UI campus gets new signs from Champaign Co. African American Heritage Trail

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The University of Illinois has partnered with the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail to display local African-American history through new markers on campus.

The African American Heritage Trail is a community-based project that began in 2020. It uses signage to highlight African-American history across Champaign County. On Monday, the university and the Trail unveiled two new signs featuring William F. Earnest and Maudelle Tanner Brown Bousfield. The partnership also celebrated a total of now-seven markers that they spent the last four years researching, designing, and installing.

“You cannot tell the story of Champaign-Urbana without also telling the story of the University of Illinois,” said Jayne DeLuce, President and CEO of Experience Champaign-Urbana. “There are so many astonishing people, places, and events in local African-American history that are tied to the university. It would take far more than seven signs to tell it all, but we’re excited to start here.”

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The campus markers feature:

1. William F. Earnest
   – Located on the west side of First Street, across from Grange Grove at 1416 South First Street

2. Maudelle Tanner Brown Bousfield
   – Located at Bousfield Hall at 1214 South First Street

3. Walter Thomas Bailey & Beverly Lorraine Green
   – Located at the Architecture Building at 608 East Lorado Taft Drive

4. Special Educational Opportunities Program, or “Project 500”
   – Located outside the Courtyard Café in the Illini Union, on the west side, at 1401 West Green Street

5. Albert R. Lee
   – Located next to the Albert R. Lee portrait on the second floor of Ikenberry Commons at 301 East Gregory Drive

6. Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center
   – Located inside the Cultural Center at 1212 West Nevada Street

7. St. Elmo Brady
   Located inside Noyes Laboratory, next to the St. Elmo Brady display at 505 South Mathews Avenue

“We are tremendously proud to bring the Champaign County African American Heritage
Trail to our campus, and to be part of something that can enrich the experience of students,
employees, and community members for years to come,” said Morgan White, the university’s Interim Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities and Services.

For more information on the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail, visit their website.

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