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58-656: The English Building, originally known as the Woman's Building, was dedicated on October 16, 1905. The dedication doubled as the installation ceremony for incoming University of Illinois president Edmund Janes James . The original portion of the building, with a central mass along Wright Street and two side wings, was designed in the Georgian Revival style by prominent architectural firm McKim, Mead & White . The firm had previously designed academic buildings at institutions including Columbia University , University of Virginia , and

116-608: A Seth Thomas clock mechanism that allows the chime to play the Westminster chime to mark the hours and the quarters. The mechanism does not currently operate. A small playing chamber is inside the tower containing a wooden chimestand with fifteen pump handles that control the clappers inside the bells via steel wires. Each lever is marked with a musical note, which form an almost complete chromatic scale , ranging from low D to high G while missing low D-sharp and both F-naturals. This configuration of bells were cast such that it can play

174-528: A Heritage Award from the Preservation and Conservation Association of Champaign Country (PACA) for its work on the project. According to campus legend, the English Building is haunted by the ghost of a female student who drowned in the building's pool. Students using the building have reported mysterious phenomena such as doors opening or closing on their own, loudly-creaking floors, and the faint voice of

232-521: A brief appearance in the 1945 film The House on 92nd Street , posing as Ohio State University . The Altgeld Chimes were installed and dedicated on October 30, 1920. Atop the 132-foot tower are fifteen bells, weighing a total of seven and a half tons, cast by McShane Bell Foundry . The university's chime was a gift from the graduating classes of 1914—1921 and the United States School of Military Aeronautics . The senior class of 1922 purchased

290-563: A decade later, the department moved to a new Bevier Hall on the east side of campus. After the Department of English moved into the former Woman's Building in 1956, the structure was given its current name: the English Building. The English Building's slate roof was replaced with identical materials in 2019. At the same time, the cupola and entablature were repaired, attic insulation was installed, and certain windows and chimneys were replaced. The contracted architectural firm, Bailey Edward, won

348-406: A house on Nevada St., later to be used by successor David Kinley . James was known to have many acquaintances around the world, including professors from different universities. He was an educated man who conversed on a variety of subjects, such as mathematics and natural sciences. He was said to be a kind person; one faculty member attributed his kindness to a wish to be appreciated. Motivation

406-624: A key part of the campus's visual identity. Edmund Janes James Edmund Janes James (May 21, 1855 – June 17, 1925) was an American academic, president of the University of Illinois from 1904 to 1920, and the primary founder, first president and first editor for the American Academy of Political and Social Science . He also served as the 7th president of Northwestern University from 1902 to 1904. Born in Jacksonville, Illinois, James

464-406: A pool and locker rooms on the first floor; the second floor was a gymnasium with a balcony over its south end. The Woman's Building was intended to be a "safe space" for women at the university; men were not initially allowed inside, although this policy gradually loosened. Contrary to popular belief, the building never served as a residence hall . The first campus residence hall for female students

522-449: A wise administration of its resources will permit; [W]e cannot believe that on this proposition, your judgement will differ from our own." Soon after his arrival at Northwestern James identified and committed to correcting wide-ranging problems. Poorly funded library services, science laboratories and professional schools, for example, limited education access for both faculty and students. Enrollment and its revenue stream were hampered by

580-425: A woman sounding from nowhere. In the decades after the university's establishment in 1868, its academic core developed haphazardly along Green Street. When Altgeld Hall was completed in 1897, it filled in the last available space on the street's south side. With nowhere to build the new Agriculture Building (now Davenport Hall), university president Andrew S. Draper suggested a site to the south, facing west. After

638-555: Is known as "Father of Chinese Meteorology". Edward Y. Ying (class of 1939) was influential in the planning of modern Shanghai. H.Y. Moh (class of 1913) later became a cotton manufacturer and government minister. James married Anna Margarethe Lange on August 22, 1879, whom he met during his time at the University of Halle. They had three children named Anthony John (b.1885), Herman Gerlach, (b.1887), and Helen Dickson, (b.1889). James never had

