SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY
Established in 1869 and located, after competitive bidding, at Carbondale which offered lands and bonds at first estimated to be of the value of $229,000 but which later depreciated through shrinkage to $75,000.
Construction was commenced in May, 1870 and the first or main building was completed and appropriately dedicated in July, 1874. Its cost was $265,000, but it was destroyed by fire, Nov. 26 1883.
In February, 1887 a new structure was completed at a cost of $150,000. Two normal courses of instruction are given, classical and scientific, each extending over a period of four years. The conditions of admission require that the pupil shall be 16 years of age, and shall possess the qualifications enabling him to pass examination for a second grade teachers certificate.
Those unable to do so may enter a preparatory department for six months. Pupils who pledge themselves to teach in the public schools, not less than half the time of their attendance at the University, receive free tuition with a small charge for incidentals, while others pay a tuition fee.
The number of students in attendance for the year 1897-1898 was 720, coming from forty-seven counties, chiefly in the southern half of the State, with representatives from eight other states.
The teaching faculty for the same year consisted, besides the President, of sixteen instructors in the various departments, of whom five were ladies and eleven gentlemen.