Chapter 1: The Beginning

Legislation creates new normal school for northern Illinois (1895)

DeKalb chosen as location of new normal school in northern Illinois (1895)

John Williston Cook becomes first president (1899)

Northern Illinois State Normal School opens (1899)

First issue of student newspaper is published (October 1899)

First Marching Band starts with 14 members (1899)

Future U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt campaigns on campus (1900)

First commencement honors 16 graduates (1900)

First overseas students arrive (1904)

Athletic Association adopts cardinal and black as official colors. (1906)

Term “home-coming” first appears in campus newspaper (1906)