by John W. Cook and James V. McHugh
Normal, Illinois (1882)

A History of the Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois, was the first published history of the institution. It documents the first 25 years of the institution, from 1857 to 1882.

John Cook graduated from ISNU in 1865 and later returned to teach mathematics, physics, and reading. He would culminate his ISNU career by serving as the fourth university president from 1890to 1899. James McHugh served briefly as principal of the model grammar school on campus. At the time this history book was written, McHugh was principal of Normal Public School.

The print copy digitized for this online version is believed to have been owned by Charles E. Hovey, first president of the university. The copy includes handwritten annotations and markings attributed to Hovey.

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About the source used for digitization

This digital version of A History of the Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois was created from a microfilm version created, in turn, from three different print copies of the original text.

A copy inscribed "Wrightonian Society. April, 1883-" was used as the basis for this project in that it was digitized nearly in its entirety.

The last 15 pages of the text-- 15 pages of advertisements beginning with the page headed "Recent School Publications. Appletons' Readers" -- were digitized from a copy of this title held in the Illinois State University Archives and marked with the call number "369.3 E1 Cop. 10."

The third copy used in this project is owned by Dr. Raymond Clemens, Assistant Professor of History, Illinois State University. The book was once owned by Mr. Clemens' great grandmother, Frances Chapman. Ms. Chapman received the book from her brother, Charles E. Hovey, the first principal (president) of Illinois State Normal University. The copy is inscribed "Frances M.A. Chapman April 1883- From her brother Chas E. Hovey." Numerous pages of the copy have been annotated, most likely by Hovey himself. To preserve and make accessible these annotations, the following pages of this Hovey copy were filmed in place of the same pages from the Wrightonian copy: 30, 47, 59, 175-192, 204-205, 212-214, 227, 229-232, 235, and 253.

About the digitization project

Funding for this digitization project was provided by The Friends of Milner Library, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. Additional funding was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Digitizing and microfilming services were provided by Preservation Resources, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and by Northern Micrographics of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Special thanks to Dr. Raymond Clemens, Assistant Professor of History, Illinois State University, for use of his copy of the title provided to him by his father, Neal R. Clemens, resident of Normal and descendant of Charles Hovey, first principal (president) of Illinois State Normal University.

The following members of the Milner Library staff were instrumental in making this project possible: Cheryl Elzy, Dean of University Libraries; Beth Schobernd, Associate Dean for Technical Services; Sharon Naylor, Education Librarian; Jo Ann Rayfield, University Archivist; Bruce Stoffel, Education/Library Science Librarian; Morag Boyd, Serials Cataloger; Barbara Feldman, Preservation Librarian; and Jan Johnson, Library Technical Assistant III.

Other available formats of this text

The print version of A History of the Illinois State Normal University is available in Milner Library in the Floor 1 reference collection (3 copies) and in the Special Collections and Rare Book Room on Floor 6 (2 copies). The call number is LD2347 .C66 1882. The print version is also available in the University Archives located in Williams Hall. All copies are available for building use only (i.e., they cannot be removed from either the library or the archives).

The text is also available in microfilm (building use only) in Milner Library at the Floor 1 Information Desk and in the University Archives.

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