The Illini Tradition in Chicago
1886 - 1909

Founded in June 1886, the Chicago Club of the University of Illinois was the first organization of University of Illinois Alumni in Chicago. Today’s Chicago Illini Club can trace its roots back to this date and thank the Chicago Club’s founders and first officers, Lorado Taft (1879), Robert Orr (1882), C. G. Neely and Jacob Weiss. The Illini Club Bulletin published in May 1910 describes the Chicago Club:

It was open to both men and women and the latter played quite an active part in the organization. A large formal banquet was held every spring and meetings were called as the occasion demanded, with speakers from the University faculty or selected from the prominent alumni. The varsity teams that visited the city were entertained and, during the summer, picnics and lake excursions were held.

The Chicago Club of the University of Illinois was succeeded by the Illini Club of Chicago, and finally into the title we have today: The Chicago Illini Club.

More history to be posted soon!