Shimer College

Main category: Shimer College

English: Shimer College is a liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, best known for its small discussion classes and Great Books curriculum. With fewer than 150 students, Shimer is one of the smallest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Shimer was founded in 1853, and adopted the current curriculum in 1950. Since 2006, Shimer College has been located on the urban campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology. Previously, Shimer was located in rural Mount Carroll until 1978, and in Waukegan until 2006.

Mount Carroll Campus

Shimer College was located in Mount Carroll, Illinois from 1853 to 1978.

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  Map of the Mount Carroll campus circa 1972
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  Drawing of the Mount Carroll Seminary published in 1867, when the Seminary still consisted of a single main building
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  Engraving of the Mount Carroll Seminary published in 1878
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  Photograph of the East Hall, constructed 1875, published in 1901.

McKee era

The original campus of the Mount Carroll Seminary was destroyed by fire in 1906. The modern campus is dominated by Georgian Revival buildings constructed during the tenure of Dean William Parker McKee, who administered the college from 1897 to 1930. Most of these buildings are now occupied by the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies.

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  Front gate of Mount Carroll campus, at the corner of College and Seminary streets
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  Dearborn Hall, constructed 1903
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  Hathaway Hall, constructed 1905
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  Hostetter Hall, constructed 1906
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  Metcalf Hall, constructed 1908
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  Bennett Hall, constructed in 1909 as College Hall and remodeled in 1937
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  Power Plant / maintenance building, constructed 1911
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  Infirmary, constructed 1913
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  Science Hall, constructed 1914
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  McKee Hall, constructed 1922
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  Campbell Library, constructed 1925
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  Gymnasium, constructed 1929

Mullin era

The campus constructed under McKee was substantially expanded during the presidency of F.J. Mullin, under whom the college reached an all-time high enrollment of 519 students.

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  Howe Hall, completed in 1958
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  Dezendorf Hall, a women's dormitory completed in 1962
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  The New Dorm, a men's dormitory completed in 1965
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  Karyn Kupcinet Playhouse, completed in 1967

Waukegan Campus

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  Prairie House, the administration building
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  North Avenue Dormitory
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  Admissions Building

438 Building

The 438 building is also known as the Robert A. Conolly Residence, after its original occupant.

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  Front of 438 building
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  Rear of 438 building
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  Door of 438 building

Chicago Campus

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  Building in which Shimer College is now located

Academics

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  A Shimer class circa 1967
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  Teacher's-eye view of a Shimer class circa 1967
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  An octagonal discussion table of the type used at the Waukegan and Chicago campuses
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  A Shimer class from 1995
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  Shimer students taking a comprehensive exam in 1966
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  Students in the Shimer-in-Oxford program

Governance

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  Students rededicate building to Dean David W. Weiser, a leading opponent of F.J. Mullin in the Grotesque Internecine Struggle
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  Trustee Patrick Parker talks to protesting students at February 2010 Board meeting
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  Shimer College Board of Trustees meeting behind closed doors in February 2010
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  Shimer College Assembly applauds following unanimous passage of no-confidence vote in April 2010

People

Presidents

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  Frances Shimer, Principal of Mount Carroll Seminary 1853-1896
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  William Parker McKee, Dean of Frances Shimer Academy 1897-1930
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  Floyd C. Wilcox, President of Frances Shimer School 1930-1935
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  Raymond B. Culver, President of Frances Shimer Junior College 1936-1938
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  F.J. Mullin, President of Shimer College 1954-1968
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  Esther Weinstein, Interim President of Shimer College 1974-1975
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  Don P. Moon, President of Shimer College 1978-2004
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  Ron Champagne, Interim President of Shimer College 2007-2008
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  Thomas Lindsay, President of Shimer College 2009-2010
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  Ed Noonan, Interim President of Shimer College 2010

Faculty

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  Henry Shimer, instructor in the natural sciences at Mount Carroll Seminary
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  David W. Weiser, Shimer College faculty 1950s through 1966
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  Political scientist Alan Dowty, Shimer College alumnus and former faculty

Alumni

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  Governor Samuel W. McCall
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  Political scientist Alan Dowty, Shimer College alumnus and former faculty
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  Poet Peter Cooley
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  Artist Cat Yronwode

Marketing

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  Ad in the Chicago Daily Tribune from 1906
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  A version of the tree logo from the 1973-74 catalog, depicting the "Graduation Elm"
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  Flag of Shimer College hanging over crowd

See also

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