The first Founders' Day commemoration took place on December 11, 1913. The first printed program held in the University Archives is dated 1922 and all that are available have been scanned and uploaded to this collection. When possible, speeches or entire event recordings are also available.
President William H. Wilder gave one of the speeches at the 1913 ceremony. He quoted a paragraph of the Central Illinois Methodist Conference Education Committee's report (copied below in its entirety). In 1922, part of the quote was inscribed on the University's west gate, named the Founders' Gate. The University has since adopted this quote as a guiding philosophy, and it is usually cited at Founders' Day Convocations.
"The Methodist Church, in the West and Southwest, stands in a position of incalculable responsibility to the great wave of population overspreading the valley of the Mississippi. Destiny seems to point out this valley as the depository of the great heart of the nation. From this center mighty pulsations, for good or evil, must in future flow, which shall not only affect the fortunes of the republic, but reach in their influence, other and distant nations of the earth. The advances herein reported which are being made by the Methodists on the subject of education in the bounds of the Illinois Conference, flatter the idea that, in so far as our section of the church is concerned and especially the division of it embraced in the Illinois Conference, cheering success will attend our future efforts to contribute our share towards the general education of the great masses. In addition to all other motives conspiring to lead us forward in this noble work, patriotism or the love of country is not the least. The nature of our constitutions and laws demands it. The tenure and price of our liberties are involved in it. The sovereignty invested in the whole people imperiously requires it; and recent events, as they have been connected with the civil questions which have agitated the nation, some of which questions have sprung from the tide of foreign emigration setting in upon American soil, call loudly for the work of education to go forward-the education of nothing less than the whole American mind; an education, too, that shall be American in all its essential principles."
[Education Committee Report, Journal and records of the ... session of the Illinois Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1854, p. 19.]
Programs from 2022
Founders' Day Convocation (2022 Program, video and slides), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2021
Founders' Day Convocation (2021 Program and video), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2020
Founders' Day Convocation (2020 Program and video), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2019
Founders' Day Convocation (2019 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2018
Founders' Day Convocation (2018 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2017
Founders' Day Convocation (2017 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2016
Founders' Day Convocation (2016 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2015
Founders' Day Convocation (2015 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2014
Founders' Day Convocation (2014 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2013
Founders' Day Convocation (2013 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2012
Founders' Day Convocation (2012 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2011
Founders' Day Convocation (2011 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2010
Founders' Day Convocation (2010 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2009
Founders' Day Convocation (2009 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2008
Founders' Day Convocation (2008 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2007
Founders' Day Convocation (2007 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2006
Founders' Day Convocation (2006 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2005
Founders' Day Convocation (2005 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2004
Founders' Day Convocation (2004 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2003
Founders' Day Convocation (2003 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2002
Founders' Day Convocation (2002 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2001
Founders' Day Convocation (2001 Program and video), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 2000
Founders' Day Convocation (2000 Program and video), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1999
Founders' Day Convocation (1999 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1998
Founders' Day Convocation (1998 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1997
Founders' Day Convocation (1997 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1996
Founders' Day Convocation (1996 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1995
Founders' Day Convocation (1995 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1994
Founders' Day Convocation (1994 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1993
Founders' Day Convocation (1993 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1992
Founders' Day Convocation (1992 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1991
Founders' Day Convocation (1991 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1990
Founders' Day Convocation (1990 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1989
Founders' Day Convocation (1989 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1988
Founders' Day Convocation (1988 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1987
Founders' Day Convocation (1987 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1986
Founders' Day Convocation (1986 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1985
Founders' Day Convocation (1985 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1984
Founders' Day Convocation (1984 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1983
Founders' Day Convocation (1983 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1982
Founders' Day Convocation (1982 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1981
Founders' Day Convocation (1981 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1980
Founders' Day Convocation (1980 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1979
Founders' Day Convocation (1979 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1978
Founders' Day Convocation (1978 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1977
Founders' Day Convocation (1977 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1976
Founders' Day Convocation (1976 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1975
Founders' Day Convocation (1975 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1974
Founders' Day Convocation (1974 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1973
Founders' Day Convocation (1973 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1972
Founders' Day Convocation (1972 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1971
Founders' Day Convocation (1971 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1970
Founders' Day Convocation (1970 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1969
Founders' Day Convocation (1969 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1968
Founders' Day Convocation (1968 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1967
Founders' Day Convocation (1967 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1966
Founders' Day Convocation (1966 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1965
Founders' Day Convocation (1965 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1964
Founders' Day Convocation (1964 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1963
Founders' Day Convocation (1963 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1962
Founders' Day Convocation (1962 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1961
Founders' Day Convocation (1961 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1960
Founders' Day Convocation (1960 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1958
Founders' Day Convocation (1958 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1957
Founders' Day Convocation (1957 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1956
Founders' Day Convocation (1956 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1955
Founders' Day Convocation (1955 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1954
Founders' Day Convocation (1954 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1953
Founders' Day Convocation (1953 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1952
Founders' Day Convocation (1952 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1951
Founders' Day Convocation (1951 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1950
Founders' Day Convocation (1950 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1949
Founders' Day Convocation (1949 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1947
Founders' Day Convocation (1947 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Founders' Day Dinner (1947 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1946
Founders' Day Convocation (1946 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1945
Founders' Day Convocation (1945 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1944
Founders' Day Convocation (1944 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1943
Founders' Day Convocation (1943 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1941
Founders' Day Convocation (1941 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1940
Founders' Day Convocation (1940 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1929
Founders' Day Convocation (1929 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1927
Founders' Day Convocation (1927 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1924
Founders' Day Convocation (1924 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University
Programs from 1922
Founders' Day Convocation (1922 Program), Illinois Wesleyan University