Illinois State Normal University first began honoring its birthday in 1909 with a banquet for friends of the university. The tradition was celebrated intermittently until 1969, after which it went on hiatus. Founders Day, as it was then termed, returned in 1995 with a bell-ringing ceremony and convocation honoring award-winning employees.
Recollections of ISNU's first president, Charles Hovey, gathered for the 1913 Founders Day celebration, can be accessed via the Charles E. Hovey Presidential Papers digital collection.
Founders Day observances between 1995 and 2006 featured short documentary films exploring different periods in the university's history. These are now available to view via YouTube.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 15, 2007
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Old Main Bell Ceremony program, February 15, 2007
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 16, 2006
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Old Main Bell Ceremony program, February 16, 2006
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 17, 2005
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Old Main Bell Ceremony program, February 17, 2005
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 19, 2004
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Old Main Bell Ceremony program, February 19, 2004
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 20, 2003
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Old Main Bell Ceremony program, February 20, 2003
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 21, 2002
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 15, 2001
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 17, 2000
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 15, 1999
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 17, 1998
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 18, 1997
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 13, 1996
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day Convocation program, February 15, 1995
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University Founders Day program, circa February 1965
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State University at Normal Founders' Day program, February 18, 1964
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State Normal University Founders' Day program, February 18, 1963
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State Normal University Founders' Day program, February 20, 1962
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State Normal University Founders' Day program, February 18, 1961
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State Normal University Founders' Day program, February 18, 1960
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.
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Illinois State Normal University Founders' Day program, February 18, 1959
Illinois State University
Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857.