1800s
1867: Illinois Industrial University is founded.
Illinois Industrial University is founded. The Board of Trustees appropriates $1,000 for the purchase of 644 volumes to be housed in the office of Regent Gregory who served as Librarian. Books are later moved to Library Hall in the first Univesity Building (“The Elephant”).
1868: Library is founded.
1869: Henry Marshall Douglass serves as the first Librarian (1869–1871)
1873: James Crawford serves as Librarian (1873-1893)
1874: Library is transferred to University Hall
Library is transferred to the newly constructed University Hall, located on the present site of the Illini Union. Books were transported by wheelbarrow during the summer vacation.
1889: Cleaves Bennett, a graduate student at the University, serves as Assistant Librarian (1889–1894).
1893: Library School is established.
Library School is established at Armour Institute in Chicago; Charles M. Moss serves as Librarian (1893–1894).
1894: Percy Bicknell is appointed as the first full-time Librarian with library experience (1894–1897) and begins to catalog the library collection.
1897: Library and Library School move
1897: Library is moved to a newly constructed building (later named Altgeld Hall). Melvil Dewey delivered the dedication address; Library School is moved to the University of Illinois in the Library
1897: Katherine Sharp, Librarian and Director
Katharine Sharp is named Librarian and Director of the Library School (1897–1907). Sharp modernized the Library by developing reference services, contributing library functions, and professionalized cataloging practice.
1900s
1907: Francis K.W. Drury is named Acting Librarian (1907–1909)
1909: Phineas Windsor, Librarian and Director
Phineas Windsor is named Librarian and Director of the Library School (1909–1940). Windsor built the Library’s holdings from 127,000 to 1,500,000 volumes during his tenure.
1912: University President Edmund J. James proposes to grow the Library.
University President Edmund J. James proposes the creation of a research library on par with those at the great German academic institutions. He states that the Library should accumulate “at least a million of books as rapidly as possible” and that the state “spend a million dollars to build a new building to house the collection.”
1924: Main Library building is complete.
1926: Library is moved into the Main Library building.
1929: Main Library dedication and Second Stack addition.
1935: One millionth volume acquired.
Sir Walter Raleigh, The History of the World. London, England: Printed by William Stansby for Walter Burre, 1614. Gift of John Needels Chester.
1940: Carl M. White, Librarian (1940-1943); Third Stack addition is completed.
1943: Robert B. Downs is named Director of the Library and Library School (1943–1958); Dean of Library Administration (1958–1971)
1946: Two millionth volume acquired: Henry De Wolf Smyth. A General Account of the Development of Methods of Using Atomic Energy for Military Purposes under the Auspices of the United States Government, 1940–1945. Washington, D.C.: Printed in the Adjutant General’s Office, 1945. Acquired from the United States Government.
1953: three millionth volume acquired: Pomponius Mela. Cosmographia, sive, De situ orbis. Salamanca: Printer of Nebrissensis, Gramatical, 1498. Acquired from C. A. Stonehill.
1958: Fourth Stack addition completed.
1966: four millionth volume acquired: Lycophron. Lycophronos tou Chalkideōs Alexandra. Geneva: Paul Estienne, 1601. [John Milton’s copy] Acquired from C. A. Stonehill.
1969: Undergraduate Library Building opens
1970: Fifth Stack addition is complete.
1971: Lucien W. White and Herbert Goldhor. Lucien W. White is named University Librarian (1971–1975). Library and Library School are separated. White becomes University Librarian and Herbert Goldhor becomes director of the School.
1972: Library Friends group is founded to increase visibility & financial support for the Library.
1974: Five millionth volume acquired
The Holy Bible: Containing the Old Testament and the New: Translated into the Indian Language and Ordered to be Printed by the Commissioners of the United Colonies in New-England, at the Charge and with the Consent of the Corporation in England for the Propagation of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England = Mamusse Wunneetupanatamwe Up-Biblum God Naneeswe Nukkone Testament Kah Wonk Wusku Testament. Cambridge, [Massachusetts]: Samuel Green and Marmaduke Johnson: 1661–63. Acquired with assistance from the University of Illinois Library Friends and Research Board.
1975: Robert Oram serves as Acting University Librarian (1975-1976).
1976: Hugh C. Atkinson is named University Librarian (1976–1986).
Atkinson brought automation to the library catalog.
1979: Library School is moved from the Main Library to David Kinley Hall
1982: Six millionth volume acquired: John Flamsteed. Historiae coelestis libri duo: quorum prior exhibet catalogum stellarum fixarum Britannicum novum & locupletissimum. London, England: J. Matthews, 1712 AND John Flamsteed. Atlas coelestis. London, England: 1729. Acquired through the generosity of John E. “Bud” Velde, Jr.
