Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Early History of University (1916) [PAGE 25]

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XXIV

U N I V E R S I T Y OF I L L I N O I S

lishing and maintaining, in connection with the colleges founded upon congressional act of 1862, agricultural experiment station " t o aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information to subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles and application of agricultural science.'' President Peabody took a prominent part in the discussion of the convention which led to the passage of this act. Under its provision, the Agricultural Experiment Station of Illinois was founded in 1888 and placed under the direction of the trustees of the university, and a part of the University farm, with buildings, was assigned for its use. State appropriations have been added to the federal grants to the Station, until its revenues have become the largest of those of similar institutions throughout the world. 1 In 1890, by another measure known as the Morrill College Aid Act, 5 the Congress of the United States made further appropriations for the land grant colleges. Under this enactment each such college or university received the first year $15,000, the second $16,000, and thereafter $1,000 a year additional to the amount of the preceding year, until the amount reached $25,000, which sum was to be paid yearly. The use of this fund, although restricted, made possible indirectly a considerable development in the humanities as well as in the natural sciences. As the institution developed, the name "Illinois Industrial University" was felt to be a serious handicap. I t was never understood in the sense oroginally intended. The promoters had meant to establish an institution in which a liberal education should be offered, and one which should be particularly suited to those engaged in industrial pursuits, in distinction to the profession as they were then recognized. But the prevailing impression gained for the name was than manual labor was a prominent feature. The name came to be considered a serious obstacle to the institution, and a bill was introduced in the legislature of 1885 for its change. The application for a change of name met with bitter opposition, especially in the senate, many of the opponents contending that the change would be detrimental to the "industrial ideas of the early advocates. But on June 19 1885, Governor Oglesby approved the bill' changing the name to ' ' The University of Illinois.'' In this same year the State Laboratory of Natural History was transferred to the University from Normal. This laboratory was created for the purpose of making a natural history Burvey of the state, publishing the results, and furnishing specimens to the public schools and to the state museums. These collections amounted to 75,000 specimens, in round numbers, besides 15,000 bottles, vials, and other packages, the contents of which were largely unclassified. The apparatus transferred with this material consisted chiefly of a very full outfit of collecting apparatus for both terrestrial and aquatic work and a considerable amount of microscopic materials and apparatus. During the regime of Dr. Peabody, knowledge of the University was spread among the people of the state principally by means of addresses and exhibits. I t ljas been estimated that during 1888 alone over 100 gatherings were attended by members of the faculty and more than 200 addresses were delivered. The most notable of the technical exhibitions were kept on display, as follows: six months at the State House in Springfield, sixteen months at the expositions at New Orleans; at the 'Univ. of Register, 1911-12, p. 449. •Act approved Aug. 30, 1890, in Laws of U. S. & State of 111., Concerning the Univ. of III