North Central College Archives

North Central College Archives The North Central College Archives preserves materials on the history of the College and the western Chicago suburbs. *Open on weekdays by appointment*

The North Central College Archives preserves and makes available for research materials on the history of the College and the western Chicago suburbs. For more information on the Archives’ holdings, and access to digitized and indexed College publications, visit the Archives website at http://library.noctrl.edu/archives. To visit the Archives, donate materials, or to request research assistance, contact the Archivist by calling 637-5714 or emailing [email protected].

Welcome Back Cardinals! We look forward to seeing you in the Library & Learning Commons! 📸: Students in front of...
08/24/2026

Welcome Back Cardinals! We look forward to seeing you in the Library & Learning Commons!

📸: Students in front of library, ca. 1960s, Oesterle Library, Office of Public Information topical photographs, NCC Archives

📸: Student studying, ca. 1960s, Oesterle Library, Office of Public Information topical photographs, NCC Archives

Curious about the origins of the Alma Mater school song sung at the New Cardinal Convocation? Our very own Albert Krug ...
08/19/2026

Curious about the origins of the Alma Mater school song sung at the New Cardinal Convocation?

Our very own Albert Krug and Jessie Cowles (both class of 1908) created the song together as students in response to a College contest in 1907. Albert wrote the lyrics and Jessie composed the music. They married a few years later in 1911. As seen on the song sheet, the original lyrics featured our previous name – North-Western College. North Central College was known as North-Western College from 1864-1926. ,

📸: C136 NCC Sheet Music, NCC Archives

In September 1908, North-Western (North Central’s former name) College President Herman J. Kiekhoefer wrote an article f...
08/17/2026

In September 1908, North-Western (North Central’s former name) College President Herman J. Kiekhoefer wrote an article for the Chronicle exploring the meaning of education. As we start another academic year, let’s reflect and consider his thoughts. In the closing paragraph, he shared “How to form and transform human powers and capacities, and to adapt them to the highest and best of which man is capable is the astounding problem of education. The powers of thought, feeling and purpose must be cultivated and developed into harmonious activity. Education must be broad and liberal; it must be profound and thorough.” Featured is the first page of President Keikhoefer’s 6-page handwritten draft. It varies slightly from the published account. The published article follows.

📸: Sermons and Speeches, NCC: H.J. Kiekhoefer papers, NCC Archives
📸: The College Chronicle, September 1908, NCC Archives

The North Central College Archives invites you to view our exhibition “Robert Shoemaker’s Images of the Naperville Commu...
07/15/2026

The North Central College Archives invites you to view our exhibition “Robert Shoemaker’s Images of the Naperville Community, 1975-1985” in the Oesterle Library Gallery at 320 E. School Street in Naperville during Library hours between July 13 – September 25, 2026.

If you are unable to view this exhibition in-person, go online. The images on display are a small selection from over 3000, 35mm slides, which are part of the “Caroline Shoemaker Memorial Collection of Naperville pictures.” In 2025, these slides were digitized in part by an award from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board , through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, National Archives Records Administration. Link to the entire digital collection is in our bio.

Photo featured: Robert Shoemaker, photographer, Elmer Koerner Bandshell and audience, July 1977, 084-074, Caroline Shoemaker Memorial Collection, North Central College Archives.

This summer North Central’s campus has been a whirl of activities from summer camps to building maintenance projects to ...
07/10/2026

This summer North Central’s campus has been a whirl of activities from summer camps to building maintenance projects to various departments and offices prepping for the return of all our Cardinal students. We found some fabulous examples from past summers in our stacks. This includes a scuba diving workshop in 1986, a high school radio workshop in 1997, and work on Old Main in 1998.

📸: 1986 Summer Workshops catalog, C106: Office of Community Education Catalogs, NCC Archives.
📸: 1997 Summer Youth Programs poster, C106: Office of Community Education Catalogs, NCC Archives.
📸: 1998 North Central Chronicle, September 25, 1998, NCC Archives.

