Book series
Founders Day video series
Board proceedings
Other resources
The history of Illinois State University is told through a series of eight books. All are available on Milner Floor 1. Seven of the eight are also available online in full text.
Cook, John W. and James V. McHugh. A History of the Illinois State Normal University.
Floor 2 Reference
Floor 6 Special Collections
LD 2347 .C66 1882
Also available online full text.
Chronicles the first 25 years.
Keith, John A. H., ed. Semi-Centennial History of the Illinois State Normal University.
Floor 2 Reference
LD 2347 .A7376 1907
Also available online full text.
Chronicles the first 50 years.
Harper, Charles A. Development of the Teachers College in the United States with Special Reference to the Illinois State Normal University. (1935)
Floor 2 Reference
LD 2347 .H3
Chronicles the first 75 years.
Marshall, Helen E. Grandest of Enterprises, Illinois State Normal University, 1857-1957. (1956)
Floor 6 Shelves LD 2347 .M3
Floor 2 Reference
LD 2347 .M3
Also available online full text.
Chronicles the first 100 years.
Marshall, Helen E. The Eleventh Decade, Illinois State University. (1967)
LD 2347 .M32 (Floor 6 Shelves; Floor 2 Reference)
Also available online full text.
Champagne, Roger J. A Place of Education: Illinois State University: 1967-1977. (1978)
Floor 6 Shelves LD 2347 .C45
Floor 2 Reference LD 2347 .C45
Also available online full text.
Champagne, Roger J. The Thirteenth Decade: Illinois State University, 1977-1987.
Floor 6 Shelves LD 2347 .C452 1989
Floor 2 Reference LD 2347 .C452 1989
Also available online full text.
Wyman, Mark. The Fourteenth Decade: Illinois State University, 1987-1997.
Floor 6 Shelves LD 2347 .W96 1999
Floor 2 Reference LD 2347 .W96 1999
Also available online full text.
Top
The history of Illinois State University is told through a series of 12 video presentations collectively spanning the period 1857-2006. The series was started in 1995 and was completed in 2006. Productions were introduced annually at the Founders Day celebration in February. Each presentation is available online in streaming video.
A three-disc DVD compilation of the productions ... entitled Illinois State University Historical Video Series: 1857-2007 ... is available for checkout at the Learning Resource Center on Milner Floor 6 (ask for Video DVD 1756). Videotapes of individual productions in the series are available in the Learning Resource Center for viewing in the center.
Video series summary:
Founders Day Video #1: The Founding
Founders Day Video #2: The Noblest Building; Go Forth to Danger
Founders Day Video #3: A New Era at Normal
Founders Day Video #4: The Challenges of Change
Founders Day Video #5: Defending the Grandest Enterprise
Founders Day Video #6: The Era of Transition
Founders Day Video #7: The Turn of the Century
Founders Day Video #8: From Normal School to Teachers College
Founders Day Video #9: The Era of Uncertainty and the Post War Renewal
Founders Day Video #10: A Vigor Uncoiling, 1956-1967
Founders Day Video #11: Unrest, Controversy, and Rethinking the Plan
Founders Day Video #12: Academic Retrenchment and Social Redirection
The Founding (1995, 14 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VC 970221 and VIDEO VC 970003
Discusses establishment of the university in 1857.
Online streaming video
The Noblest Building: Go Forth to Danger (1996, 13 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VC 960385
Discusses completion of the Old Main Building and experiences of soldiers from Illinois State in the Civil War.
Online streaming video
A New Era at Normal (1997, 14 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VC 970229
Discusses the post Civil War era at the university and President Richard Edwards.
Online streaming video
The Challenges of Change (1998, 14 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 0830
Discusses events of 1867.
Online streaming video
Defending the Grandest Enterprise (1999, 14 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 0830
Discusses events of 1868-1876.
Online streaming video
The Era of Transition (2000, 15 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 1175
Discusses events of 1877-1890.
Online streaming video
The Turn of the Century (2001, 21 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 1129
Discusses events of 1890-1900.
Online streaming video
From Normal School to Teachers College (2002, 22 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 1464
Discusses events of 1900-1930.
Online streaming video
The Era of Uncertainty and the Post War Renewal (2003, 25 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 1715
Discusses events of 1930-1956.
Online streaming video
A Vigor Uncoiling, 1956-1967 (2004, 23 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 1839
Discusses the administration of the university's ninth president, Robert G. Bone, and the expansion of the university from a teachers' college with 3,000 students to a university with nearly 10,000 students.
Online streaming video
Unrest, Controversy, and Rethinking the Plan (2005, 32 minutes)
Milner (LRC): VIDEO VHS 2181
Covers the period 1967-1977, including administrations of Samuel Braden, David Berlo, and Gene Budig. Discusses campus unrest in the late 60s and early 70s.
Online streaming video
Academic Retrenchment and Social Redirection (2006, 43 minutes)
Covers the period 1977-2006.
Online streaming video
Top
In its nearly 150-year history, Illinois State University has been governed by six boards. The boards, their tenure, and the location of their proceedings are as follows.
Board of Education (1857-1917)
Milner Library: Complete run at L 142 .B3 (Floor 6 Shelves)
University Archives: Complete run
Online: Complete run
Normal School Board (1917-1941)
Milner Library: Complete run at LB 1860 .A3 (Floor 6 Shelves)
University Archives: Complete run
Teachers College Board (1941-1965)
Milner Library: Complete run at LB 1860 .A3 (Floor 6 Shelves)
University Archives: Complete run
Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities (1965-1967)
Milner Library: Complete run at LB 1860 .A3 (Floor 6 Shelves)
University Archives: Complete run
Board of Regents (1967-1995)
Milner Library: Complete run at LB 2341.5 .I4 (Floor 6 Shelves)
University Archives: Complete run
Board of Trustees (1996-)
Milner Library: Complete run at LB 2347 .A565 (Floor 6 Shelves)
University Archives: Complete run
Online: 2005-2006 (partial)
Top
Clark, Daniel A. "Whilrwind of Change: The Transformation of Illinois State Normal University, 1957-1971." Illinois Historical Journal 90 (Winter 1997): 226-244.
Floor 3 Shelves F 536 .I1801
Also available at Floor 2 Reference Desk
Harmon, Sandra D. "'The Voice Pen and Influence of our Women are Abroad in the Land': Women and the Illinois State Normal University, 1857-1899." In Nineteenth Century Women Learn to Write. Ed. Catherine Hobbs. (1995)
Floor 1 Shelves LC 1757 .N56 1995
Also available at Floor 2 Reference Desk
Marshall, Helen E. "Charles E. Hovey: Educator and Soldier." Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, L, 3 (Autumn 1957), 243-276.
Floor 3 Shelves F 536 .I18
Also available at Floor 2 Reference Desk
Marshall, Helen E. "Jesse W. Fell, Friend of Education." Teacher Education XX, 1 (September 1957), 3-35.
Floor 1 Shelves LB 1705 .T36
Also available at Floor 2 Reference Desk
Marshall, Helen E. "The Town and the Gown." Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, L, 2 (Summer 1957), 141-167.
Floor 3 Shelves F 536 .I18
Also available at Floor 2 Reference Desk
Top
Return to Subject Resources: Illinois State University History
