The first State of the University Address was given at Illinois State University in 1967 by newly-appointed President Samuel Braden. Dr. Braden, who had been in the role less than two months, began by acknowledging that he had a lot to learn about running a university, and called attention to the challenges Illinois State continued to face in transitioning from a teachers training college, or “normal school,” to a comprehensive liberal arts university. He also noted a shortfall between state appropriations and the funds needed to educate Illinois State’s growing student body—a refrain that would become all too familiar in the annual addresses given in the decades to come.
Assembled from published pamphlets, archival records, cached webpages, livestream videos, and Word documents saved by Illinois State’s director of media relations and strategic communications, this collection tells the administrative story of Illinois State University over the past 57 years and paints a vivid picture of the accomplishments of its faculty, staff, and students.
Through the tumultuous 1970s to the Great Recession of the late 2000s and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, each annual address captures a unique moment in time, reflecting not only the evolving mission of the University but also the broader societal shifts that have impacted higher education. Recurring themes include the expansion of academic programs; the enhancement of campus facilities; significant fundraising initiatives; and an evolving commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Back in 1967, Braden concluded his pioneering speech with the exhortation that “above all, we will continue to see our students grow in knowledge and maturity until they go out to excel us in the work of the world.” On September 19, President Aondover Tarhule echoed this sentiment, declaring that “together, we will continue to make Illinois State a place of opportunity, discovery, and impact—both for our students and the world.” As we look ahead to future State of the University Addresses, it seems certain that these words will always ring true.
This digital collection is freely available online via ISU ReD, Milner Library’s institutional repository. Visit Milner’s website to explore the library’s many other digital collections, including several that speak to Illinois State’s rich history.
