Illinois State Prepares To Celebrate 150 Years

Date: 10/19/06
Contact: Eric Jome

It's not every year that you turn 150, so Illinois State University will be celebrating in style starting in February 2007. The yearlong 150th Celebration will highlight the University's rich history and will include visits by internationally-known historians and pioneers in filmmaking, undersea exploration, music and education.

"We invite the Illinois State and Bloomington-Normal communities to help celebrate the University's 150 years of education and service," said Illinois State President Al Bowman. "Faculty, staff, students and community members will have a rare opportunity to see and hear world-renowned figures in the arts and sciences as they visit campus to help us celebrate our sesquicentennial. Our celebration is also recognition of 150 years of community support for the educational mission of Illinois State."

In early 1857, legislation was enacted to establish Illinois' first public university, what was then called Illinois State Normal University. Local businessman Jesse Fell donated money and land to establish the school, which originally served as a teacher training institution. Fell's attorney friend, Abraham Lincoln, drew up legal documents to help establish the University. Charles Hovey was named the school's first principal and the first class of 43 students began their studies in October 1857.

The 150th Celebration will officially begin on Founders Day, February 15, 2007. Activities on that day will include the traditional ringing of the University's Old Main Bell, with one ring for each year that Illinois State has been in existence. The Founders Day Convocation will also serve as the official kick-off ceremony for the sesquicentennial festivities. Pulitzer Prize winning historian and biographer David McCullough will be the keynote Convocation speaker. McCullough's works include biographies of presidents John Adams and Harry S. Truman.

Next February will also see the University playing host to the Illinois State Historical Society's annual conference and the premiere performance of specially commissioned wind symphony music to honor the University's 150th birthday. A new University song, to be sung at special campus events, will also be premiered in the coming year. Throughout the year, various University publications and productions, including a pictorial history, a one-volume sesquicentennial history and videos tracing the school's evolution, will focus on the past one and a half centuries of growth and progress at Illinois State.

Other internationally known figures from the arts and sciences will be helping Illinois State to celebrate its 150th by presenting free, public presentations. On March 28, 2007, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will speak about "Our Environmental Destiny." Kennedy is an author and environmental activist and has been named one of Time magazine's "Heroes for the Planet" for his success in helping the Riverkeeper organization lead the fight to restore the Hudson River in New York.

On April 17, 2007, renowned underwater explorer Robert Ballard will speak about the wreck of the Titanic and other deep sea discoveries in "Exploring the Living Dream." Ballard, best know for his 1985 discovery of the wreck of the Titanic, has had an extensive career of underwater explorations using manned and unmanned submersible vehicles.

"Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln" will be the subject of a presentation by Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin on September 18, 2007. Goodwin's recent book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, examines Lincoln's rise in American politics and his ability to guide a nation through war, while effectively working with the strong personalities and diverse political views within his administration.

The history of baseball, jazz and the American Civil War will be just some of the topics discussed as documentary filmmaker Ken Burns visits campus on November 1, 2007. Burns has been making films for more than 30 years and has produced some of the most acclaimed documentaries in American history. His films include Jazz, Baseball and the highly-acclaimed series The Civil War.

Country music superstar Naomi Judd will bring an inspiring message of hope and perseverance when she visits Illinois State on November 18, 2007. At the height of her musical career, Judd was diagnosed in 1990 with a potentially life-threatening liver disease. Her optimism in the face of illness will be the subject of her presentation, "Love Can Build a Bridge."

In keeping with Illinois State's education mission, "Hearts of Children and the Obligation of Our Nation's Schools" will be theme of a presentation by author and education activist Jonathon Kozol on November 14, 2007. Throughout his career, Kozol has combined teaching with activism in the fields of literacy and education reform.

The Founders Day Convocation on February 14, 2008 will officially bring the 150th Celebration to a close. The celebration of 150 years of teaching, research and service will serve as an inspiration as Illinois State looks ahead to more historic birthdays. To find out more about Illinois State's 150th Celebration visit www.ilstu.edu