Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Ag Building [PAGE 33]

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31 title,—the Illinois Industrial University. The people of Champaign county were the earliest, and, as the result proved, the most, insistent bidders to secure the location of the new state institution, but they thought of it and popularly called it the agricultural college. It is certainly true that a few persons and those who were most influential in determining the name and character of that which they instituted took a wider outlook and a better vision of the development which was sure to ensue. With them the name University was not a misapplication, and that which they understood by the modifying term "industrial" was in proper keeping with the best interpretation of the entire movement—a movement which accounts in a considerable part for the splendid achievements of the later years. But when the trustees first met it was not strange that many, no doubt a majority of them, still thought of the charge newly placed under their care as an agricultural college. Here again the influence of a few dominating minds, and notably among them that of the first Regent, or President, is to be perceived. The minority, as determined by count, extended the plans for the new organization much beyond those which the majority would have adopted. No one, however, thought of displacing from the head and front of the list the agricultural interests. All were in hearty agreement in giving these chief place in the new institution, to be followed by others as possibilities permitted. In the first scheme of organization fifteen professorships were recommended, and the first one in the list, as it was adopted, is that of practical and theoretical agriculture, followed in order by those of horticulture, analytical and practical mechanics, military tactics and engineering, civil engineering, e t c In this list the professorship of ancient languages takes the thirteenth place, and that of mental and moral philosophy the fifteenth place. When appointments came to be considered it was natural, under the circumstances just mentioned, that some one should be first looked for to fill the professorship of agriculture. That this appointment, together with that for horticulture, were not made before others, was not the fault of those upon whom devolved the responsibility of securing a faculty. Three men for other departments were elected before a selection was made for the place constantly first in consideration and deemed by all