Republican President comes to Champaign-Urbana… in 1911

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Written by Ellen Swain The Republican National Convention has taken center stage in Cleveland this week. One of Ohio’s famous Republican politicians has a connection to the University of Illinois!   In February 1911, President William Howard Taft (1857-1930) toured Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois.  Taft is the only... Read More

Wheelchair Athletes’ 1962 Tour of South Africa and Rhodesia

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Cailin Cullen is a student in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and is currently completing a practicum at the Student Life and Culture Archives. On June 11, 1962, a group of seventeen wheelchair athletes gathered at the University of Illinois for an orientation regarding their upcoming trip to Africa. For... Read More

2016 National Archives Conference for Fraternities and Sororities

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Written by Anna Trammell Maintaining and preserving an organization’s archives in tight economic times can be a challenge. Many national fraternities and sororities rely on staff whose primary responsibilities and expertise are in other areas. Others are fortunate to have volunteers who care for the archives. A smaller number employ... Read More

Alma Mater and the Commencement Connection

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Written by Ellen Swain Eighty-seven years ago, on a warm day in June, our Alma Mater statue was unveiled as the centerpiece of the 1929 commencement week program.  The concert band played and a host of officials gave speeches.  UI President David Kinley prophetically declared, “The significance of this gift is... Read More

A Life in Words: A Look Back at the College Career of Roger Ebert

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Zack Stein is a graduate student in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois. He is currently completing a practicum at the Student Life and Culture Archives. It has been nearly three years since the death of Roger Ebert. To most of us, he was one of the most... Read More