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696-598: The University Heights campus of New York University . Originally, the north wing of the Woman's Building was home to the Household Science Department (later called the Department of Home Economics). The north wing included classrooms, test kitchens, and a chemical laboratory. The south wing was primarily social spaces for female students, along with offices for the Dean of Women. The building's central mass had

754-440: The 1950s, a fake office for the pseudonymous mathematical collective Nicolas Bourbaki was constructed in a third-floor room near the building's elevator shaft, complete with a quill pen, candle, and sign labeled "N. Bourbaki". Despite being removed by the university due to fire safety concerns, the office remained an urban legend over the next several decades, with students and professors replacing its sign and sharing rumors in what

812-628: The Agriculture Building was completed in 1899, Noyes Laboratory of Chemistry was built between it and the Natural History Building . Both new edifices fronted a large lawn, which was divided into a west portion and an east portion by Burrill Avenue. The English Building was the first structure built on the west side of Burrill Street south of the Green Street cluster; it was the last building placed without regard to any formal plan for

870-586: The Bolles entry and all the other entries submitted. Based on a suggestion made by Governor Altgeld, the building committee offered the commission to Daniel Burnham , fresh from his success as the organizing architect of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Artistic conflicts between Burnham and the Governor soon became clear, and the relationship was severed. After two years of looking for an acceptable design,

928-660: The Chinese Minister to the United States, Wu Ting-Fang , and created a direct connection between China and the Urbana campus. James also set up the first office for foreign students in the United States. Between 1911 and 1920, the University of Illinois was educating a third of all the Chinese students in the United States; many that held degrees from Illinois later influenced China's development, including Coching Chu (class of 1913) who

986-688: The College of Engineering. At dedication on June 8, 1897, the building was designed as the University Library. In 1927, the School of Law moved in and occupied the building until 1955; an inscription at the north entrance of the building still says Law Building . Since 1955 the Department of Mathematics and the Mathematics Library have occupied the building . In 1941, the building was officially named Altgeld Hall after Governor Altgeld. The building made

1044-472: The Department of Mathematics and the Mathematics Library. The University Chime in the bell tower – which marks the hours, half hours, and quarter hours and plays a ten-minute concert every school day from 12:50–1:00 p.m. – was installed in 1920. The building was officially named "Altgeld Hall" in 1941. Altgeld Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 17, 1970. Planning for

1102-548: The Naval Training School for Signalmen and the Navy's Diesel Engine Operator's School. At that time, the Woman's Building was occupied primarily by the Department of Home Economics. To move the entire Department of Physical Education for Women back into the Woman's Building (which still had a pool and gymnasium), parts of the Department of Home Economics were relocated to the former Davenport House on Wright Street. During this era,

1160-446: The U.S., this was later known as the " Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program " (庚子賠款獎學金). James in his letter noted: "China is upon the verge of a revolution […] The nation which succeeds in educating the young Chinese of the present generation will be the nation which for a given expenditure of effort will reap the largest possible returns in moral, intellectual and commercial influence." President James established ties with China through

1218-559: The University Senate honored his achievements during the 1914 commencement. A summary was presented by David Kinley (who would eventually succeed James), "His have been large and far-reaching plans. He has seen the vision and has dreamed the dream. He has planned largely and asked largely, and therefore we have been treated with corresponding liberality. In physical development; in the enlargement of our faculty; in raising our standards and ideals of scholarship and investigation; in giving

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1276-426: The University to obtain monies that would fund future needs. James requested and received a half million dollars from the state legislature. Two years later he obtained another half million dollars. In 1909 came three million dollars and in 1911 two hundred thousand dollars. In addition, via the mill tax law, James increased savings by seven times that of the prior thirty-six years. At James' tenth year anniversary

1334-578: The Wharton School of Finance and Economy. When James arrived in 1883, he wanted to change the way the students were being taught if they were pursuing business careers. In a statement to the American Bankers' Association in 1890, he stated, It was these considerations then that determined Mr. Wharton to establish this school. First: the belief that the business classes of our country need a higher training as much or more than any other classes; second

