President Edmund James and the chimes prior to their dedication, October 1920
1920
- Women’s Club damaged by fire.
- First all-University mixer held.
- David Kinley assumed the UI presidency from the retiring Edmund James.
- Library (Altgeld Hall) chimes dedicated to the University as gifts from the classes 1914-1921.
- Chapters of Phi Epsilon Pi and Alpha Epsilon Phi established.
- Alpha Alpha Alpha organized.
- First Dad’s Day held.
- Smith Memorial Music Hall and Education Building (now University High School) completed.
1921
- First Mom’s Day held.
- Dads Association established.
University High School Proposal, circa 1919
1922
- Mothers Association established.
- First broadcast of campus radio station occurred on April 6, 1922. Dean of Men Thomas Arkle Clark delivered a talk on “Why College Students Fail.”
- During commencement address, Lorado Taft presented plaster cast of Alma Mater statuary group. Plaster cast was displayed on Auditorium steps.
- University High School opened its doors to 63 students.
- Cement surface installed on Boardwalk, which ultimately became known as the Broadwalk.
1923
- Sigma Pi Alpha installed.
- Maria Leonard named Dean of Women.
- Hillel Foundation established on campus.
- Horticultural Field Laboratory completed.
- Illinois defeated Chicago 7-0 in first football game played at Memorial Stadium.
- Football team won national championship title.
- First Axe-Grinder’s Ball held.
Red Grange, Illinois halfback, after his last game played for the University, circa 1925
1924
- Freshman women’s honor society Alpha Lambda Delta formed.
- A May 3, 1924, Daily Illini editorial condemned newly revised Interfraternity Council constitution which provided admittance to Jewish fraternities but not to African-American ones.
- Illinois athletes won three gold medals and one silver medal in track and field at the Olympics.
- On Memorial Stadium’s dedication day, Red Grange scored four touchdowns in the first twelve minutes in a game against Michigan. Grange would make two more touchdowns and the Illini would go on to win 39-14 in one of the most famous games in college football history.
- New Agriculture Building (now Mumford Hall) completed.
1925
- Crossword puzzle craze swept campus.
- On March 9th student riot at Orpheum Theater caused $800 in damages.
- Registration snafus forced dismissal of classes.
- Ex-President James died.
- Illibuck tradition with Ohio State began. Initially, a live turtle was given to the winner of the Illinois-Ohio State football game, but after the turtle’s death in 1927, a wooden replica served as the trophy.
- Bronze Tablet established to honor seniors of the highest scholastic standing.
- Seventeen fraternities boycotted Midway Confectionery on Fourth Street in a bid to force store out of fraternity district.
- New Men’s Gymnasium (now Huff Hall), New Commerce Building (now David Kinley Hall), West Residence Hall (Evans Hall), and McKinley Hospital completed.
Smallpox notice, 1938
1926
- Smallpox outbreak struck campus, with 30 cases reported.
- During annual spring celebration, some 2,000 students marched in downtown Champaign, causing seven injuries and $1405 in damages.
- Lester Leutwiler became the first Chief Illiniwek, debuted during football game against University of Pennsylvania.
- National Spanish honor society organized.
- Number of sororities on campus reached 36, up from 20 in 1920.
- No-car rule imposed restricting driving on campus.
- First unit of Main Library completed.
Football Program, Northwestern, 1927
1927
- Roller-skating craze engulfed campus.
- Smoking banned on campus.
- April 4th hailstorm damaged greenhouses and other buildings to the extent of $22,665.
- Five-day Thanksgiving holiday established.
- Football team won national championship title.
1928
- Spring semester experienced record enrollment of 9547.
- Phi Omega Pi sorority quarantined for smallpox.
- The Marching Illini created the 3-in-1 formation.
- Organization of independent men formed.
- Newman Foundation opened dining hall to public.
- Memorial Stadium received a new scoreboard.
- Council of Administration adopted revised rushing rules.
- International Council of Foreign Students organized.
- Architecture Building completed.
Alma Mater dedication ceremony, June 11, 1929
1929
- Quarantine imposed after outbreak of scarlet fever.
- Chapter of Sigma Phi Beta installed.
- Early May storm blanketed campus with 1-inch of snow.
- Alma Mater statuary group dedicated during ceremony held on commencement day. Sculptor Lorado Taft was present for the occasion.
- Martin Kamerer opened a pharmacy on Daniel Street that would ultimately become the campus institution Kam’s.
Continue to the next decade: 1930-1939…
