Northwestern University was officially chartered on Jan. 28, 1851, when the Illinois legislature approved Northwestern's Act of Incorporation, granting 36 trustees the power to administer the University's business affairs, organize faculty, adopt bylaws and grant degrees.
The University's founders -- John Evans, Grant Goodrich, Henry W. Clark, Andrew Brown, Orrington Lunt, Jabez Botsford, Richard Haney, Richard H. Blanchard, and Zadoc Hall-- originally met above a hardware store at 69 W. Lake St. in Chicago in May 1850, resolving to establish a university that would "serve the Northwest." Clark T. Hinman, Northwestern's first president, and Frances Willard, first dean of women, are considered honorary founders for their later contributions.
For many years, the Northwestern community around the world would honor the anniversary of the school's chartering -- known as Founders’ Day -- by lighting a candle. In an effort to update this tradition and mark the 161st anniversary, a weeklong series of events are planned from Monday, Jan. 23, to Saturday, Jan. 28.
Show your school pride by wearing purple this week, attending the Founders' Day activities listed on the Events page and returning to this site on Jan. 28 to join fellow Northwestern students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends in lighting a virtual candle.
NU history buffs can read the text of the 1851 charter, check out University Archives's Hall of Northwestern Presidents and watch the video below for a crash course in the people and events that have shaped the University over the last 161 years. (Video originally produced in 2010.)