College History

Heritage of Carthage

An Eclectic Look at Fifteen Decades of Carthage College

By Tom Noer, Valor Distinguished Professor of the Humanities
November 1996

Carthage Baseball Team Celebrates a Win

Visitors to campus pass a sign that says "Carthage College Founded in 1847". Although the school has had three names and four locations, its origins do date back 150 years As the College approaches its sesquicentennial, this chapter in "The Heritage of Carthage" looks at some significant and symbolic events in the fifteen decades of the school. Some will be familiar, others obscure, but each has been selected to illustrate major themes m the College's past: its role as a church-related school, leadership in the face of adversity, a dedication to service, opportunities for student participation, and an unwavering commitment to quality education in the liberal arts.

1847 — The Literary and Theological Institute of the Far West

In 1817, a year before Illinois joined the union, the first Lutheran congregation was established in the territory. As the number of settlers grew, churches found it increasingly difficult to convince ministers from the east to move to the frontier and voted to establish a college and theological seminary m the west. After a joint venture with Ohio Lutherans failed, the new Synod of Illinois voted to acquire Hillsboro Academy, a preparatory school opened m 1839, and applied for a charter for a college. On January 22, 1847, the Illinois General Assembly granted a charter to "The Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church in the Far West." This proved to be a lengthy title for a tiny school, and the institution soon adopted the name of Hillsboro College.

With a two-person faculty and 79 students (most in the prep school), Hillsboro promised a "course of study designed to be thorough and practical and to embrace all the branches of learning usually pursued in the best academies and colleges."

Hillsboro prospered in its first two years, but with no endowment or investments the College was totally dependent on tuition and random gifts from Lutheran congregations. By 1851, the school was in financial difficulty, and the administration decided to relocate in the larger and more prosperous town of Springfield and take the new name of Illinois State University.

Although Hillsboro College existed for only five years, it was the origin of what would become Carthage College. The school's sesquicentennial marks 150 years of continuity and celebrates the vision and courage of those frontier clergy who established a Lutheran college in the west.

1857 — Robert Todd Lincoln Leads Student Debate on Slavery

One of the major reasons for the move from Hillsboro was the financial support offered by the citizens of Springfield. Sixty donors each pledged $300 to finance the relocation. In return, they received a "perpetual scholarship" to enroll a student without paying tuition. Abraham Lincoln, former Congressman and now a successful lawyer, was one of the citizens who took advantage of the school's offer and used his scholarship to enroll his eldest son, Robert Todd, in the preparatory school of the university in 1852.

Robert later entered the College and joined Philomatheon, one of the school's two literary societies. In 1857, the younger Lincoln took the negative side in a college debate on the question "Will African slavery be perpetuated in the United States?" A year later, his father would also argue the future of slavery when he ran against Stephen Douglas for the U. S. Senate.

In 1858, Robert Lincoln followed his friend and former classmate at Illinois State, future Secretary of State John Hay, to further his education in the east. His father continued to support the College and agreed to serve on the Board of Trustees, but resigned after his election to the presidency in 1860.

Although Lincoln never attended high school or college, his roles as benefactor, parent, and Trustee established a firm tie to Carthage. The College honors this connection with its annual Lincoln Scholarship competition, where outstanding high school seniors compete for four-year scholarships that include room, board, and tuition.

1867 — Ethnic Disputes Lead to Relocation in Carthage, Illinois

Despite the optimism following relocation in Springfield, in less than a decade Illinois State University was racked by disputes over theology and ethnic identity. Some Scandinavian pastors argued that Lutheranism was abandoning its European heritage by conducting services in English. These "old Lutherans" also opposed any changes in doctrine and efforts to "Americanize" Lutheranism by appealing to those not of Scandinavian or German background.

The conflicts between "old" and "new" Lutherans spread to the College when the Synod of Northern Illinois established a Scandinavian Professorship and appointed L. P. Esbjorn to the position. Esbjorn was a leader of the "old" Lutherans and immediately clashed with the College's President, W. M. Reynolds, over doctrine. In 1860, Esbjorn resigned to accept a position at Augustana College, and many Scandinavian students followed him. He blasted the College for trying to "infect" students with "the new American Lutheran ideas." Following Esbjorn's departure, Swedish Lutherans voted to withdraw from the Synod of Illinois and form their own body, and Illinois State lost one of its major sources of funding.

The next seven years saw constant infighting among the supporting synods. At the 1867 Board meeting, representatives of the Northern Synod of Illinois demanded the resignation of the entire faculty, an end of the theological seminary, and relocation of the school. When the motions passed, the College spent the next two years fighting against bankruptcy.

