University of Illinois - Illio Yearbook (Urbana Champaign, IL)

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THOMAS JONATHAN BURRILL By FRANK W. SCOTT HOMAS JONATHAN BURRILL, Nestor of the faculty of the Univer- Hillfi sity of Illinois, the man who has been here continuously for a longer time than any other, was born April 25, 1839, at Pittsfield, Massachu- setts. He came to Illinois when nine years of age ; when Illinois was almost a trackless prairie, and the trip from Chicago to any part of the state had to be made by horses and oxen. Among the primitive surroundings of that time he secured his early education, attending school in a log schoolhouse four months each winter, until ready for the Rockford High school, from which he was graduated. After teaching in the country schools young Mr. Burrill entered the Illinois State Normal school at Normal, and was graduated in 1865. It was during this period that he became devoted to the study of science. For three years he was superintendent of the Urbana public schools, con- tinuing, in the meantime, the study of science. His zeal as a student and his success as a teacher attracted the attention of the authorities of the newly established Illinois Industrial University. In 1868 Dr. Burrill became Assistant Professor of Natural History ; he was ap- pointed Professor of Botany and Horticulture two years later. Since that time Dr. Burrill has been closely identified with the University in many ways. He has been Professor of Botany continuously since 1870 : he was Dean of the College of Science from 1878 until 1884; he has been Vice-president of the University since 1878 and was Dean of the Graduate School from the time of its organization until 1905. Dr. Burrill brought about many changes in scientific methods. When he began his work here only one year was given up to botany, zoology, and geology, one term to each. He extended the course to one year for each subject. He inaugurated the laboratory method in the schools of the state, planned the first modern laboratory in this section of the country, and introduced the use of the microscope in plant in- vestigation. Not the least of Dr. Burrill ' s services have been those in connection with the Ag- ricultural Experiment Station, in which his activity in investigating and combating the injurious foes to economic plant life, especially to fruits, in this state has made him perhaps more generally known throughout the commonwealth than any other man of science. Since 1888 he has been Horticulturist, Botanist, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Experiment Station. Academic honors have been accorded Dr. Burrill by several universities. In 1876 Northwestern University conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts ; in 1893 that of Doctor of Laws. Chicago University conferred the degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy (on thesis) inl881. He has been identified with several learned societies, being a memberof the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Illinois State Natural History Society, the Scientific Association of Sioux City, the Royal Microscopic Society, and of the American Microscopical Society, of which last he has been secretary and president. Dr. Burrill has been a prolific writer on botanical and horticultural subjects, his published papers numbering more than two hundred. Among the former students of the University no member of the faculty is so well known or so kindly remembered. For nearly forty years he has been the teacher, friend and helper of the succession of hundreds of students who have come and gone, and among them all, from the early comers in the days of small beginnings, to those who are now laboring under his kindly guidance, no one is held in deeper regard than Thomas Jonathan Burrill. 9