What did Naperville look like in the 1970s and ‘80s?Check out the recently digitized “Caroline Shoemaker Memorial Collec...
06/30/2026

What did Naperville look like in the 1970s and ‘80s?
Check out the recently digitized “Caroline Shoemaker Memorial Collection of Naperville pictures.” With over 3000, 35mm slides from 1970-1989, which capture buildings, parks, seasons, street scenes, and community events, there’s much to discover. Link in bio, as well.

Supported in part from an award from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board, through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, National Archives Records Administration.

📸: Robert Shoemaker, photographer, View of Jefferson Street looking east from Main Street with street signs, July 1976, 061-062, Caroline Shoemaker Memorial Collection, North Central College Archives & Special Collections.

Soccer! Naperville native and Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper, Chris Brady is on the 2026 US Men’s World Cup roster. This has...
06/17/2026

Soccer! Naperville native and Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper, Chris Brady is on the 2026 US Men’s World Cup roster. This has us nostalgic for the two seasons the Chicago Fire played at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Known as Cardinal Stadium in 2002, it was featured in this illustration on the cover of the Chicago Fire Media Guide.

📸: 2002 Chicago Fire Media Guide, Chicago Fire 2002-2003, C036: Athletics Subject Files, NCC Archives
📸: The NCC Chronicle, February 8, 2002, NCC Archives

Congratulations North Central College Class of 2026!This from 1908 captured a crowd outside Goldspohn watching graduat...
05/01/2026

Congratulations North Central College Class of 2026!

This from 1908 captured a crowd outside Goldspohn watching graduates during Commencement festivities.

📸: C092: Photographs, North Central College Archives

Let’s congratulate one of our 2026 retirees Mr. Gerald Thalmann, Associate Professor of Accounting. Mr. Thalmann has bee...
04/24/2026

Let’s congratulate one of our 2026 retirees Mr. Gerald Thalmann, Associate Professor of Accounting. Mr. Thalmann has been at North Central College for the last 30 years. In his time, he has shown a great commitment to getting involved on campus. When the campus had a community garden he could often be seen tending to the plants. Since 2008, he has served as an advisor for the Enactus program. This program partners faculty and students with Guatemalan coffee farmers, artisans and local artists to supply the Coffee Lab. As advisor, he has helped the coffee farmers in Guatemala with their sales and also helped create an interdisciplinary course called “Coffee”. He also is one of the leaders of the Coffee Lab. In 2021 he was honored with the Illinois CPA Society Outstanding Educator Award for his efforts in helping his accounting students in the classroom and through programs like Enactus.
✏️:

📸: Thalmann harvests coffee in Guatemala as featured in the March 2006 North Central Now magazine, North Central Now, Publications, North Central College Archives

📸: Thalmann with other North Central professors in Guatemala, ca. 2007

Let’s all cheer on Dr. Lawrence Van Oyen, Professor of Music as he tunes up for retirement! Since 1992, Dr. Van Oyen has...
04/24/2026

Let’s all cheer on Dr. Lawrence Van Oyen, Professor of Music as he tunes up for retirement! Since 1992, Dr. Van Oyen has instructed music classes and been the Director of Bands. Under his leadership, the various bands at NCC have built reputations for their excellent performance and skill. Dr. Van Oyen has been the recipient of two Dissinger Awards for distinguished teaching. One of his most important contributions to the college came in the form of his involvement in an effort to bring back the Music Education program. He also founded the “Chords for Kids” concert program, which is designed for children with special needs and their family. This program has brought a lot of joy to the children, their families and to the students participating. In his free time, he enjoys running and woodworking.
✏️:

📸: Dr. Van Oyen directs, ca. 1995, C092: Photographs, North Central College Archives

Address

320 School Street
Naperville, IL
60540

Telephone

+16306375714

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when North Central College Archives posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share