1392-503: The Woman's Building; since 1919, it has served as the Chi Omega sorority house. The Woman's Building was expanded in 1913 to designs by W. C. Zimmerman. A group of university women helmed by Nora Dunlap (wife of Henry M. Dunlap ) successfully lobbied the state for the project's funding. The 1913 addition included the three-story Neoclassical colonnade that faces the Main Quad. In 1924,

1450-499: The absence of graduate and technical schools, residence and dining halls, a chapel, gymnasium, and student union. He persuaded the trustees to create a Jubilee Memorial Fund for celebrations during the 1905 semi-centennial but his other fund-raising ideas were less successful. He tried to market the school's name with football, baseball, and debate teams, and with such academic programs as alumni groups, scholarships, and fellowships. He planned to enlist Andrew Carnegie as an advocate of

1508-479: The accomplishment of the very purposes against which it was directed. Without ceasing he has impressed upon faculty and students the need for constantly rising standards of scholarship, and the importance of productive scholarship. In all that makes a man a great and successful university president, Edmund James has met the test, step by step, through the years he has been with us, raising the University to an ever higher level of work and reputation." In July 1919 James

1566-507: The beacon on each hill In widening circles sweeps, And evil, ignorance and fear Are swept from plain and steeps. Then up to the light walk the children of men, O'er the way that their leader has trod, Where o'er torrent and crag and peak he has blazed A path to the city of God Such, Edmund James, is the way you have walked Through the years of your dwelling time here, As up the hills of knowledge you've led With courage, wisdom and cheer, I give you greeting, Edmund James, In

1624-423: The best health with the contribution of working late and not having much exercise except for his hobby of horseback riding. It was said that he would ride around campus in his horse peeking at a window or looking at many lands in the area. He lived in the old white house in front of the campus until the first world war came and made it be used for the Y.M.C.A for the school of military aeronautics. He then resided to

1682-456: The building committee called upon the university's own architecture department. On February 4, 1896, Professors Nathan Ricker and James McLaren White completed the design plans that included construction costs in less than a month. Altgeld Hall was one of five Illinois university buildings, the so-called " Altgeld's castles ", in whose designs the governor took a personal interest. Construction started on June 10, 1896, only four months after

1740-428: The building started in 1892, with Governor John Peter Altgeld and University President Andrew Sloan Draper involved in the design of the building. Initially, the trustees announced a design contest that would award $ 1200 to the best design. The trustees awarded the prize to Edward G. Bolles, a young man with no experience in building design, but after the building committee met with the young man, they decided to reject

1798-412: The building was again expanded, this time to designs by university professor James M. White . White had been the construction supervisor for the original portion of the building. The Department of Physical Education for Women began in the Woman's Building, but it had moved to other campus locations prior to World War II . However, in 1942, the department was displaced from its existing facilities by

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1856-409: The civil war and too old for this one." Even though the University had become a military academy and was helping the war, he was still not satisfied with this accomplishment. President James had the vision to build strong ties with China through education as early as 1906. That year, James wrote to President Theodore Roosevelt proposing a plan to establish scholarships for Chinese students to come to

1914-455: The day during the last ten minutes of the hour. It is tradition to play the university's alma mater , " Hail to the Orange ," during every concert. The concerts have been a tradition since 1920 when the university chime was installed. Throughout the history of Altgeld Hall, students have circulated various urban legends about the building's contents, due in part to its labyrinthine floor plan. In

1972-502: The direction of Johannes Conrad. He earned a doctorate in political economy in 1877 with a thesis on the American tariff. Upon his return to the United States he received an appointment as a high school principal. James was a public finance and administration professor at the Wharton School of Finance of Economy and taught political and social science in the Department of Philosophy. In addition to teaching, he would later become director of

2030-606: The first building on the west side of this new Main Quad; it was joined by Lincoln Hall in 1911 and the Henry Administration Building in 1912. The university later replaced Burrill Avenue with the sidewalk that runs along the English Building's east side. The 1905 portion of the English Building, as designed by McKim, Mead, and White, was the first Georgian Revival structure on the University of Illinois campus. (The original facade has been covered by later additions, although

