100 Years Later: The University Library Time Capsule

Posted on by Sammi Merritt

The University Library building celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 15, 2024. Leading up to the celebration, many Library units reached out to the University Archives looking for photos, historical material, and other support in the creation of exhibits to commemorate the occasion.

As the exhibit deadlines approached, the Archives received a final reference request from the Facilities Office: when the cornerstone for the building was laid in 1924, was a time capsule hidden inside?

Subsequent research turned up dry, until Beth Leitz at Facilities Information Resources discovered a blueprint for the cornerstone which included a cavity to hide a copper box inside. An accompanying clipping from the Champaign News Gazette confirmed the existence of the capsule and listed its contents.

In the following weeks, Library Facilities undertook the task of removing the cornerstone and the time capsule within. When Jennifer Teper of Library Conservation opened the capsule, however, spirits dropped. It appeared that the box was not properly sealed, and the contents were continually subjected to moisture, mold, and temperature fluctuations for 100 years, which left them in a state of rotted disarray.

Fortunately, two copies of the content list survived: one in the News Gazette article, and one at the top of the time capsule itself – moldy, but fully legible. With only a week left before the anniversary celebration, the Archives decided to recreate the time capsule using material from our holdings. Almost all of the material was quickly located and pulled together from the Archives. Jameatris Rimkus and I collaborated on the exhibit, with Jameatris adding the final touches just hours before the main event.

The tale of the time capsule epitomizes one of the great struggles in history: ensuring that the records of our past survive long enough to tell the tale. While any preservation professional could have predicted that a copper box would not be an ideal storage location for precious historical material, it is clear that University officials of the past wanted to preserve a piece of 1924, doing it in the best way they knew how. Several other early University buildings were also fitted with time capsules in their cornerstones, and one wonders how well their contents have fared over the years.

It was not until much later, in 1963, that the University Archives came onto the scene to more systematically preserve the University’s history. Without the hard work and foresight of the first archivists who gathered, arranged, and made available the historical records, much of this material may have been lost to time.

List of the contents of the University Library time capsule, found inside the copper box in the cornerstone. The paper is moldy and scraps of disintegrated paper can be seen on top. The edges of the copper box are visibly oxidized.
List of the contents of the University Library time capsule, found inside the copper box.

List of contents of the 1924 University of Illinois Library Time Capsule

[Note: Italicized items were not found in the Archives, but in some instances, copies or surrogates found elsewhere were used in the exhibit display]

  • Program of exercises connected with the laying of the cornerstone
    • Found in: 2/0/808 Building and Statue Dedication Programs, 1871-, box 1
  • Illinois Alumni News
    • December 1923
    • May 1924
      • Found in: 26/2/801 Alumni News (Quarterly and Fortnightly Review), 1907-
  • Daily Illini
  • Champaign News-Gazette
  • The Chicago Tribune
  • Chicago Herald Examiner
  • Illio Yearbook
  • Weekly calendar of the University
    • June 1-8, 1924
      • Found in: 38/1/810 University Calendar, 1914-
  • President David Kinley’s alumni letter of February 21, 1924
    • Found in: 2/6/5 box 2, Letters to Alumni, 1920-29
  • University of Illinois Annual Register
    • 1923-24
      • Found in: 25/3/801 Catalogs, 1867-1947, 1949-
  • Report of the comptroller
    • Year ending June 30, 1923
      • Found in: 6/1/801 Financial Reports, 1913-
  • Faculty/student directory
    • 1923-1924
      • Found in: 38/1/806 Student Directories, 1898-1917, 1919-56, 1956-67, 1967-68, 1969-73, 1973-2012
  • Representative coins of lower denominations
  • Photographs
    • Because not enough evidence survived to identify the photos placed in the time capsule, some photos of the Library School c.1924 were used instead; including:
    • 1921 Senior class graduation photo
      • Found in 39/2/20 Photographic Subject File, 1868-, box 108, folder COL-8 Library Science, 1918-1922 (3624.tiff)
    • Moving Books From Altgeld Hall to the New University Library, 1927 (2910.tiff)
      • Found in 39/2/20 Photographic Subject File, 1868-, box 141, LMS – 1, Folder LMS 1 – Library Move
  • The building trades wage scales of 1924
  • List of contents of this box
    • Included a photo of the list found within the capsule as well as a list published in the Champaign News Gazette on June 7, 1924
  • Rules and Regulations for Undergraduates
    • September 1923
      • Found in: 25/7/801 Undergraduate Regulations, 1881-, box 2
  • List of serials
    • 1911 Edition
      • Found in: 35/2/815 Periodicals Lists, 1883, 1906-17, 1933, 1947, 1966-
  • Bulletin on Materials for Historical Research
    • Found in: 15/13/801 Announcements, 1908, 1922, 1954, 1967
  • University of Illinois Library School Circular
    • 1921-22
      • Found in: 18/1/801 Circulars and Announcements, 1897-1925, 1944-
  • Bulletin – Summer Training for Librarianship
    • June 16-Aug 9, 1924 (University of Illinois Bulletin vol XXI no. 30)
      • Found in: 38/1/808 Bulletins, 1902-36, 1939-40
  • Application for admission to library school
    • We did not locate any blank applications. Potentially available via the Registrar.
  • University of Illinois Library School Alumni Association News Letters
    • April 10, 1923
    • January 30, 1924
      • Found in: 18/1/830 Library School Association Newsletters, 1923-
  • President’s report
    • 1922-23
      • Found in: 2/6/801 President’s Reports, 1922-1930 AND
      • Found in: 2/6/20 David Kinley Papers, 1891-1949, box 9, folder “Material for book on University education and administration: the President’s Report 1922-23”
  • “Miscellaneous folders” relating to the library school
  • Technograph
    • May 1924
  • Architectural Year Book
    • 1923-24
      • Found in: 41/67/834 Architectural Yearbook, 1906, 1911-28
  • The Illinois Agriculturalist
    • 1923-24
      • Found in: 41/8/812 Illinois Agriculturist, 1897-1950
  • Illinois Chemist
    • 1923-24
      • Found in: 15/5/825 Illinois Chemist, 1915-25
  • Enterpriser
    • 1923-24
      • Found in: 41/8/811 The Enterpriser, 1920-1930
  • Commencement program
    • June 9, 1924
      • Found in: 2/0/803 Commencement Programs, 1872-
Updated on by Sammi Merritt