| Abbreviation/term | Explanation |
|---|
| A.B. | Bachelor of Arts |
| A.F. & A.M. | Masonic degrees/officers |
| Adelphic | Literary Society for men, founded in 1869 |
| Agriculturalist | Agricultural college student newspaper |
| Agricultural Society | Student society for students in the Agricultural college, founded 1873. |
| Agr'l. Exp. Sta. | Agricultural Experiment Station |
| Alethenai | A literary society for women established in 1871 |
| b. | born |
| B.A. | Bachelor of Arts |
| B.Arch | Bachelor of Architecture |
| B.F.A | Bachelor of Fine Arts |
| B.L. | Bachelor of Letters, dropped Nov., 1994 |
| B.L.S. | Bachelor of Library Science |
| B.S. | Bachelor of Sciences |
| C.E | Civil Engineering |
| Co. | County |
| d. | daughter of |
| D.Eng. | Doctor of Engineering |
| D.V.M. | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
| D.V.S. | Doctor of Veterinary Surgery |
| Der Deutsche Verein | German Club |
| do. | Ditto -- generally used when the birthplace of mother is same as that of father |
| E.E | Electrical Engineering |
| Eastern Ill. Normal School. | Now called Eastern Illinois University |
| Eng. Exp. Sta. | Engineering Experiment Station |
| f. | father |
| H.S. | High School |
| I.C.R.R. | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Ill. State Normal Univ. | Now called Illinois State University (at Normal, Ill.) |
| Illini | School newspaper |
| Illinois Union | Student organization estblished in 1909 to promote school spirit. |
| Illio | Annual publication of the junior class |
| Illiola | Literary Society for women, established in 1903 |
| L. & A. | College of Literature and Arts |
| Le Cercle Francaise | French dramatic Club, est. 1896 |
| m. | mother |
| M.Arch | Master of Architecture |
| M.E. | Master of Engineering |
| M.E. | Mechanical Engineering |
| M.F.A. | Master of Fine Arts |
| M.L.* | Master of Letters awarded by Board of Regents action several decades after graduation to the members of the early classes who received Certificates instead of bachelor's degrees. |
| M.L. | Master of Letters |
| M.L.S. | Master of Library Science |
| Manual School | A school for occupational training |
| Mich Agr. Coll | Now called Michigan State University |
| M.W. of A. | Modern Woodmen of America (an insurance co.) |
| No. Ill. Normal Univ. | Now called Northern Illinois University |
| Normal School | A teacher's college |
| Orat. Cont. | Oratory Contest |
| Ph.B | Bachelor of Philosophy |
| Philomathean | A literary/debate/philosophical society for men, established 1869 |
| s. | son of |
| Scabbard and Blade | Military society, est. 1909 |
| Shield and Trident | Senior honorary society |
| So. Ill. Normal Univ. | Now called Southern Illinois University |
| Sophograph | Sophomore class annual, est. 1882 |
| Technograph | Engineering College newspaper |
| Telegraphic Association | Club for students interested in the telegraph, est.1874. Twenty five stations were available for
practice, 24 hours a day. |
| The Student | First student newspaper, a monthly, established in 1871. Name was changed to The Illini in 1873 |
| University Academy | A college-preparatory school stablished by the Trustees in 1875 to provide one year's preparation before entering the University.
In 1894, it was expanded to a two-year program with a principal and teachers employed. Discontinued in 1911. |
| U.S.G.S. | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Watcheka League | Not sure. There was an annual Watcheka Sing program. Est. 1898. |
| Y.M.C.A | Young Men's Christian Association, est. February, 1873 |
| Y.W.C.A | Young Women's Christian Association, est. 1884 |