EIU Media Relations

Public Invited to Opening Reception, Program of EIU Education Exhibit

Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library invites all interested persons to the opening reception and program for the "Teachers Tame the Prairie: Vignettes of Eastern Illinois University and Education in Illinois" exhibition.

Activities will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the Booth Library West Reading Room.

Following opening remarks, Terry Barnhart and Charles Titus, professors of history, will present "The Coming of the Normal School: Vision and Mission in the Founding of Eastern Illinois University, 1895-1900" and "In Search of Eden: America's Endless Journey Toward School Reform," respectively, at 7:30 p.m. in the adjacent Reference West Reading Room. Light refreshments will be served.

The exhibit, created by the faculty and staff of Booth Library, provides a historical look at the training of teachers and Normal schools in Illinois, including an overview of school life in Illinois. Programming related to this exhibition is being offered during October and November 2010 to coincide with the reaccreditation visit of Eastern's College of Education and Professional Studies by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

In addition to the wealth of information gleaned from the materials housed in University Archives and Special Collections, the project also involves Illinois residents who are providing stories and artifacts related to their school experience. Although the history of Eastern and its training schools will be featured, education at all levels from around the state will be included.

This exhibition will be on display in the Marvin Foyer of Booth Library from Oct. 12 through Dec. 10, during regular library hours.