One For The Road: Happy Birthday, Northwestern University

By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on May 31, 2012 10:30PM

Informal group portrait of Northwestern University football rooters, or fans, cheering, standing on the stairs in front of a building on the Northwestern University campus in 1908, located in Evanston, Illinois, dark exposure. Snow is visible on the banisters along the stairs. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

Exterior view of Chapin Hall of Northwestern University in 1912, located at 726 University Place in Evanston. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

A 1911 view of women walking into an entrance at Fisk Hall at Northwestern University, located on North Sheridan Road in Evanston. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

View of the entrance gate to Northwestern University in Evanston in 1920. Harris Hall is visible on the right of the image. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

$Exterior view of the Northwestern University gymnasium in 1920, located on the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, viewed from a road heading straight towards the gymnasium. An unidentified man is visible standing on the sidewalk in front of the gymnasium. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.\r\n$

A 1920 image of an unidentified Northwestern University football player in midair while being tackled by another unidentified Northwestern University football player on an athletic field in Evanston, Illinois. An unidentified football player, possibly Northwestern University football coach George Sai, is standing near the two players. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

Image of Northwestern University women playing field hockey in Evanston in 1918. Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

On this date in 1850, a group of Chicago businessmen and community leaders had a meeting to discuss the idea of creating a university for the Northwest Territory. In 1851 the Illinois General Assembly granted a charter to create the state's first chartered university. We dug up some old photos of the scenic Evanston campus to help them celebrate the 162 years of good ideas that would follow that first one.

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