In 1869, Trustees voted to close the school, but four synods were determined to continue Lutheran higher education in Illinois and approved another move to Carthage, Illinois. In September 1870, the College opened with the new name of Carthage College.

The turbulent early history of Hillsboro College and Illinois State University illustrates the precarious nature of small private colleges in the 19th century. Financial strains and theological disputes were common, and dozens of church-related colleges closed. Carthage's survival was a testament to the faith and dedication of its early leaders.

1877 — The Carthaginian Begins Publication

Student social life at Carthage in the late 19th century was dominated by the school's two literary societies, Cicero and Galileo. Each student was required to join one of the groups and attend Wednesday afternoon meetings. The societies sponsored debates, lectures, oratory prizes, and occasionally published anthologies of student writing.

In 1877, the College issued its first formal student publication, The Carthaginian, edited by representatives of the two literary societies. The journal appeared monthly and cost $1 a year. It included student poetry, literary criticism, and essays. By the 20th century the literary societies had lost their power, and the student publication changed to a college newspaper. It became first, The Indian, then The Crimson Arrow, then just The Arrow, and, in 1994, The Current.

The Carthaginian paved the way for other College publications. In the 1890s, the school began Alumnus for alumni and friends of the College, now called, ironically, The Carthaginian. In 1911, the first student yearbook, The Rambler, appeared. It soon became The Crimson Rambler and then The Driftwood. Centrique, the current student literary magazine, has continued the tradition begun in 1877 by publishing student poetry, fiction, and art work.

Student publications have always played an important role at Carthage. The newspaper, yearbook, and literary magazine have provided an outlet for student creativity for the past 120 years.

1887 — President Bartholomew Creates Evergreen Walk

The Carthage campus was built on the fiat Illinois prairie with few trees or flowers to adorn the bleak landscape. Local farmers still grazed their cattle and horses on the campus. When President E. F. Bartholomew took office in 1884, he launched the first campus beautification project and designed the most striking symbol of the "old campus," Evergreen Walk.

Bartholomew personally planted and tended rows of tiny evergreens flanking the path from the main college building to the entrance. The project was completed in 1887, and the evergreens became the most photographed and recognized part of the campus.

The trees flourished and eventually provoked controversy. In 1946, President Erland Nelson proposed construction of a chapel that required removal of some of the beloved trees. The resulting "Battle of the Evergreens" illustrated the fierce pride alumni and others had m this central symbol of the College. Graduates flooded the College with letters of protest. Alumni representatives on the Board introduced a resolution opposing tampering with "any part of historic Evergreen Walk." Nelson finally abandoned the plan. Five years later another president, Morris Wee, ordered pruning of the now overgrown evergreens and a second battle erupted. Alumni again rallied against any change. They were joined by legendary biology professor Alice Kibbe who vowed that no president would trim "her trees." Wee was no match for the wrath of alumni and Kibbe, and the trees remained untouched.

Recently, the College has created a miniature replica of Evergreen Walk on the Kenosha campus. A number of small yews form a path to "Kissing Rock," the focus of undergraduate romance and student pranks relocated from the Illinois campus to Wisconsin. The monument overlooking Lake Michigan is a visual reminder of the two most enduring symbols of the Illinois campus.

1897 — Three Year Football Unbeaten Streak Ends Amidst Controversy

In its first two and a half years, Carthage's football team never lost. The team was undefeated in 1895 and 1896 and won its opening game of 1897. On October 30, the victory streak ended in a controversial, 6-4, loss to Keokuk Medical College. Carthage had defeated Keokuk two weeks earlier when one of the medical students had been disqualified for "striking an opponent with a closed fist" Keokuk refused to continue the game, and it ended at the half with Carthage ahead, 4-0.

The rematch in Keokuk was a violent affair. The college newspaper noted that Keokuk "being on their home grounds, did not hesitate to slug or use foul language" and "proved itself to be the most ungentlemanly of all which the college has met."

Despite the loss, Carthage football was well-established The fortunes of the Redmen would ebb and flow over the next five decades. Coaches Lewis Omer (1921-1935) and Hub Wagner (1936-1945) had a number of successful seasons, but the team declined after World War II until the appointment of the legendary Art Keller, '44, as head coach in 1952.

Keller immediately made Carthage a national power. In his 31 years Keller compiled an amazing 177-87-7 record and won eight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles, including five straight from 1969-1973. Keller coached six undefeated conference seasons, three 14-game winning streaks and an amazing 29-game unbeaten streak in the CCIW.

