From Small Beginnings

Armour Institute from Red Line, originally uploaded by kendoman26.

I took this picture of the original Armour Institute from the red line. The Armour Institute was located at 33rd and Federal. Named after it's benefactor, Armour, from meat packing fame, today the much larger Institute is known as IIT.

Armour gave one million dollars to pastor Frank W Gunsualus, after rising to the challenge that Mr Gunsualus offered in a speech that is now known as the million dollar speech. Frank Gunsualus who was the pastor at the well to do Plymouth Church, whom Armour was a member. Gunsaulus wanted to start a higher education program for the common man, not only the well to do.

The Institute's original buildings date from 1893. The only stipulation that Armour set forth was that Gunsualus had to be the Institute's first President. The school first programs were Chemistry and Engineering.