1984: Sith Stack is completed.
1986: Michael Gorman is named Acting University Librarian (1986–1987)
1986: Mortenson Distinguished Professorship for International Library Programs is established, and annual Mortenson Distinguished Lecture is instituted.
1987: David Bishop appointed University Librarian (1987-1992)
1991: Mortenson Center is established
Robert Wedgeworth
Robert Wedgeworth is named Interim University Librarian (1992–93) then University Librarian (1993–99).
1992: Eight millionth volume acquired: William C. Gannett, The House Beautiful. River Forest, IL: Auvergne Press, 1897. Acquired through the generosity of John E. “Bud” Velde, Jr. 1992.
1994: Grainger Engineering Library Information Center is dedicated.
1998: Nine millionth volume acquired: Christophorus Lieb, Practica et arte di cavalleria = Ubung und Kunst des Reitens in welcher der Bereuter die Pferd nach ihrer Art und Natur zu unterweisen und abzurichten erfahren und geubt sein sol. Dresden: Gimel Bergen, 1616 TOGETHER WITH Christophorus Lieb. Gebissbuch, oder, Kurtzer unds gruedlicher Bericht, von Gebiss und Zeumung der Pferd. Acquired through the generosity of Betty Jean Peters Albert in honor of Waco W. Albert, 1998.
1999: Paula Kaufman is named University Librarian (1999-2013)
2000s
2001: Agriculture, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Library dedicated.
2002: Library receives a $1.5 million deferred gift to establish its first faculty chair, the Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Rare Book and Special Collections Chair.
2003: Oak Street facility opens
2003: Ten millionth volume acquired
Unlocking Our Past, Building Our Future: A Commemorative Publication Celebrating the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as Resource, as Place, and as Experience. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, 2003. Produced through the generosity of Alan M. and Phyllis W. Hallene
2006: Karen Schmidt serves as Acting University Librarian (2006–2007)
2009: Eleven millionth volume acquired: Marcus Tullius Cicero. M. T. Cicero’s Cato Major, or, His Discourse of Old-Age. Translated by James Logan. Philadelphia, PA: Benjamin Franklin, 1744. Acquired through the generosity of Robert A. and Emily S. Watts.
2009: Investiture of Paula Kaufman as Librarian and Dean of Libraries
2010: Twelve millionth volume acquired: H.G. Wells. The Adventures of Tommy. Book the First, Telling All About the Proud Rich Man and About the Present He Gave to Tommy. [Autograph Manuscript] Kent, England, 1898. Acquired through the generosity of Jim and Diane Staes.
2012: Thirteen millionth volume acquired: Ise monogatari 伊勢物語 (Tales of Ise). Kyoto-fu (Saga): Suminokura Soan, with Nakanoin Michikatsu and Hon’ami Kōetsu, 1608. Acquired through the generosity of the Simpson Family
2013: John P. Wilkin, Dean of Libraries
The University Library welcomes its fifteenth Dean of Libraries, John P. Wilkin (2013–2017). The investiture of Wilkin as Librarian and Dean of Libraries takes place in 2016. In 2017, Wilkin is named Interim Vice Chancellor for academic affairs and provost designate. In 2018, Wilkin resumes his role as University Librarian and Dean of Libraries (2018-2022).
2017: Fourteen millionth volume acquired: Frederick E. Hoxie. The University of Illinois: Engine of Innovation. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2017. Acquired through the generosity of Paul Lisnek.
2017: William Mischo is named Acting Dean of Libraries and University Librarian; University of Illinois holds a Sesquicentennial celebration and kicks off a $35-million capital campaign for the Library.
2018: The Rare Book & Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois acquires a manuscript written by Sir Isaac Newton that provides instructions for making the philosopher’s stone, a substance thought to have special powers of transformation; University of Illinois announces a multi-phased campaign to transform the University Library.
2021: Main/Undergraduate Library Integration Project draft plans are posted. University Library announces architectural and engineering firms to design new archives and special collections building; Victor Jones, Jr. is hired as the first director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
2022: Archives and Special Collections building is approved by the Board of Trustees; Christopher Prom is named Interim Dean of Libraries and University Librarian (2022–2023).
2023: Claire Stewart is named University Librarian and Dean of Libraries.
2023: Fifteen millionth volume acquired.
Ceo ditte de husbonderie fist un chivaler sir Walter de Henleye. Acquired through the generosity of Betty Jean Peters Albert.
2024: First Edition of Plato is acquired. Rare Book & Manuscript Library acquires first edition of Plato’s works in Greek. While approximately 200 copies of the “editio princeps” were produced in 1513 by the well-known printer Aldus Manutius, just 40 are believed extant today.