2088-507: The future development of the campus. After Edmund Janes James was installed as university president in 1905, a planning commission approved a campus growth proposal created by Clarence H. Blackall and landscape architect John Olmsted . This master plan, which was strongly influenced by the formal ideals of the City Beautiful movement , called for a large quadrangle terminating at an auditorium at its south end. The English Building became

2146-442: The initial building design was submitted by Ricker and White. The cornerstone, which included a time capsule , was set on September 11, 1896. Ricker and White supervised the construction of the building which was completed on December 1, 1897. The exterior features the only gargoyle on campus, while the interior features four murals painted around the domed ceiling of what is now the Mathematics Library. Newton Alonzo Wells painted

2204-417: The most moral lesson which can be taught to a student. On June 17, after living for five years on a farm near Covina, California, James died at the age of seventy. His death was caused by uraemia and hardening of the arteries. He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Urbana. In the funeral service, the University senate marched in their academic uniform with the active and honorary pallbearers beside them. In

2262-483: The murals at the recommendation of the architects. The four murals were dedicated to the four colleges at the university in 1897. The south mural is "The Sacred Wood of the Muses" dedicated to the College of Literature and Arts. The north mural is "Arcadia" dedicated to the College of Agriculture. The west mural is "The Laboratory of Minerva" dedicated to the College of Science. The east mural is "The Forge of Vulcan" dedicated to

2320-459: The name of the women and men Who've walked through dark and light with you, And know you a leader of men. Altgeld Hall 40°6′34″N 88°13′42″W  /  40.10944°N 88.22833°W  / 40.10944; -88.22833 Altgeld Hall , located at 1409 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus , was built in 1896–97 and

2378-437: The nation and spend some time visiting campuses. Before leaving his position, president Draper advised James to "[raise] scholarly standards and [improve] instruction," and warned that the University had received as much financial help from the state of Illinois as could be had. James ignored Draper's assessment of state appropriations, knowing that Illinois had increased spending in many categories and seeing an opportunity for

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2436-433: The pool in the Woman's Building was reserved for the training of Navy and Army trainees six mornings per week; female students could only swim in the pool during afternoons and evenings. The Woman's Building was renamed Bevier Hall in 1947 to honor Isabel Bevier , a longtime member of the university faculty. Bevier, who was a pioneer in the home economics field, led the Department of Home Economics from 1901 to 1921. However,

2494-419: The rear is still visible from Wright Street.) Georgian Revival styling is evident in the building's red brick exterior, massive chimneys, dormer windows, and horizontal lines. The University of Illinois would go on to interview McKim, Mead, and White about consulting on the campus master plan, but ultimately, Charles A. Platt was hired instead. Platt chose the Georgian Revival style for the designs he created for

2552-402: The school but Carnegie objected to the school's Methodist affiliation. James's term as president was short lived because trustees came to distrust his judgment. He was viewed as reaching too far, too broadly and too quickly for the school's financial resources. William A. Dyche, Northwestern business manager, summarized: "I sometimes feel that James's wide horizon and his eagerness to plan for

2610-539: The sermon by Reverend James C. Baker, he would talk about the personal characteristics James had. David Kinley gave a speech summarizing the achievements of his old friend and leader. In addition to the speech, Kinley also recited a poem: The foothills of the mountain range Sweep downwards to the given; And who'd plant truth on the mountain top Must climb the hills between; O'er range on range, up peak on peak, His toilsome path pursue, And on each peak his beacon light, While he plans his work anew. The light from

2668-460: The university fight song “ Illinois Loyalty ” in the key of D-major. For this reason, songs must often be transposed to keys where F-naturals are not present. Official concerts are performed every weekday classes are in session from 12:50 to 1:00 PM. Concerts are performed during special occasions, such as Homecoming Weekend, the University of Illinois Founders Day, and Commencement evening. In addition, informal concerts are held randomly throughout

