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Founded in 1829, Illinois College graduated its first class in 1835 when the first baccalaureate degrees were granted in the young state. A century and a half of excellence in liberal education have produced a proud tradition and heritage; during 1979 and 1980 the college arranged a series of convocations, concerts, and other special programs to commemorate that heritage and highlight its present purpose.
The first of the four parts of the book serves as a general introduction. Donald C. Mundinger, President of the college since 1973, outlines Illinois College's academic and financial strengths during the seventies as it prepared to celebrate its sesquicentennial and to meet the needs of the eighties. A chapter by Iver F. Yeager, editor of this volume, provides a thorough account of every aspect of the Year-and-a-half long observance.
Part two focuses on liberal learning as the traditional orientation of Illinois College. Each of eight chapters is devoted to a major convocation or concert. The opening convocation was addressed by Mark H. Curtis, president of the Association of American Colleges, who spoke on "Frontiers in Space, Time, Society, and Education." The second convocation, commemorating the college's contributions to public affairs, featured a dialogue between the Governor of Illinois and the Secretary of State. Other programs involved the dedication of a new pipe organ and a new fine arts building, both representing renewed emphasis on art and music. Subsequent convocations focused on major curricular divisions: science and mathematics, the humanities, and the social sciences.
A third section deals with Illinois College and the two denominations that were instrumental in founding that frontier institution. Although the college is organizationally independent, it has maintained a close relationship with both the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church. Executives from both churches led seminars on the present significance of the relationship between church and college.
Illinois College's distinctive heritage is the broad theme of the fourth section, which includes reports of several special programs as well as a number of addresses. For example, a memorial program was held to honor the first two graduates of 1835: one served as governor of Illinois during the Civil War, the other composed the well-known tune for "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" Another occasion recalled the separate arrangements made initially by the founders of Illinois College for the education of women, noting the eventual merger of these dual institutions. An essay on the literary societies, although not formally part of the sesquicentennial observance, rounds out the picture of the college's tradition.
Appendixes list members of the various sesquicentennial committees, a calendar of the major events, excerpts from congratulatory messages, and a catalog of honors accorded students and faculty during the period of the sesquicentennial. Members and officers of the sesquicentennial class of 1979 are also listed. An index of names provides ready reference for alumni and guests as well as members of the campus community who participated in the anniversary events.
The book is illustrated with photographs of the major campus buildings, both historic and contemporary. Some of the trustees, faculty, and students who were leaders during the celebration are also pictured.
The volume not only serves to record the 150th anniversary celebration of Illinois College, it also gives insight into the major features of the ongoing life of a small college, a college that not only has survived a century and a half but also has achieved significance among institutions of higher learning in the Midwest.
Much of the spirit of the college is captured in the Foreword to this volume by William N. Clark, Chairman of the Trustees. Noting that "there can be nothing static about courses of study offered by colleges that manage to stay in operation for a very long time," he states, however, that "some things need not change and at Illinois College they have not changed. These are matters of mission, of church relationship, of dedication to the liberal arts and to an ongoing effort to provide a congenial atmosphere for the development of general intellectual capacities and constructive attitudes. It is around these enduring ingredients that a college's character forms and traditions are built." Binding: Hardcover Edition: 1st Features:
Label: Southern Illinois University Press Manufacturer: Southern Illinois University Press Publication Date: 1982-04-01 Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press Studio: Southern Illinois University Press |