Illinois State University Anniversaries Collection, 1897-2008 | Dr. JoAnn Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University

The Illinois State University Anniversaries Collection is arranged in eight series chronologically by anniversary. The materials within each series are arranged chronologically then by the planning stages of the events.

This collection is comprised of materials that were created and used by members of various event planning committees for Illinois State University. Through planning documents, brochures, articles, correspondence, oral histories, and memorabilia this collection documents the history of annual anniversary celebrations held by Illinois State University over the years.

Illinois State University

Illinois State Normal University was founded in 1857 as the first public university in Illinois. As the university aged, celebrations were planned to mark major milestones. These celebrations became annual events. Most notably was ISNU's 40th anniversary, held in 1897 with a banquet which included toasts from General Charles Hovey, the president of the University of Illinois Andrew Sloan Draper, Dr. E.C. Hewett, and other honored guests.

The 50th anniversary of Illinois State Normal University was celebrated in 1907 with four days' worth of programs. The first day's program included congratulatory addresses from members of the surrounding area as well as the President's reception in the evening. The following day consisted of a morning program, alumni reunions, and the Jubilee Banquet. Saturday continued the celebration with a conference on "The Field of the Normal School," a Sapphonian Society and Ciceronian Society reunion, and a program by the Philadelphian and Wrightonian Alumni. A divine service Sunday morning and meetings of the Young Men's and the Young Women's Christian Associations concluded the celebration.

In 1932, Illinois State Normal University reached its 75th anniversary. However, due to the poor economic conditions of the time, the university was unable to fund a celebration. The university was better financially by 1935, so they decided to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first graduating class with a Diamond Jubilee Week. This week of events included a pageant enacting the history of education and of the university. Other events during this week were a baccalaureate service, a concert by the university glee clubs and orchestra, a memorial program, dinner, alumni reunions, and ending with the 76th annual commencement.

For the Centennial celebration in 1957, the university created many publications and productions to highlight the one-hundred year history of Illinois State Normal University. Two films were produced for the Centennial celebration: "Proud Thy Halls", the history of teacher education in Illinois and the founding and history of Illinois State Normal University and "With Faith in the Future", a film version of the centennial pageant. Helen Marshall's book, "The Grandest of Enterprises: Illinois State Normal University, 1857-1957", a comprehensive history of the university was published. Another project developed for the Centennial year was "A Brief Pictorial History of Illinois State Normal University, 1857-1957 with Emphasis on Old Main and the Centennial Year".

Illinois State University celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1982. Events included a dinner, "A Toast to ISU," and a naming ceremony for the Bone Student Center/Braden Auditorium in honor of the ninth and tenth presidents of Illinois State Normal University Robert Bone and Samuel Braden respectively. The Ropp Agriculture Building was also dedicated in honor of Clarence Ropp, a member of the Teachers College Board. A commemorative brochure, articles, news releases, and newsletters were also published.

The new century brought Illinois State University to its Sesquicentennial. The 150th celebration was observed beginning on Founders Day in 2007 and continuing until Founders Day 2008. The year long celebration included many events such as departmental celebrations, dinners, exhibits, and a speaker series. Bloomington and Normal also celebrated the anniversary by including it in their annual cemetery walk and by having the State Historical Society Symposium at ISU. And oral history project was undertaken in which seventeen administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends were interviewed about specific events pertaining to the history of the university.

Author: Jenna Self

American Revolution Bicentennial, 1976 - Illinois - Normal.
Illinois State Normal University - Anniversaries, etc.
Illinois State Normal University - Centennial celebrations, etc.
Illinois State University - Anniversaries, etc.
Universities and colleges - Illinois - Normal.