Keller received numerous offers from larger schools, but chose to remain at his alma mater until his retirement after the 1982 season. In 1984, Keller was inducted into the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame, and Carthage now plays its games at Art Keller Field.

Intercollegiate athletics have always been a major part of the College's emphasis on student participation. In the past decades, Carthage has added teams in hockey, women's and men's soccer, women's golf, volleyball, and softball to existing programs begun at the Illinois campus.

1907 — Class of 1907 Presents First Class Gift to the College

The first decade of the 20th century was difficult for the struggling Carthage College. Each year the school was forced to borrow to meet expenses. Eventually the benevolence of local banker Henry Denhart and the energetic fundraising of Presidents J. M. Ruthrauff and F. L. Sigmund established financial stability.

Despite the continued economic problems, Carthage students never lost faith in their college. In 1907, graduating seniors collected funds for the first official class gift "a cement bench erected on the campus near the College entrance." They began a tradition that has continued to the present. The class of 1913 donated "Kissing Rock," one of the most famous symbols of Carthage, now restored and displayed on campus.

The donations of recent graduates show students are still dedicated to leaving their mark on their alma mater. The class of 1993 contributed the electronic message board in the Todd Wehr Student Center. In 1994, seniors joined with the class of 1944 to create a display for the Victory Bell from Old Main on the Illinois campus. In 1995, students funded the remodeling of the student lounge in Siebert Chapel. Last year's class contributed a brick barbecue and picnic table in the Denhart courtyard

1917 — Carthage College Goes to War

Despite its isolated location, Carthage was never immune to the impact of national events. Economic panics in 1857 and 1907 and the stock market crash of 1929 had devastating effects on the College's finances, and the Civil War led to a steep decline in enrollment. In 1917, the school again felt the effects of the nation's crisis when the U. S. entered World War I.

When Congress declared war on Germany in April 1917, Carthage quickly found campus life totally altered. The most obvious result was an exodus of male students. By the spring of 1918, over half of the men had enlisted, been drafted, or dropped out to return to farms to grow food for the troops.

To support the war effort, Carthage established a Student Army Training Corps on campus. The College housed and fed the recruits while the government provided instructors and paid their tuition.

Within a few months the campus resembled an armed camp as 160 men enrolled in the Student Corps, joining 170 "regular" students. Temporary barracks were constructed, and soldiers drilled outside the classrooms. Students awoke to the sounds of reveille, and went to sleep to the strains of taps.

With the soldiers came concerns for the moral climate of the campus. President H. D. Hoover was shocked by the drinking, gambling, and profanity of the troops. Soldiers also were seen loitering outside the female residence halls. Hoover complained to officers that the rough recruits "seemed to violate every college ideal which more than a half century of effort had formulated."

The program ended with the surrender of Germany in November, 1918. The disruption of the College would be far greater during World War II when there was a far more severe drop in male enrollment and the campus endured the shortages and rationing of the home front. Eighteen Carthage students and alumni died in World War II.

1927 — Curriculum Modernized, Academy Closed

In its first eight decades, Carthage was both a college and a preparatory school. While offering college-level work leading to a B.A. or B.S. degree, it also served as a high school for younger students. The dual track was necessary inasmuch as the school needed the enrollment of the younger students to finance the College.

As Carthage increased its academic standards, it placed more and more emphasis on the college. Under the leadership of H. D. Hoover (1909-1926) the school underwent a period of significant intellectual growth. Hoover, the first Carthage president with a Ph.D., was determined to raise the school's intellectual standards. He guided Carthage through its first formal accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. To gain accreditation, the school increased the size and qualifications of the faculty, created new science labs, and expanded library holdings. In 1916, North Central awarded Carthage its highest rating of "A", one of only four colleges in Illinois to gain this honor. Hoover also required all new faculty members to have at least a master's degree and modernized the curriculum by introducing a system of majors, minors, and electives.

By the end of Hoover's administration, Carthage had emerged as a modern, liberal arts college with a greatly enhanced academic program and faculty. Its reputation for excellence led to a dramatic increase in college enrollment and a sharp decline in the academy section of the school. By 1927, there were only eight students in the academy, compared with nearly 300 in the College. That spring the Trustees voted to discontinue the academy. The abolition of the academy marked the emergence of Carthage as a quality liberal arts college recognized for academic excellence.

