UI Press | Photographs by Larry Kanfer | Illini Loyalty: The University of Illinois

Illini Loyalty

The University of Illinois

A grand tour of the state's flagship university, lovingly photographed by Larry Kanfer

Acclaimed Prairiescapes photographer Larry Kanfer presents his alma mater in his newest book as only he can. Through the eyes of an artist attuned to the details of place and space, Kanfer reveals the familiar vistas and landmarks that make the University of Illinois a special place for tens of thousands of students and alumni each year.

A proud graduate of the University of Illinois himself, Kanfer shows the Urbana-Champaign campus from the North Quad to the South Farms, capturing campus events, iconic buildings, and architectural details from inside and outside. Crowds roar as they cheer on the Fighting Illini in Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall, and undergrads share a quiet moment between classes at the Illini Union. Kanfer's images convey the character of the school throughout the seasons, from the bloom of spring to winter's blanketing snows. The images illustrate the splendor of the university's academic buildings and the grandeur of its libraries, its intimate corners and vaulted lecture halls, its museums and residence halls.

Accompanying text by Alaina Kanfer guides readers through the campus scenes, providing the history and lore of landmarks such as Lorado Taft's Alma Mater sculpture, the venerable Morrow Plots, the Altgeld Hall bell tower, and more than a century's worth of class gifts that embellish the campus landscape. The Kanfers also commemorate notable people in the university's history, highlight newer additions to the campus such as the Siebel Center for Computer Science and the ACES Library, and celebrate long-standing traditions including Homecoming, Illini sports, graduation, and Quad Day.

A must-have for students, graduates, parents, and fans, Illini Loyalty memorably conveys the University of Illinois's spirit of education, innovation, and pride, and every page is infused with Larry Kanfer's fierce devotion to the Urbana-Champaign campus.

"Kanfer has photographed the U of I campus for more than thirty years, artfully capturing its beauty throughout the seasons. Illini Loyalty pairs his evocative photos with Alaina Kanfer's richly detailed text blocks, which provide historical perspective."--LifeTimes

"For more than thirty years I have photographed the University of Illinois through a lens of love and analytical observation. This collection is my attempt at communicating the incredible richness the university adds to the lives of students, alumni, faculty, staff, townies, and visitors; its tradition of greatness; and its promise for the future. By focusing on the grand icons, notables associated with the University of Illinois, and everyday details that are easy to overlook, I hope this book reveals the labor, learning, and loyalty that are the Illini experience."--from the preface by Larry Kanfer

Larry Kanfer is an award-winning photographic artist who operates a gallery in Champaign and online at www.kanfer.com. His previous books include Barns of Illinois, On Firm Ground, Prairiescapes, and On Second Glance: Midwest Photographs. His original artwork is featured in public and private collections nationally. Alaina Kanfer, a former research scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, grew up in Chicago and received her doctorate from the University of California, Irvine. Larry and Alaina were married at the Illini Union at the University of Illinois, and they have since collaborated on Barns of Illinois. They live in Champaign with their two children.

To order online:
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/24bps6dy9780252035005.html

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