Music and Performing Arts Library

The records we have of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign songs today required the contributions of many different people over the years. While information about some of these creators is limited, there is quite a bit that is known about a few key players.

Thacher Howland Guild

Thacher Howland Guild was born in Providence, Rhode Island on February 16, 1879. He received his bachelor's degree at Brown University in 1901, received his master's degree from the same institution a year later, and then taught English there for one year after that. He then received a scholarship to attend the University of Chicago and earned his second master's degree in 1904, and in the fall he transitioned to becoming a rhetoric professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he soon befriended band director Austin Harding and worked alongside him to develop the song "Illinois Loyalty".

Howard R. Green and Harold V. Hill

Howard Green and Harold Hill were two students at U. of I. when they wrote their first university pride songs, "Hail to the Orange" and "Oskee-wow-wow". Their partnership began when they became roommates during their time at college. As two amateur musicians, they wrote U. of I. pride songs purely as a passion project and enjoyed submitting their works to various contests, including a musical comedy contest and the post-exam Jubilee contest.

Albert Austin Harding

Albert Austin Harding was the Director of the University Bands at U. of I. from 1905 until 1948. Despite a lifelong passion for music, Harding chose to pursue professional engineering as an undergraduate student, playing in ensembles as time allowed.  However, in the spring of his junior year, he was approached by a professor with a job offer. Professor Lawrence, too busy himself to continue managing the University Band, offered Harding a part-time job as instructor and band director. Thinking this would be a temporary arrangement, Harding accepted. It was not long afterward that Harding collaborated with Thacher Howland Guild on the now-famous "Illinois Loyalty" and realized its potential as a rallying song on campus.