Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections Guide to Collection North-Western College/North Central College Name of the Collection 150 Collection Number 1871--2011 Date Range 1/1 113/131 BW/1/18/12 Linear Feet/Boxes Number of Folders/Items Processed by/Date Description North Central College has a long history of interaction with the city of Naperville, bringing not only educational opportunity, but cultural offerings, employment, and a base for attracting students and teachers to the community from other states and countries. Founded in 1861 as Plainfield College in Plainfield, Illinois with two professors, one teacher, and forty students in a two story frame building, the college was endowed and supported by the Evangelical Church. Plainfield College became North-Western College in 1864. To be closer to transportation the college moved to Naperville in 1870 when its Old Main building was erected with the support of Naperville citizens. A major change occurred in 1926 when North-Western College took on the name of North Central College. Among the first colleges in the Midwest to admit women, North Central changed its curriculum over time and included teacher training, theology, music, science, business, pre-law, pre-medicine, engineering, foreign languages, and computer science among others. In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church united to form the United Methodist Church. Although the United Methodist Church is still active at North Central College a diversity of religious faiths among students has lessened its influence. With the growth of Naperville from a small farming and manufacturing community to a large city, the college has increased its number of buildings, programs, and students. In 1986 there were 1,800 students enrolled and in 2011, the college's 150th anniversary, 3,100 students attended this private liberal arts college that offered a variety of bachelor's and master's degrees for resident students and commuters This collection starts with 1871, only a year after the college relocated to Naperville from Plainfield. The various commencement programs list the graduates and their degrees in the early years. A catalogue of officers and students from 1879--1880 and several alumni directories and student handbooks furnish more names. College periodicals focus on new programs, buildings, and overall progress in increasing enrollment by offering more services and opportunities. Dedication programs for the new Merner Gymnasium and Field House, Pfeiffer Hall, the refurbished Old Main, Residence Hall Recreation Center, and the Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center show the college's ongoing efforts to offer a well-rounded education to its students and the community as well. Noteworthy historical accounts of the college can be found Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections Guide to Collection beginning with Augustine A. Smith's statement of facts about enrollment at North-Western College in 1888. Smith was the first college president. The North Central College Bulletin from July, 1926 states the various reasons for the name change from North-Western College. The pamphlet, "Historical Sketch, North Central College 1861-1986," and the booklet, "North Central College and Naperville, a Shared History, 1870-1995," outline the major events in the college's long history as it is intertwined in the history of Naperville. Catalogues and newsletters show the college's outreach to part-time commuter students and residents looking for enrichment courses. Celebrating its Sesquicentennial year in 2011, North Central College can be studied as an institution constantly reflecting on its history and its mission of service to Naperville and beyond. Inventory *Letter from Arthur B. Cody, Chicago, North-Western College Class of 1879, to Professor Thomas Finkbeiner regarding Cody's contribution to the Loyalty Fund, no date *Program for North-Western College Alumni Anniversary concert, June 28, 1871 *Letter from C.W. Richmond to Peter Thompson regarding Richmond's application for a position at North-Western College, July 1, 1878 *Program for the fourteenth commencement of North-western College, June 12, 1879 *Catalogue of the officers and students of North-Western College, 1879-1880 *Invitation to the commencement exercises of North-Western College, June 12, 1884 *Invitation from the Class of 1885, North-Western College *Ticket to the commencement exercises of North-Western College, June 11, 1885 *Program for the commencement of North-Western College, June 11, 1885 *Program for the commencement of North-Western College, June 17, 1886 *Invitation to the commencement exercises of North-Western College, 1887 *Statement of facts about enrollment at North-Western College by Augustine A. Smith, 1888 *Program for the graduating class of North-Western College, March 4, 1890 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, September, 1897 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, December 1897 *Program for the commencement exercises of the Musical Conservatory of North-Western College, June 18, 1898 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, January, 1898 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, February, 1898 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, March, 1898 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, April, 1898 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, May, 1898 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, October, 1899 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, December, 1899 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, January, 1900 *Invitation to the commencement exercises of North-Western Business College, March 26, 1901 *Certificate of membership to North-Western College for Fred Rich, 1903 *Periodical, College Chronicle, North-Western College, June 1904 *Invitation to the commencement exercises of North-Western College, June 12 to 16, 1904 Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections Guide to Collection *Ticket for admission to a sociology class at North-Western College for F. K. Rich, 1905 *Program for Class Day at North-Western College, June 14, 1905, two copies *Song sheet for the school song of North-Western College, 1910 *Periodical, College Chronicle, Athletics, North-Western College, May 18, 1912 *Invitation to the commencement exercises of North-Western College, June 13 to 19, 1913 *Program for the commencement of North-Western College, June 13, 1913 *Periodical, College Chronicle, Suffragist Number, North-Western College, January 24, 1914 *Program for the graduating exercises of North-Western College Academy, June 8, 1925 *Program for the dedication of the Barbara Pfeiffer Memorial Hall and Merner Memorial Organ, North-Western College, April 16, 1926, two copies *Red ribbon for North Western College, no date *Periodical, North Central College Bulletin, Life at North Central College, first official bulletin after the name change from North-Western College to North Central College, July, 1926 *Receipt for enrollment fees for Alfred Fink, North Central College, September 13, 1927 *Program for the commencement of North Central College, June 8, 1927 *Invitation for the commencement of North Central College, June 5-8, 1927 *Report card for Alfred Fink for North Central College, first semester, 1927-1928 *Report card for Alfred Fink for North Central College, second semester, 1927-1928 *Receipt for enrollment fees for Alfred Fink for North Central College, September 18, 1928 *Report card for Alfred Fink for North Central College, first semester, 1928-1929 *Report card for Alfred Fink for North Central College, second semester, 1928-1929 *Periodical, North Central College Bulletin, Special Gymnasium and Field House Number, January, 1930 *Invitation to the dedication of the Merner Gymnasium and Field House, January 23, 1931 *Program of the dedicatory exercises of the Merner Gymnasium and Field House and of the naming of the Women's Gymnasium, January 23, 1931, two copies *Periodical, North Central College Bulletin, Dedication Merner Gymnasium and Field House, January, 1931, two copies *Report card for Alfred Fink, North Central College, second semester, 1932-1933 *Report card for Alfred Fink, North Central College, first semester, 1933-1934 *Report card for Alfred Fink, North Central College, second semester, 1933-1934 *Student handbook, North Central College, 1934-1935 *Program, North Central College School of Music, Children's Department in recital, pupils of M. Ebenbauer, May 20 and 22, 1935 *Student handbook, North Central College, 1935-1936 *Periodical, North Central College Bulletin, Diamond Jubilee Number 1861--1936, July, 1936 *Periodical, North Central College Bulletin, Views of North Central College, October, 1936, two copies *Program, Commencement Baccalaureate Service, North Central College, June 6, 1937 *Program, Commencement, North Central College, May 28, 1945, two copies *Announcement of commencement exercises, North Central College, June 7, 1948 *Periodical, North Central College Bulletin, Alumni Directory Number, October, 1949 *Program, Mid-Century Homecoming, North Central College, October 20-22, 1950 *Class card, North Central College, 1950s, five copies Naperville Heritage Society Library/Archives Collections Guide to Collection *Directory of alumni, North Central College, December, 1959, two copies *Program, North Central College, A Century of Beginnings, 1961, two copies *Memorial, Dr. I.A. Koten, Chairman, Department of Chemistry,