2726-602: The university, leading to a glut of Georgian Revival construction on the University of Illinois campus throughout the 1920s. Many of the buildings Platt designed are still in use today, including the Main Library , Louise Freer Hall , Huff Hall , and the Busey–Evans Residence Halls . Because buildings from the following decades (such as the Illini Union ) continued to reference the style, Georgian Revival has become

2784-560: The view that the commercial or business college, however, real and valuable its higher training, does not in its present form furnish a kind of higher training of the community, as is shown by the fact of the small number of youths looking to business careers who enter college. While in Philadelphia, James organized the American Academy of Political and Social Science to foster research to help solve important social problems. In 1884, he

2842-445: The world a proper estimation of the importance and progress of the University of Illinois – in all the elements of progress during the decade. Edmund James has inspired, has led, has achieved. With infinite patience and kindly tact and wisdom he has met and solved difficulties and opposition, and has overcome obstacles. He has always accepted and profited by kindly criticism. Over and over again he has skillfully turned hostile criticism to

2900-499: The years ahead were, from a practical standpoint, a source of weakness. Possibly if he had not had so many things in mind, each of which was beyond criticism, he might have been satisfied with his labors." James agreed to become the University of Illinois' fourth president in August 1904. Ten years before he accepted, he had been notified of the job offer. His initial objective was to establish contacts with various influential people across

2958-455: Was Busey Hall , which was completed in 1917. Before Busey Hall, female students typically lived in sorority houses, boarding houses, or private homes. Religious groups stepped in to fill the housing shortage as early as 1909, when the Episcopalians built a church-affiliated residence hall that could house thirty women. This facility, known as Osborne Hall, was located across Wright Street from

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3016-517: Was a big factor in James's persona, shown when he encouraged students and faculty to reach for more. In a convocation on December 3, 1914, he said: I should like to have it said that at Illinois the members of the faculty from student assistants in the laboratories to the heads of departments show the keenest interest in the work and welfare of the students, helping them when they need help, inspiring them, holding them moreover always strictly to their work, as

3074-408: Was a serious and unnecessary loss to the University; it has not had too many men of their stature, and neither need have gone if greater reasonableness had been exerted." James arrived after the presidencies of Henry Wade Rogers (1890-1900) and Daniel Bonbright (1900-1902). University trustees were excited to find a man with such an impressive resume and with a philosophy about higher education that

3132-436: Was compatible with their own. James and the trustees agreed to make the university the top Methodist institution of higher education in the country. Financial limitations impeded implementation of new programs, however, and trustees were uncomfortable with increasing indebtness. A letter to James from M. H. Wilson, chairman of the board of trustees, stated, "[NU] is ambitious to develop and broaden that curriculum as rapidly as

3190-530: Was designed by Nathan Ricker and James M. White of the university's architecture department in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Planning for the building began during the Illinois governorship of John Peter Altgeld . The building was originally the University Library, and received major additions in 1914, 1919, 1926, and 1956. From 1927 to 1955 it was used by the College of Law, and from 1955 on by

3248-559: Was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society . Trustees of the university and many of the staff were conservative and unenthusiastic about the idea of focusing on economics and political science, with courses in accounting, banking, and business law. In 1896, James was dismissed from the university. An observation made by Dr. Edward Potts Cheyney in 1940 on both James's and Robert Ellis Thompson's departure, he stated, "The departure of both [James and Thompson]

3306-424: Was granted a year's leave of absence in hopes of improving his health. A year later he was still unwell and submitted his resignation in the spring of 1920. A letter to the board in which he said how much the position had meant to him and was better suited for a younger man. Two years prior to his granted resignation, he had wished to resign from the position to enlist in the war and had said many times, "too young for

3364-494: Was the son of Methodist minister, Colin Dew James, and Amanda Keziah (Casad) James. For his secondary school education, he went to a high school from Illinois State Normal University (now known as Illinois State University ) and graduated in 1873. He attended Northwestern in 1874 and Harvard in 1876 but said to not have enjoyed what Harvard had to offer. He transferred to the University of Halle , where he studied economics under

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