Category: University Trivia

University Hall (1871-1938)

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The Second Floor Plan of University Hall with Classrooms Labeled.
The turn of the century Illinois campus featured three towers along Green Street (seen above). While Altgeld Hall remains today, its two-towered peer building is gone. On Wednesday, September 13, 1871 the cornerstone was laid for the new multiple purpose University building later known as “University Hall”. The formal dedication... Read More

Campus Eateries and Hangouts: The Green Tea Pot

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Written by Anna Trammell Students today have an overwhelming number of dining options and they can stop in at any one of the numerous Starbucks or Espresso Royale locations for a cup of coffee or tea. In 1916 there were fewer options. The entrepreneurial women of Delta Gamma saw this as... Read More

Republican President comes to Champaign-Urbana… in 1911

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Written by Ellen Swain The Republican National Convention has taken center stage in Cleveland this week. One of Ohio’s famous Republican politicians has a connection to the University of Illinois!   In February 1911, President William Howard Taft (1857-1930) toured Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois.  Taft is the only... Read More

Alma Mater and the Commencement Connection

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Written by Ellen Swain Eighty-seven years ago, on a warm day in June, our Alma Mater statue was unveiled as the centerpiece of the 1929 commencement week program.  The concert band played and a host of officials gave speeches.  UI President David Kinley prophetically declared, “The significance of this gift is... Read More

Behind the Names: Residence Halls Named After Women

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Thomas Hendrickson is an undergraduate in history at the University of Illinois and an Undergraduate Assistant at the Archives Research Center. A total of ten residence halls are named after women who have had a profound impact on the University of Illinois. Allen Hall is named after Louisa C. Allen (1848-1920). She was... Read More