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

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Yet, ISNU's achievements during its first 50 years, distinguished though they were, proved to be a burden as the 20th century opened. The basic problem was the fact that ISNU was only a normal school, unable to bestow a baccalaureate degree on its graduates. The issue was crucial, for public elementary and high schools increasingly required their teachers to possess a four-year college degree. If ISNU was to remain true to its mission of teacher preparation and be abreast of educational developments, an expansion of institutional function was imperative. The problem and the solution were seen with clarity by David Felmley, whose strong presidential leadership 11900-19301 began the expansion of ISNU from a normal school into a teachers college. At his request, the Illinois General Assembly in 1907 authorized ISNU to grant a bachelor's degree in education and the first was conferred the next year. By 1912 students were required to select academic major and minor fields of study, and with that change the curriculum ex anded as new courses were added to the catalog. Enrolllment increased sharply to 1,500 by 1930, and the student life involved a wider range of activities: a student council was formed in 19203 intercollegiate athletics begun in the 18905, became a regular part of the university life, with the first Homecoming celebration in 19213 Greek honorary societies were organized in the late 1920s to recognize student academic distinction. As the university changed, five new buildings were added to the campus before Felmley's retirement: a manual arts and auditorium lEdwards Halll, Thomas Metcalf Training School llvloulton Halll, a women's dormitory lFell Halll, McCormick Gymnasium, and the Felmley Hall of Science. .. .,-:z....... : :' :N Avi .ex it

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Flzom its small beginning in 1857. ISNU quickly established itself as a ' CWS mink A We E. itxuler in state education during the remaituler of the 10th century. Q l 1 the presidents following Charles lloyey. who left for military seryice -- .1 'pf f. I l l l 1 , iii 1801 as colonel of the St:hoolmaster's Regiment ami never returned. .1 '-l-'k y U ' - - Q were strong leaders with single-minded dedication to the Normal ' f 'Y f' ' tm t. l T1 l'n1yersity's mission of teacher education. Richard Edwards H862- 18'0I. Edwin ti. lloxyett 11870-18001 and lohn W. Cook 11890-l899I t-.irli in his oxxn way sought to improye the quality of the institution nearly 000 students by 1000. .-Xdmission was usually by examination .intl courses were taken in a normal department in various subjects .intl pedagogy lusually taught by the presidentl. while observation of master teachers and practice teaching took place in a model school 14' ffif: l f ' 'W ' U l Mg- . ' 1 A 1 'EFS' Y ..i'7..tg1 k l through innovations in the curriculum and recruitment of a . tlistinguislietl faculty. Under their leadership enrollment grew to -1 .X 5 i Wm ',. I l 3 , s iq K ' kv , ft r, ga. X I I , xv X, A A, -ww., A Q' ' 'W pi' S 1 X tv wr W I w Y' 1 , rm 1 sf K ng .l ,U pst- tsl' 1 I, , F .W . 1. A 5, .fx-t ',, ,1 4, , 1 - t we we-?'a.'. ,-1 1 ,ws im 'Xi -yy P, gl t .J pt . 1 ' 1 ' yu . 'W' . ' Q i -gl' 'I' x 5' pew- 1- 5 .9 -it V l I .. 1 -' 9 1-Q Q A 'F 'Y ' 5 .il if '1 3 . lx .ittentletl by local children. Two or three years of study were required betore a diploma was granted and graduates immediately qualified tor teaching positions at all levels of education but most often in the common schools. ith a fattiilty that reached 19 by 1900, a number of whom held tlotttorates from German universities, ISNU became in the 1800s a leading center in the nation for the Herbartian movement in teacher education with its emphasis on an integrated curriculum for the elementary grades. Summer institutes for teachers early became a regular and popular feature of the uniyersitys offerings. at , '15, .. ' Y- 1:--- -gg -.,. -I-- 'n '-.?'s. '- .- ...M -MQ 5. '10 lg Nl X 1. 4--9:51-it I ' . 18805 and 4 ti' H i atrium if The text on this and the following 3 pages was edited from a publication commemorating the 125 years of ISU. It was written for the publication by Roger Champagne, pro- fessor of history, and Eugene Iabker, associate provostg edited for the year- book by Mike Torri, staff member.

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5 A celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1957. proud of its century-long achievements in teacher education. But even as the celebration got under- way. ISNLT was at the threshold of a new phase of institu- tional development. Like other schools in Illinois and the nation, ISNU in the years ahead experienced rapid growth and expansion in response to the public demand for greater access to higher education. Within a decade ISNU was transformed from a small teachers college into a large multipurpose university. The evidence of expansion was everywhere on campus. Enrollment exploded, from less than 4.000 in 1957 to over 17,500 in 1970. Faculty growth ran a parallel course, exceeding a thousand by the end of the li tty Mt lil! Sixties. Building construction to accommodate the larger numbers never ceased, as 23 buildings, two major addi- tions, married student apartments, and a field house- stadium complex were added to the campus between 1957 and 1970. The university's phenomenal physical growth prompted other changes of greater significance. During the presidency of Robert G. Bone 11956-19671, Doctoral pro- grams were started l1963l, the university name was chang- ed to Illinois State University Ilanuary 1, 19641, the institu- tional mission became that of a liberal arts university and academic programs and departments were organized into colleges l19661. '-S,-v' 1 r Q Q Q - V:- Ppfgfnf' .,, 4 ' '-1' -' i,i..'ia 'i ' 1'-V . iii - ', .1 ' i ii 1 . Y' Q '. 4 D , . ' v ' ki ' , ' '14 ' 5 .. i - I wi: h l. ii. iv ,aiu-. .y X,-u lliiliii