Bradley University

Westlake Hall under construction c. 1897. Bradley Hall is one of the first buildings constructed for the university and bears the name of the university's founder. The Bradley Polytechnic Institute was founded by philanthropist Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897 in memory of her husband, Tobias, and their six children, all of whom died before Bradley, leaving her a childless widow. As a first step toward her goal, in 1892 she purchased a controlling interest in Parsons Horological School in LaPorte, Indiana, the first school for watchmakers in America and moved it to Peoria. [ 4 ] She specified in her will that the school should be expanded after her death to include a classical education as well as industrial arts and home economics . In October 1896, Mrs. Bradley was introduced to William Rainey Harper , president of the University of Chicago . He convinced her to move ahead with her plans and establish the school during her lifetime. Bradley Polytechnic Institute was chartered on November 13, 1896. Mrs. Bradley provided 17.5 acres (71,000 m 2 ) of land, $170,000 for buildings, equipment, and a library, and $30,000 per year for operating expenses. Harper served as president of both institutions (Chicago and Bradley) for some years. [ 5 ] Fourteen faculty and 150 students began classes in Bradley Hall on October 4, 1897 with construction workers still onsite. The Horological Department added another eight faculty and 70 students. Bradley Polytechnic Institute was formally dedicated on October 8, 1897. Its first graduate, in June 1898, was Cora Unland. Originally, the institute was organized as a four-year academy as well as a two-year college. By 1899 the institute had expanded to accommodate nearly 500 pupils, and study fields included biology, chemistry, food work, sewing, English, German, French, Latin , Greek , history, manual arts, drawing, mathematics, and physics. By 1920 the institute dropped the academy orientation and adopted a four-year collegial program.

Enrollment continued to grow over the coming decades and the name Bradley University was adopted in 1946. [ 6 ] The first music building on Bradley's campus, Constance Hall, was built in 1930. In 1962 the building was renovated to become the music building of Bradley's Campus. [ 7 ]

Bradley's 84 acre campus on Peoria's west bluff. Bradley's 84-acre (34 ha) campus is located on Peoria's west bluff and is minutes from downtown. The campus of Bradley University is relatively compact. Student housing Bradley's student housing is concentrated on the campus's east side; there are several residence halls and university-owned apartment complexes. [ 8 ]

Located on the south side of Bradley's campus is Dingeldine Music Center. Bradley University is also the site of Peoria's National Public Radio affiliate, WCBU-FM . The radio tower is a prominent landmark and is located adjacent to the BECC, at the site of the former Jobst Hall. [ 9 ] Bradley sports two athletic facilities directly on campus. The Markin Family Student Recreation Center , completed in 2008, houses a variety of sports and fitness areas. [ 10 ] Renaissance Coliseum is home to Bradley women's basketball, as well as other sporting and non-sporting events. [ 11 ]