Historic University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Songs

Music has always been an integral part of university culture, particularly those songs that celebrate one's university, campus, or local community. This exhibit explores the history of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign songs and yells and celebrates these cultural tokens that have withstood the test of time, focusing on songs from the early 1900s to the present.

Historical Context

College songs, besides being a valuable way to bring the university community together, help define campus culture and set the U. of I. apart from other institutions. In the words of one scholar:

"Campus singing and campus plays exercised national attention in focusing the spotlight on Mid-Western Universities -- especially Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, many others. These universities, previous to Word War I were, from Eastern valuations, "in the sticks". They needed this pepping-up, this arousing of campus fidelity and loyalty to center upon them the attention of hundreds of students who might have been scholastically turned otherwise into Eastern channels... These songs and plays did not add to the over all scholarship of Mid-Western Universities but "The East" knew we were here. A nod from Eastern institutions was always welcome when Mid-Western "land-grant" colleges were struggling for recognition."

(We're Loyal To You, Illinois ; The Story of the University of Illinois Bands Under Albert Austin Harding for 43 Years, Superimposed Upon Glimpses of University History During the Half-Century of Harding Leadership on Campus, 176-177)

Yells

In addition to songs, there were also campus yells. Yells were used primarily during sporting events to cheer on U. of I. athletes and to excite the spectators. There is no complete record of all of the various U. of I. yells from over the years. However, there are a few that made it into various song compilations and books about the history of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. One of the older-known yells dates back to the 1890s!

Illinois' Oldest Yell

Rah-Hoo-Rah!

Zip-Boom-Bah!

Rip-zoo-ráz-zoo!

Jimmy blow your Bázoo!

Ip-zid-i-wi-ki, U of I.!

Illinois!!

About Our Collections

There are several places on campus that connect users to items relating to the history of U. of I. songs. However, when it comes to music-related topics, most items are kept at the Music and Performing Arts Library (MPAL) and at the Sousa Archives & Center For American Music. Most of the items and information included in this exhibit came from MPAL's Special Collections, which houses unique materials that are available to consult in the library upon request. These items include first editions of official University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign song books, hundred-year-old sheet music, longplay discs of the University Band performing classic college tunes, and donated pamphlets with annotations from their original owners still gracing the margins.

Despite the variety of items, eras, and authors, certain themes remain consistent throughout these songs. There is the beauty of Illinois itself, particularly its sweeping plains and running rivers. There are the students, consisting of the most tenacious of athletes, the most wizened of scholars, and of course the most fun-loving youth. There is, as one of Illinois' most popular songs proudly proclaims, the sense of loyalty to the U. of I. and all it has done for its students. And perhaps the most prevalent is the recurring emphasis of that powerful sense of community, welcoming students past, present, and future into the traditions of U. of I. and giving them a place they can always call home.

How to Navigate the Exhibit

Explore each tab below to advance to that section of the exhibit. Links to all exhibit pages are also located in the column on the left-hand side of the screen.

This exhibit was created by the following MPAL graduate assistants:

• Amanda Crego-Emley: initial research and item selection
• Monica Gil: final item selection, organization, writing, and initial build out in Omeka S
• Sara Ostermeier: editing, reorganization, and final build out in Omeka S