal university created C. B. Denio of jo Daviess county, Simeon XVright of Lee county, Daniel XYilkins of McLean, county, C. E. Hovey of l'e- oria county, George B. Rex of Pike county, Samuel NV. Moulton of Shelby county, John Gillespie of Jasper county, George Bun- sen of St. Clair county, XYesley Sloan of Pope county, Ninian XY. Edwards of Sangamon county, John .Eden of Moultrie county, Flavel Mosley of Cook county, XVilliam H. NVells of Cook county, Albert R. Shannon of XVhite county, and the Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, ar 0fHc1'0, with their asso-ci- ates X X X and successors, a body corporate and politic, to be styled the Board of Education of the State of Illinois, whose duty it was to make all laws necessary for the govermnent of the normal university. These gentlemen met at the oliice of the State Superintendent who was, ar 0f7icz'0, secretary of the Board, and organized by electing Samuel XV. Moulton, president. It was the duty of the Board to fix the permanent location of the school at the place which offered the most favorable induce- ment for that purpose: Provided, that such location shall not be difficult of access, or detrimental to the welfare and prosper- ity of said normal university. That the school was to be located at the point making the highest and best bid was widely advertised, and several locali- ties became competitors. On the seventh day of May, 1857, the State Board of Education met at Peoria, as announced, to open the bids, and the bid of McLean county being far ahead of any other, it was awarded the prize. The Board of Education next appointed a committee to visit some of the leading normal schools of the eastern states in order to determine more intelligently upon a building for the Illinois State Xormal Ifniversity. The labor of the committee was not fruitless, although the plan selected was not that of any build- ing examined, but was the joint production of Charles E. Hovey and the architect, Mr. Randall. As soon as the plans and speci- fications could be prepared a contract was entered into for the