1937 — Carthage President Appeals to Alumni for Dairy Cattle

One of the responsibilities of a college president is to appeal to donors for financial support. Thus it was not unusual when President Rudolph Schulz asked alumni to help Carthage survive the devastation of the Great Depression. Schulz, however, did not just ask for money. In a January 15, 1937, letter he asked for donations of livestock to provide food for students and faculty. He particularly hoped for dairy cattle, as the College planned to create a "utility farm" on land it owned near campus and develop "a fine herd of Guernseys" to provide milk for the College. Schulz's plea illustrated the disastrous impact of the Depression on Carthage. The economic collapse of the 1930s hit Carthage particularly hard. The College never had a large endowment to carry it through difficult times, and most of its assets were in farm mortgages. With the crash, few farmers could pay their loans, and the land reverted to the school. By 1933, nearly $300,000 worth of farms had been taken over by the College but produced no income. Many students were forced to leave school or borrow from the College. In 1933, uncollected student notes totaled $26,000 and the school was $168,000 in debt. From 1932-1934, Carthage paid less than half of announced salaries. Many faculty planted vegetable gardens on the abandoned farms in the region to survive.

The Depression strengthened the College's dependence on the Lutheran Church. As endowment and tuition income declined, the Church became the major source of College finances. Despite the immense problems of the Depression, Carthage survived. The synods began to offer greater support, and the College diversified its investments with less emphasis on farms. Students shared textbooks to save costs, the cafeteria cut back on meat, and faculty taught overloads for no pay. In 1939, Carthage offered the first pay increase in nine years, although it would not be until 1941 that salaries reached the 1929 level. Economic crisis had twice forced the College to relocate, but the catastrophe of the 1930s did not result in such drastic action. Schulz never received his herd of Guernseys, but he led the school through one of its and the nation's darkest periods.

1947 — Carthage Students Organize Nation's First Circle K Chapter

In 1946, a group of Carthage students met to discuss forming an organization to encourage community and campus pride and service. They approached Andy Hodges, President of the local chapter of Kiwanis International, and he agreed to establish a youth affiliate of the organization. On October 9, 1947, Carthage students and local Kiwanis formed the first chapter of "Circle K," a new service organization for college students.

The first chapter of Circle K included 27 Carthage students. They selected C. Dean Thomas as President, Robert Elston as Vice-President, and Hugh Hart as Secretary. Another charter member was Alan Anderson, later Director of Admissions, Assistant to the President, and President of Carthage.

Since its creation, Circle K has become the nation's largest college service organization. The initiative of Carthage students in its formation demonstrated the leadership and commitment to service that is a central part of the College's heritage.

1957 — Kenosha, Wis., Selected for New Carthage Campus

On September 14, 1957, President Harold H. Lentz announced that Carthage had selected Kenosha, Wisconsin as the location of the school's new campus. The decision culminated a two-year search, but discussion of moving the College had begun much earlier.

The choice of Carthage, Illinois as the home of the College seemed wise in 1870. Carthage was the county seat of Hancock County, the region had a large Lutheran population, and local citizens offered strong financial support.

Fifty years later, many began to question the ability of the school to survive in an isolated town of only 2000 people with no railroad connection. The remoteness of the campus made it difficult to attract and retain both students and faculty, and the lack of local industry created problems for fundraising.

In 1929, the Board of Education of the Lutheran Church in America concluded that the College needed to move nearer to Chicago to survive. In 1950, President Morris Wee told Trustees the College "could scarcely have been more unwisely located if the founding fathers had deliberately sought a disadvantageous spot."

Despite the 1929 report and Wee's comments, alumni, faculty, and others were understandably reluctant to consider moving the school It was only with the arrival of Harold Lentz in November 1951 that relocation began to be discussed seriously.

Early in his administration Lentz made it clear that the College had to move to survive. In 1953, he persuaded the Board to form a Search Committee to review sites for a new campus near Chicago. By 1955, the choice had narrowed to four contenders: Woodstock and Elgin, Illinois and Lake Geneva and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kenosha offered strong financial inducements, and its location between Milwaukee and Chicago was an obvious advantage.

In early 1957, Lentz and Trustee Rolf Dokmo visited Kenosha and were driven to the proposed site of the College. When Dokmo first saw the park land on the shore of Lake Michigan he turned to Lentz and shouted: "This is it!" Nine months later the Trustees approved the shift to Kenosha.

The decision to construct a facility in Wisconsin while maintaining the Illinois campus was a daunting challenge to the financial-strapped college. The period from 1957 to 1962 saw the most demanding and important development campaign in Carthage's history Its success not only saved the College, but paved the way for the spectacular growth of the past 35 years.

1967 — Trustees Establish Distinguished Teacher Award

Teaching excellence has always been the focus of Carthage, and the College has always had a core of caring and stimulating teachers. In the 20th century legendary professors such as Elmer Hanke in music, Merle Chapin in English, Alice Kibbe in biology, Merle Boyer in philosophy, Shandy Holland in theater, and dozens of others established a tradition of teaching excellence.

