Repository: UIHistories Project: Course Catalog - 1872-1873 [PAGE 16]

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Illinois Industrial University.

in their midst. In February, 1867, a law was passed fixing the locality, and defining the plan of the University, and in May the Board of Trustees met at the University Building donated by Champaign County, and finally determined the location. During the year much of the script was sold or located, necessary alterations were made in the buildings, apparatus and library were purchased, a faculty partly selected, and preparations made for active work. On March 2d, 1868, the University was opened for students, and on the n t h formal inauguration exercises were held. In the Autumn of 1871 the University was opened for the instruction of female students, and now it offers its advantages to all classes of society, without regard to sex, sect or condition. LOCATION. The University is situated in the City of Urbana, adjoining the limits of the City of Champaign, in Champaign county, Illinois. It is 128 miles from Chicago, on the Illinois Central Railroad. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway passes near the grounds. The County is one of the most beautiful prairie regions in the West. The two contiguous cities, constituting really only one community, have together a population of nearly 10,000, well supplied with churches and schools, and affording boarding facilities for a large body of students. BUILDINGS A N D GROUNDS.

The domain occupied by the University, see Map of the Grounds, page 59, embraces about 623 acres, including stock farm, experimental farm, orchards, gardens, nurseries, forest plantations, arboretum, botanic garden, ornamental grounds and military parade ground. The old University Building, see page 59, A, now occupied partly by class rooms, library and laboratory, contains some seventy dormitories for students. It is 125 feet in length, and five stories in height, with a wing of 40 by 80 feet, four stories in height. This building was donated by the county. See cut, p. 60. The New University P l a n of N e w B u i l d i n g . Building, see page 59, E, is one of the most spacious Main Floor. and convenient to be found on this continent. It is 214 feet in length, with a depth on the wings of 122 61X77 feet. It is designed wholly for public use. The library wing is fire-proof and contains five large halls, de- ^ voted to the library and various cabinets and museums. The chapel wing affords a large physical laboratory and lectureroom, and spacious draughting rooms. In the main part are thirty class rooms of good size, and also cloak and wash rooms for both sexes, store rru: rooms, and several large halls for students' Literary Societies. This building will be occupied in September next.

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