IWU 175th Anniversary Digital Archive

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Concrete Pineapple Photograph

Illinois Wesleyan University

President Dick Wilson was gifted the concrete pineapple by an IWU alum in 2008. Recognizing pineapples as symbols of hospitality and welcome, Wilson began ending commencement ceremonies by inviting all graduates to touch the pineapple after receiving their diplomas. This tradition continues today and serves to welcome new IWU graduates into the alumni community.
Little Shop of Horrors Program

Illinois Wesleyan University

This program for the 2001 IWU School of Theatre Arts production of Little Shop of Horrors demonstrates one show with a set design led by Curtis Trout, emeritus professor of scenic design.
1986 IWU Homecoming Button

Illinois Wesleyan University

This button dates back to IWU's 1986 Homecoming festivities, which boasted a T'N'T theme titled "Traditions 'n' Tomorrows".
Helmet for Tommy Titan Mascot

Illinois Wesleyan University

Steve Reeser (Class of 1969) was the first to portray Illinois Wesleyan's mascot, Tommy Titan. This helmet formed part of the costume worn by a subsequent iteration of the mascot, dating back to the 1980s.
Titan Women's Basketball Coach's Jacket

Illinois Wesleyan University

This jacket belonged to Duey Buchanan, head coach of the Illinois Wesleyan Women's Basketball team from 1974-1984. Buchanan's hiring came right on the heels of the passing of Title IX in 1972 which banned sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.
Gavel Gifted to Student Senate President George Vinyard (Class of 1971)

Illinois Wesleyan University

IWU alumnus George Vinyard served first as a student senator and later as the Student Senate President in 1970-71. Following his graduation and subsequent completion of law school, Vinyard was invited to serve on the IWU Board of Trustees at just 27 years old, where he continued his nearly five-decade service to the university.
The Coed Nurse Newsletter

Mary D. Shanks

This newsletter written by Mary Shanks, director of the Brokaw Collegiate School of Nursing, explains the reason behind nursing uniforms and caps.
Pray-In For Peace Program

Illinois Wesleyan University

This program dates to a 1969 prayer service held in response to the Vietnam War and calls for peace.
Victory Bell Photograph

Illinois Wesleyan University

This 1969 photograph of the Illinois State University victory bell dates back to a former tradition observed by both Illinois Wesleyan and ISU. Until 1969, IWU and ISU faced off annually in football. The neighboring schools would ring their respective victory bells prior to the game. Twice in the 1960s, IWU students stole ISU's victory bell as a prank - once in 1967 and again in 1969. The photograph displayed here features IWU students bringing ISU's bell back to campus after the heist.
IWU Freshman Beanie

Illinois Wesleyan University

This freshman beanie was worn by George Vinyard (Class of 1971) during his first year on campus in 1967-68. The tradition of freshmen wearing beanies in their first weeks as college students began to fade away around this time before disappearing in the mid-1970s.
Stevenson Hall Rededication Photograph

Illinois Wesleyan University

Built as a science building in 1910, Stevenson Hall stands as the oldest building on campus today. The building was rededicated in 1965 to serve as the home of the School of Nursing (now the School of Nursing and Health Sciences).
Insurance Program Announcement Letter

William T. Beadles

This letter from Professor William T. Beadles announces the introduction of an insurance program at Illinois Wesleyan University. The enclosure on the second page offers a look at the program's course of study.
Acheson Medal Awarded to John Wesley Marden (Class of 1909)

Electrochemical Society

The Electrochemical Society awarded John Wesley Marden (Class of 1909) the Acheson Medal in recognition of his contributions to science, specifically in regard to the study of rare metals. During World War I, Marden studied zirconium, sparking his interest in this field. He later researched uranium and its production, work that played a role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
Sigma Alpha Iota Spring Musicale Program

Illinois Wesleyan University

This 1952 program features the music selections and musicians for Sigma Alpha Iota's Spring Musicale.
Fraternities of Illinois Wesleyan University Pamphlet

Illinois Wesleyan University

This pamphlet details the fraternities at Illinois Wesleyan University circa 1950. The pamphlet also contains photographs of chapter houses and details on the rushing process.
Sororities at Illinois Wesleyan University Brochure

Illinois Wesleyan University

Dating approximately to the 1950s, this brochure provides a brief overview of sororities at Illinois Wesleyan University complete with photographs of the chapter houses.
World War II Letter by Fred Brian

Fred Brian

This letter, written by Fred B. Brian (February 22, 1924 - October 11, 1999), details the flight training for aviation cadets in Columbia, South Carolina. Brian was an Illinois Wesleyan University student when he joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1943. He served as a pilot/navigator on C-47s in Africa, Italy and South America, and he was discharged with the rank of Captain in 1945.

Following the war, Brian completed a BFA degree at Illinois Wesleyan in 1950. He received an MFA from the University of Iowa in 1951, and became an assistant professor at Illinois Wesleyan in 1952. He received the University’s highest teaching award in 1979, and he retired in 1984.
Autographed Ball from Illinois Wesleyan University v. Illinois State Normal University Baseball Game

Illinois Wesleyan University

This baseball from the Illinois Wesleyan University v. Illinois State Normal University baseball game on May 2nd, 1944, features signatures of the players. IWU won this contest, 10-8.
Nail from Hedding Hall

Illinois Wesleyan University

Chet Sheldon recovered this nail after the Hedding Hall fire of 1943 .
Alma Wesleyana Lyrics

William Eben Schultz

This document contains the original lyrics to the Illinois Wesleyan University school song, written by faculty member William Eben Shultz in 1935. Schultz was a faculty member from 1934-1964 and donated this manuscript copy to the archives at Buck Memorial Library in 1939.
1935 IWU Homecoming Dance Card

Illinois Wesleyan University

This dance card was created for the 1935 Homecoming dance. Women traditionally carried dance cards to track dance partners throughout the night. A full dance card would allow women to politely turn down additional dance partners.
1931 Senior Jacket worn by Helen Worner Clauser

Illinois Wesleyan University

This jacket once belonged to IWU student, Helen Worner Clauser (Class of 1931). This letter jacket was also known as the "Senior Jacket".
Pillsbury Plan Rendering

Illinois Wesleyan University

This artist rendering depicts the campus expansion plan as depicted by architect A. L. Pillsbury, a Bloomington native. The plan followed a community-wide fundraising effort rooted in considerations by the Board of Trustees to move Illinois Wesleyan to Springfield, Illinois. With the money raised to keep IWU in Bloomington and improve the existing campus, the Board hired Pillsbury to design an expansion. The Pillsbury Plan resulted in three new buildings: Memorial Gymnasium (now Hansen Student Center), Buck Memorial Library, and Presser Hall. Full realization of this plan was interrupted by the Great Depression.
World War I Memorial Program

Illinois Wesleyan University

Designed for a memorial event at Illinois Wesleyan in 1919, this program lists the names of all IWU-affiliated soldiers who died during World War I.
1917 IWU Women's Tennis Uniform worn by Rachel Green Gage

Illinois Wesleyan University

Rachel Green Gage (Class of 1919) wore this uniform playing for the Illinois Wesleyan University Women's Tennis Team. Gage won the doubles championship during the Milikin Tennis Tournament in 1917 with her sister, Grace Green (Class of 1917. This championship marks the earliest known women's intercollegiate athletic event for IWU.