In 1967, the Board of Trustees voted to recognize formally superior teaching by creating the "Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award." It established a confidential committee to review nominations from students and select one faculty member for this special commendation. The first to receive the new award was Professor Larry Hamilton of the psychology department.

The "Teacher of the Year Award" has now become an annual tradition. Each spring at the Honors Convocation a Trustee announces that year's winner, whose name is engraved on a plaque in Lentz Hall. The award has been presented to 29 individuals from a wide range of disciplines Sixteen still teach at Carthage, and seven have retired with emeritus status, an indication of the College's ability to retain excellent teachers.

1977 — Carthage Hosts State Special Olympics

As a college of the church, Carthage has always included service as a part of its mission. In the early years this often involved church activities. Faculty and students not only were active in Trinity Lutheran Church in Carthage, but served as guest preachers, youth leaders, and musicians at congregations throughout the region. In the 1920s and 1930s, students delivered food baskets and sang hymns at the county "poor house." During World War II they organized letter-writing campaigns, knitted socks, rolled bandages, and sent candy and cigarettes to G.I.s overseas. This tradition of service continues at Carthage. Students annually hold a dance marathon to raise funds to fight muscular dystrophy and a "Big Bother/Big Sister" day for local youth. Students, faculty, and staff participate in the annual CROP walk to raise funds to feed the poor and the AIDS walk in Milwaukee.

One of the most successful of the College's outreach efforts has been its association with the Special Olympics for the mentally and physically-challenged. On May 15, 1977, Carthage first hosted the District 10 Special Olympics with over 200 participants. The event was so successful that on June 3-4 the State Special Olympics was held at the College. Nearly 2000 competed, and the event captured the attention of the Milwaukee press and television stations. Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden conducted a clinic for the participants.

The Special Olympics has become a regular event at Carthage each spring as athletes from around the region participate in contests where "everyone is a winner!"

1987 — F. Gregory Campbell Appointed 18th President of Carthage

Few at Carthage are likely to recognize the name of Francis Springer, but he established a tradition of leadership that has continued for 150 years when frontier clergy selected him as the first president of Hillsboro College. Springer served the College for eight years and later became Chaplain of the United States Army.

In 1987, the Board of Trustees selected F. Gregory Campbell as the 18th President of Carthage. He has led the College through a decade of unparalleled economic and intellectual growth.

Campbell was born in Columbia, Tenn., in 1939 and did his undergraduate work at Baylor University. In graduate school he specialized in modern European history, earning his M. A. from Emory University and a Ph.D. at Yale. Campbell taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Chicago until he accepted a position as Special Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees at Chicago. He also continued his teaching as a senior lecturer. In August 1987, Campbell assumed the presidency of Carthage.

Carthage, in 1987, needed energetic leadership. Full­time enrollment had dropped to 806. Inflation had greatly increased operating costs, and the endowment could not meet the rising expenses. Buildings constructed in the early 1960s badly needed refurbishing, and Carthage lagged behind in adjusting to the computer revolution. The curriculum had been last reformed in the early 1970s when the school adopted the 4-1-4 model.

Although a quality college with a dedicated faculty and staff, the school needed an influx of ideas, energy, and funds. In the past decade the College has shown spectacular growth by any indicator of institutional success. By 1996, enrollment reached over 1,500 (capacity for current facilities), with a steady increase in student test scores and high school rank.

The financial health of the College has shown a similar revival. The endowment has expanded from $9 million to over $23 million. Last year the largest fund-raising campaign in the College's history, Transforming Tomorrow, surpassed its ambitious goal of $25 million and closed with $26.7 million.

Record enrollment, Transforming Tomorrow, and greatly increased regular giving financed major campus renovations. Residence halls were totally refurbished as were the natural science facilities in the renamed David A. Straz Center. Carthage also moved to the forefront of technology with new computer facilities and launched a major program of campus beautification. In the past decade the College also went through two major curriculum changes. The Heritage Studies program was developed along with new requirements in foreign language, laboratory science, and mathematics. Recently a "Junior Symposium" of three related classes and a "Senior Thesis" requirement were added.

The successes of the past ten years have led Carthage to the greatest financial and intellectual health in its history. As the College prepares for the 21st century, it does so from a position of unprecedented strength.

In its century and a half of existence Carthage has survived repeated financial crisis, relocations, and changes in its name. Throughout, it has maintained its commitment to the Church, to academic excellence, and to service, essential elements of "The Heritage of Carthage."