Finding Aid for Subject File, 1931-1986 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: Subject File, 1931-1986

ID: 12/1/1

Primary Creator: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. College of Fine Arts and Applied Arts

Extent: 14.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Alphabetical by subject and chronological thereunder

Subjects: Allerton Park, American Institute of Architects, Architecture Department, Art Department, Campus Planning, Chicago Undergraduate Division, City Planning and Landscape Architecture Department, College Art Association, Community Planning, Contemporary Arts Festival, Council on Program Evaluation (COPE), Exhibits, Fine and Applied Arts, College of, Krannert Art Museum, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Music, School of, National Clearinghouse for Criminal Justice Planning and Architecture, Taft, Lorado, 1860-1936

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Subject File of the Dean's office contains course schedules and descriptions, committee reports relating to administrative matters, correspondance concerning professional societies, exhibits (1933-61), scholarship and fellowship, faculty research and publications; also includes files on the Departments of Architecture (1932-70); Art (1931-69); City Planning and Landscape Architecture (1931-65); the School of Music (1932-68); Allerton House (1944-68); National Clearinghouse for Correctional Programming and Architecture (1971-80); Chicago Undergraduate Division (1953-65); Kinley Fellowships (1963-69); provost (1936-67); Senate (1956-67); administrative and research correspondance of Deans Reford Newcomb (1932-54) and Allen S. Weller (1954-71); Council of Program Evaluation (COPE) (1974-1978); Krannert Art Museum (1966-1981); Krannert Center (1968-1981); Arts in Motion (1978); Lorado Taft House (1981); and Theater Department (1970-1982).

The College of Fine and Applied Arts began with the founding of the School of Architecture in 1871, which was originally a department of the College of Engineering.^1,2 In 1915 the School became the College of Architecture, separating from the College of Engineering.³ The first drawing teacher was hired in 1871⁴ and the School of Art first appears in the records in 1876.⁵ The School of Design was proposed in 1876⁶ and implemented in 1877.⁷ In 1931 the title of the Department of Art and Design was changed to the Department of Art.⁸

Musical activities at the University began in 1870, when a group of sixteen students requested and received brass instruments and instruction for a military band for the University Battalion.⁹ Keyboard instruction was offered by 1872¹⁰ and in 1876 an organ and director acquired for the formation of a choir for daily chapel exercise.¹¹ After several year's discussion, the Department of Music was established in 1895.¹²

A proposal was made by the University Senate on October 3, 1921 to organize the Department of Architecture, the Division of Landscape Architecture, the School of Music and the Department of Art and Design into a College of Fine Arts. A committee of the faculty was appointed in 1928 to make recommendations which were approved by the Senate on February 2, 1930. On March 12, 1931, the Board of Trustees established the college for the "... cultivation of esthetic taste on the part of the student body at large ... and development of general artistic appreciation."¹³ The first dean, Rexford Newcomb, was appointed in 1932.¹⁴ Attemting to establish a permanent art collection at the University, dean Newcomb established the biennial Festival of Contemporary Arts in 1948. 

Under Allen S. Weller, who was dean from 1954 to 1971, the College founded the Krannert Art Museum and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Weller was succeeded by Jack McKenzie, who acted as dean from 1971 to 1991. Mckenzie was followed by deans Donald Wick (1993-2001), Kathleen Conlin (2001-2005), Robert Graves (2007-2018), Kevin Hamilton (2018-2024), and Jake Pinholster (2024-present).

Allerton Park
American Institute of Architects
Architecture Department
Art Department
Campus Planning
Chicago Undergraduate Division
City Planning and Landscape Architecture Department
College Art Association
Community Planning
Contemporary Arts Festival
Council on Program Evaluation (COPE)
Exhibits
Fine and Applied Arts, College of
Krannert Art Museum
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Music, School of
National Clearinghouse for Criminal Justice Planning and Architecture
Taft, Lorado, 1860-1936

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Accruals: 1/7/66; 7/18/73; 4/19/86; 12/19/94; 1/8/03; 7/2003

Other Note: 11 Pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/1201001.pdf

PDF finding aid for Subject File (12/1/1)