Here at STATEside, we love looking at historic photos from Illinois State’s Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives.
Aerial photos are our favorite. When you look at aerial photos from the 1940s, 1960s, or even the 1980s, it’s fun to try and spot which buildings are “missing” (not yet built) or under construction. Sometimes, it’s hard to even figure out where on campus the photo was taken, because things have changed so much. (That’s when Maps.IllinoisState.edu comes in handy.)
Here are some of our favorite aerial photos of Illinois State, then and now. Thanks again to the Archives!
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- Fairchild Hall is seen under construction in 1949. Cook Hall is visible at right, off the Quad. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking northeast toward campus in 1962. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Tri-Towers and West Campus seen in 1965. (Photo from the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- The view from Watterson Towers in the mid-1960s. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking southwest in 1966. There’s no bridge, no Bone Student Center, no Milner Library. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking north toward Manchester and Hewett halls in 1966. Julian Hall and Science Laboratory Building were not yet built. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking west down what’s now College Avenue, in 1966. Bone Student Center is noticeably missing at right. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Hewett and Manchester halls under construction in 1966. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- An aerial view of the Quad in January 1969. (Courtesy of the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking west from Watterson Towers in 1970. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- A snowy view of Watterson Towers in 1971. (Photo from the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking south toward Illinois State’s former residence halls in 1971. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Center for the Visual Arts under construction in 1972. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Here’s what commencement looked like at Hancock Stadium in 1980. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking west across campus in 1981. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Looking northwest across Illinois State’s campus in 1983. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- Redbird Arena under construction in 1987. (Photo from Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives)
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- A more recent view of Illinois State’s campus, looking northeast.
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- An aerial view of Illinois State’s campus in 2014.
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- A panoramic view of campus (from Watterson Towers) in 2015.
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- Aerial view of ISU Quad
Ryan Denham can be reached at rmdenha@IllinoisState.edu.
