Alma Mater Statue
The Alma Mater Statue was built in 1916 and remains one of the most sought out women on campus. Lorado Taft and Rolan Conklin announced the gift of the bronze Alma Mater statue with the idea that she would be a foster mother for academic women throughout history, but also to all students on campus.
Dorothy Day
Dorothy Day was a student on campus from 1914 to 1916. While on campus she was a member of the hockey team and Scribbler’s Club. After leaving the University, Dorothy founded the Catholic Worker Movement and was a social justice crusader in the 1920s.
Fanny Cook Gates
Fanny Cook Gates earned a PhD in Physics in 1909 from the University of Illinois, when the nation's annual production of physics PhD's was about 10. In her research, Fanny demonstrated that radioactivity is not destroyed by either heat or ionization from chemical reactions. In 1916 she was appointed Dean of Women at the University of Illinois, where she planned and organized the beginning of the University's residence hall program and the first cooperative houses for women students.
Lois Seyster Monstross
Lois Seyster Monstross graduated in 1919 and became a prominent author. While a student, she was involved in several organizations including Alpha Xi Delta, Scribbler's Club, Mortarboard, Athenian, Glee Club, Student Council, Woman's League, Illinois Magazine, Senior Class Day Committee, and permanent class secretary.
Louise Freer
Louise Freer became Head of the Department of Physical Education for Women in 1915 and remained in her position for nearly 35 years until her retirement in 1949. Louise advocated for women's athletics at the University and led the Women's Department into an era that produced improvements in facilities and new program designs. The Women's Department trained countless young women who went on to make their marks in the field of physical education.
Rayna Simons Prohme
Rayna Simons Prohme was heavily involved in journalism and writing as a student. She was a member of the Daily Illini staff, the Scribbler's Club, and the Alethenai Literary Society. Rayna graduated in 1917 and later became editor of the Chinese Communist Party's English-language newspaper in Hankow.