Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1898 [PAGE 260]

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260

UNIVERSITY OF I L L I N O I S . MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF PROFESSOR J . B . TURNER.

[ J u n e 7j.

To the Board of Trustees. The presence of Professor Jonathan B. Turner, of Jacksonville, Illinois, at the Commencement exercises, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, is deserving'of special note. Professor Turner has been of great prominence and has made the deepest impression upon the educational interests of the State and of the country. To his effort, more than to that of any other individual, was due the legislation which has given rise to the Land Grant Colleges. His clear vision and heroic treatment of the subject more than forty years ago gave the special form and characteristics to these institutions which have won for them the deep sympathies of the industrial masses. The State University of his own State is under obligations to him which it can never repay; but it seems to me that its management may well do itself the honor of initiating proceedings looking to the erection of some fitting memorial to this heroic old man whose patriotic and unyielding purposes brought it into existence and gave it the opportunity to become what it has, and promote the public interests as it has. I have recently had some letters offering to make contributions, if necessary, to such a memorial. Whether it should be undertaken directly by the University as a public function, or whether it should be a voluntary gift to be participated in by a great number of people whose sympathies would be vith the enterprise, I am not certain. I submit the matter to the Trustees for such action as may seem to them appropriate.

A. S. DRAPER.

O n motion of Mr. Morrison, it was voted t h a t t h i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n with regard to a memorial in h o n o r of Professor T u r n e r be referred to a special committee of five. Messrs. M c L e a n , Morrison, Bullard, a n d R a y m o n d and M r s . F l o w e r were a p p o i n t e d on this committee. L e t t e r s from p h y s i c i a n s of t h e vicinity with regard to t h e desirab i l i t y of passenger elevators in t h e U n i v e r s i t y b u i l d i n g s were referred to t h e C o m m i t t e on S t u d e n t s ' Welfare. I t was ordered, on r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of t h e C o m m i t t e e on B u i l d i n g s a n d G r o u n d s , t h a t a tablet b e p u t i n t h e m a i n b u i l d i n g of t h e H e a t i n g P l a n t similar to tablets in E n g i n e e r i n g H a l l and t h e L i brary, a n d an a p p r o p r i a t i o n of $125 was m a d e therefor. P r e s i d e n t D r a p e r p r e s e n t e d the following p a p e r from t h e A d v i s o r y B o a r d of A t h l e t i c s :

IMPROVEMENT OF ILLINOIS FIELD.

To the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. The Advisory Board of Athletics being especially charged with the care of the athletic interests here centered begs leave to call your attention to that portion of your property known as Illinois Field. It has been reported that a suggestion has been made looking to a removal of the Field from its present location, to one in the rear of the main group of buildings, or to the Fair Grounds. The Advisory Board believes such a. change would be disastrous to our athletic interests and for the following reasons: First, the efficiency of Illinois Field in promoting the interests of physical training depends in our judgment on its nearness to gymnasium facilities. The gymnasium is now permanently located and fitted with proper appliancs and is within a short distance of the fieM. A large number of students naveonly a limited time at their disposal for exercise in the Field and any removal to a greater distance would effectually prevent a large number of studentsfrom using the Field as an exercise ground. It is especially desirable in the view of the Board that the advantage of the Field be secured to the largest