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

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Graduate School Reorganizes In 1904 the liberal arts departments were concerned about the imbalance between the humanities, and engineering and agriculture. Following the inauguration of President Edmund Janes James, the Graduate School was reorgan- ized to correct this imbalance and to emphasize research and better teaching. Only those de- partments whose staffs were considered capable were allowed to offer the masters and doctors degrees. The Illinois Legislature, in 1907, ap- propriated five thousand dollars a year for the establishment of fellowships and scholar- ships, and for the equipping of research lab- oratories. James recruited some of the best scholars available. Among the additions were Gustav Karsten, founder of the JOURNAL OF ENG- LISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY; Wil- liam Albert Noyes, chief chemist of the Bureau of Standards; and Stuart Pratt Sherman, lit- erary critic. With the advent of the Engineering Experimenl Station, many besting machines such as this one were used. Edmund J. James, president from 1904 to L920, wafl distinguished scholar in welfare economics. IK

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Experiment Stations Provide Research Advancement During the Last quarter of the nineteenth cen- tury, the increase in research was rapid. Funda- mental to research is adequate financial backing; and at the University major strides towards funding research were made with the forma- tion of the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Engineering Experiment Station, and the Graduate College. From the beginning of the University, Pro- fessor Robinson had conducted successful engi- neering laboratory courses. Acting as a catalyst in instituting further laboratory instruction, Arthur Newell Talbot's hydraulics laboratory was opened in 1893. In the 1890's new cur- riculums were added in architectural, electri- cal, and municipal and sanitary engineering. These new courses were reflections of the in- creasing specialization. The Engineering Experiment Station greatly stimulated research after its founding in 1903, although there was research before its existence. Some of its developments soon after 1903 were the accoustical studies of F. R. Watson, the development of photoelectrical cells by Jacob Kung, and the perfection of alkalic vapor tubes by C. T. Knipp. At the outset, professional societies and state laboratories co-operated with the Experiment Station. Soon industry gave support to research. Experiments with coal, for example, were fi- nanced in part by the Illinois Gas Association. The First World War greatly accelerated co- operative research. The Engineering Foundation and the National Research Council, for instance, sponsored research investigating materials used in airplane and ship construction. After the funds provided by the Hatch Act of 1887 became available, the Agricultural Experi- ment Station was formed. In 1888 the Station sent out its first BULLETIN. By 1894 Dean Davenport found that the Station was engaged in over 150 experiments and had issued over t hirty-three BULLETINS in its first seven years. And there was a demand for more experimenta- tion. Accordingly, in 1902, in conjunction with the Bureau of Soils of the Department of Agri- Agriculture professors held short-courses in corn judging. culture, the Station made soil surveys. Also in 1902 co-operative investigations were made with individual farmers. The Station's research was reaching out more and more to the Illinois farmer. The college's staff often prepared exhibits for stock shows. Short courses and conferences came into greater use after 1900. At a series of mid-winter con- ferences in 1903, 100 people attended the horti- culturists' conference, 250 attended the corn- growers' conference, and 250 attended the house- keepers' convention. Thus an extension program gave to the farmer and to agricultural industry the benefits of research. This railroad car carried home economics demonstrations to all parts of the state.

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The main building was wrecked by a wind storm in 1880. Completed in 1873, University Hall had large rooms on the V-hanging l aC6 Ol CaPipUS t op floor for student activities. Gregory had seen to this. , t. »« -• W - ' .? .. '• ! t L. Burs, j ' iiMfl'' - -12 : ? ft . . - r - '; »•• jr. r- W ■ a.; •