Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Commerce Building [PAGE 3]

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The University of Illinois showed an early interest in the training of business men. The first circular of information published in 1868 declared it to be one of the aims of the institution to prepare men "for the arduous and riskful responsibilities of the merchant and business man.' The original nine departments of the University included one of "Commercial Science and Art,' in charge of which was placed Captain Edward Snyder, subsequently Professor of German and Dean of the College of Literature and Science. In 1870, the University rearranged its whole curriculum, and the commercial department was thereafter called the "School of Commerce/* Bookkeeping, commercial calculation and commercial correspondence were the principal subjects of the course. In 1878, an attempt was made to raise the standards of the School of Commerce by adding a second year's course, but there was little call for such a development, and on September 10th, 1879, th< Board of Trustees passed a resolution to the effect that "the course of studies in the 'School of Commerce' is more extensive than is practicable to teach at the present time/' On June 10th, 1880, the Board voted to discontinue the school. The attempt to construct a university school of commerce along the lines of a 'business college' had proved unsuccess3