Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections

Guide to Collection

Eigenbrodt Name of the Collection

44 Collection Number

1904--1959 Date Range

5"/1 53/70 BW/5/30/2012 Linear Feet/Boxes Number of Folders/Items Processed by/Date

Description The Eigenbrodt family is an outstanding example of a family that settled in Naperville because of North Western/ North Central College and enriched the community in many ways. Dr. Harold J. Eigenbrodt was born August 2, 1898, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Eigenbrodt, on a farm near Faribault, Minnesota. His great grandparents were among the first white settlers of Minnesota. His interest in farm animals led to a career in zoology and biology, beginning with a major in zoology at North Central College, and advanced degrees from the University of Illinois. In the summers of 1923--1924 he was a field zoologist for the Illinois State Natural History Survey and in 1925 he received his Ph.D from the University of Illinois. In September 1925 he was appointed head of the Department of Zoology at North Central College. Harold married Mildred Geneve Hixson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Hixson of Peoria, August 2, 1926, and they made their home at 143 North Center Street. In 1928 he served as head of the newly formed Department of Biology. His favorite subject was the fruit fly or drosophila and environmental effects on the fruit fly. He wrote many science articles, including ones on the intersection of science and religion. Many of North Central College's practicing physicians, dentists, and surgeons studied under his direction and he took a keen interest in corresponding with former students. Harold died suddenly November 28, 1958 at the age of 60, to the great sorrow of North Central faculty and students.

Mildred Eigenbrodt had a teaching background with degrees from Bradley University and Illinois State University Normal. As the young mother of two sons, John and Edwin, she used her dramatic writing skills to create children's pageants, stories and Sunday School curriculum for the Evangelical United Brethren churches. As her sons grew up she taught school in Lisle and Westmont and served as Dean of Women at North Central College. An international teaching and leadership career in language arts took her to Egypt and Thailand and finally to Wasatch, Utah. Son John became a philosophy professor at DePauw University and Edwin a medical doctor.

This collection includes Dr. Harold's cards certifying him as a zoologist for the Illinois State Natural History Survey, some of his favorite zoology books, and his thesis, "The Somatic Effects Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections

Guide to Collection of Temperature on a Homozygous Race of Drosophila." Two of his speeches delivered at colleges and a journal article are reprinted. Copies of The Evangelical Bible School Teacher, The Evangelical Crusader, and the David C. Cook Junior Scholar show the interest in Evangelical writings shared by Harold and Mildred. North Central College programs list sons John and Edwin as organists for major events. Endearing are the thank you notes from Ellsworth School students to Dr. Eigenbrodt for a field trip to his North Central College laboratory in 1937. Two letters written to older brother John on the birth of his brother Edwin are family keepsakes. As a normal Naperville resident Dr. Eigenbrodt bought cars and paid his mortgage and saved the receipts. Beyond that, he and his family shared the gifts of intellectual curiosity and service to others in education and science in Naperville and around the world.

Inventory *Booklet, The Twentieth Century Song Book, Chattanooga Medicine Company, 1904 *Book, A Manual of Zoology by Richard Hertwig, 1912, inscribed by Harold G. Eigenbrodt *Book, The Mechanism of Mendelian Heredity by T. H. Morgan, 1922, inscribed by H. G. Eigenbrodt *Card certifying H. J. Eigenbrodt as a zoologist by the Illinois Registration and Education Natural History Survey Division, June 12, 1924 *Book, Evolution and Genetics by Thomas Hunt Morgan, 1925, inscribed by Harold J. Eigenbrodt *Cover page for a thesis by Harold John Eigenbrodt, University of Illinois, 1925, "The Somatic Effects of Certain Environmental Conditions on a Homozygous Race of Drosophila" *Cover page for an abstract of a thesis by Harold John Eigenbrodt, University of Illinois, 1925, "The Somatic Effects of Certain Environmental Conditions on a Homozygous Race of Drosophila" *Card certifying H. J. Eigenbrodt, North-Western College, Naperville, as a zoologist by the Illinois Registration and Education Natural History Survey Division, July 3, 1925 *Wedding book of Harold Eigenbrodt and Mildred Hixon, 1926 *Invoice from Cromer Motor Co. for Harold J. Eigenbrodt, April 26, 1927 *Baby book for Harold J. Eigenbrodt, Jr., 1928 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Co. for H. J. Eigenbrodt, June 29, 1928 *Book, Animal Parasitology by Robert Hegner, 1929, inscribed by H. J. Eigenbrodt *Letter from Lucy Hixson of Schaller, Iowa to Mrs. H. L. Eigenbrodt, 631 East North Avenue, Naperville, January 16, 1930, with envelope *Thesis by Harold J. Eigenbrodt reprinted from Physiological Zoology, Vol III, No. 3, July 1930, "The Somatic Effects of Temperature on a Homozygous Race of Drosophila," two copies *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for H. J. Eigenbrodt, May 26, 1933 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for H. J. Eigenbrodt, June 10, 1933 *Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration Card for Harold J. Eigenbrodt, 1933 *Registered mail receipt, Naperville, November 2, 1933 Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections

Guide to Collection *Student-faculty ticket for North Central College Concert-Lecture Course, first semester 1934- 35, signed by H. J. Eigenbrodt, two copies *Student Athletic Ass'n. Ticket, North Central College, first semester 1934-35, two copies *Book, Tomorrow's Children: the goal of Eugenics by Ellsworth Huntington, 1935, inscribed by H.J. Eigenbrodt *Membership card for the Naperville YMCA for H. J. Eigenbrodt, 1935 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for license for H. J. Eigenbrodt, January 23, 1935 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for H. J. Eigenbrodt, February 13, 1935 *Receipt from North Central College for H. J. Eigenbrodt for annual interest on mortgage loan, May 1, 1935 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for H. J. Eigenbrodt, July 24, 1935 *Membership card for the Naperville YMCA for Harold J. Eigenbrodt, October 1935 *Periodical, The Evangelical Crusader, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1936, addressed to Dr. J. H. Eigenbrodt *Periodical, The Evangelical Bible School Teacher, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December 1936 *Periodical, The Evangelical Bible School Teacher, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 1937 *Thank you letters from Ellsworth School students and teacher Kathryn Frey to Dr. H. J. Eigenbrodt after a field trip to his laboratory at North Central College, May 17, 1937 *Periodical article reprinted from Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, Vol. 32, No. 2, December 1939, "The relationship of body size and egg size in drosophila," by Harold J. Eigenbrodt, three copies *Program, The Naperville Council of Religion presents "Family Portrait," a new drama by Lenore Coffee and William Joyce Cowen, at Pfeiller Hall, February 9, 1941 *Speech delivered by Dr. H. J. Eigenbrodt at Monmouth College, "Behind the Throne," reprinted from BIOS, Vol. XVI, No. 2, May 1945, two copies *Periodical, The Evangelical Crusader, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Vol. 51, No. 3, January 1946 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for Dr. Harold Eigenbrodt, July 10, 1948 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for Harold Eigenbrodt, July 12, 1948 *Speech at Augustana College, April 17, 1948, "Where do we go from here?" delivered by Regional Vice President H. J. Eigenbrodt, reprinted in BIOS, Vol. XIX, No. 3, October 1948, two copies *Premium Receipt Book, The Prudential Insurance Co., 1948-1951, for Edwin H. Eigenbrodt *Premium Receipt Book, The Prudential Insurance Co., 1948-1951, for Harold J. Eigenbrodt *Program, North Central College School of Music, H. John Eigenbrodt of the senior class in organ recital, Pfeiffer Hall, May 29, 1949 *Program, North Central College School of Music Commencement Recital, Pfeiffer Hall, June 5, 1949, with performance by John Eigenbrodt *Program, North Central College Baccalaureate Service, Pfeiffer Hall, June 5, 1949, John Eigenbrodt at the organ *Program, Naperville Drama Club, "Blithe Spirit," Pfeiffer Hall, Ed Eigenbrodt at the organ, 1949-50 season *Periodical, The David C. Cook Junior Scholar, April, May, June 1950, with a note that Mildred Eigenbrodt wrote these lessons for years Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections

Guide to Collection *Program, Illinois Future Business Leaders Second Annual Convention, February 23-24, 1951, Ed Eigenbrodt as President *Premium Recipt Book, Prudential Insurance Company, for Harold J. and Mildred Eigenbrodt, 1951-1956 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for Harold J. Eigenbrodt, May 22, 1952 *Program for North Central College 1952 Homecoming *Program, First Evangelical United Brethren Church dedication of their organ, January 4, 1953, H. John Eigenbrodt, organist *Class card, North Central College, General Zoology 2, for Ned Hawbecker, February 2, 1954 *Program, North Central College, "Wish you were here," May 14, 1954, program cover by Edwin Eigenbrodt *Program, North Central College 1954 homecoming *Premium Receipt Book, Prudential Insurance Company, for Mildred and Harold J. Eigenbrodt, 1956-57 *Receipt from Cromer Motor Company for Harold Eigenbrodt, April 26, 1958 *Periodical, North Central College Alumni News, Winter 1958, with cover article on the life and death of Dr. Harold J. Eigenbrodt *Memorial card for Dr. Harold J. Eigenbrodt, November 29, 1958 *Certificate of title to a motor vehicle transferred to Mildred G. Eigenbrodt, January 2, 1959 *Letter sent to Master John Eigenbrodt on the birth of his brother Edwin with decorated envelope, signed by Miss Bucks *Note sent to John Eigenbrodt on the birth of his brother Edwin, signed by Ellen and Muench *List of furniture to be shipped from Peoria in May