UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Nevins) [PAGE 180]

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164

THE UNIVERSITY FINDS ITSELF

ness; but the time was as favorable to the technical branches as to mounting registration,1 for engineers were in steady demand. To keep pace with this expansion in registration by a similar expansion in facilities was difficult. There was scarcely a year when some building was not being erected; but there was never a semester when some adjustment to relieve congestion was not being made, some new complaint of overcrowding being heard. When Dr. Draper arrived the University was vastly proud of its new Engineering Building, and counted but five other structures in all. When he left there were fifteen buildings, stretching from the new Gymnasium on the north to the Agricultural Building on the south. The first building to be opened was the Library, and it was the addition of this beautiful structure that did most to add dignity and grace to the campus. Only $150,000 was appropriated for it, but unusual care was taken in its design. Eequirements were carefully advertised, and prizes offered for the best plans. Gov. Altgeld was eager to have the University adopt a uniform Tudor-Gothic style of architecture, and through his instrumentality all the prize designs were thrown aside and an agreement made with D. H. Burnham and Co., of Chicago, for the designing an<J construction of the Library. One German castellated design which this firm submitted was very satisfactory to him, but it would have cost $220,000, and was plainly out of the question; when a second, Grecian in design, was offered, he strongly objected to it, and it also was rejected. The firm threw up its contract after a clash

The total enrollment in 1894-95 was 810, of whom 137 were women; by 1897-98 it was 1,582, of whom 245 were women; In 1900-01 it was 2,505, of whom 465 were women, and in 1903-04 there were 3,594, of whom 718 were women.

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