Champaign Illinois University Strauch's President's Salute 1911 Real Photo Postcard

The image captures a President's Salute during the University of Illinois (U. of I.) Military Day in 1911. These annual events were a direct result of the Morrill Act of 1862, which mandated military instruction at land-grant universities, leading to the formation of student military units, precursors to modern ROTC programs. Students received tactical training and participated in ceremonial exercises, with the visible artillery salute likely honoring the university president or other dignitaries.