Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1853-2003 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
3 Linear Feet : 5 Boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Administrative history
"In 1888, when the Northwestern Military Academy opened in Highland Park, locals thought a boys' military academy would cause problems in town. Just the previous year, the U.S. Army post Fort Sheridan had opened on the town's doorstep with fears of drunken brawls (which never were a problem).
The animosity for the academy was reflected in the children's taunts as they called the new cadets "Dead Cats."
The academy was founded by Harlan Page Davidson (1838-1913), a graduate of Norwich University, a military college in Vermont. Harlan purchased Highland Hall in Highland Park and renovated it for his academy in which he strove to provide a good education, military discipline and structure, and moral training. The cost to attend was $400 in 1888, and by 1908 had risen to $600 with enrollment averaging about 50 cadets per year.
The first Northwestern Military Academy building was built as the Highland Park House hotel in 1873 at St. Johns Avenue and Ravine Drive. In 1876, it began to be used as an educational institution for young women during the summer and was known as Highland Hall. Harlan P. Davidson purchased the building in May 1888 for his military academy.
When the academy was destroyed by fire only a few months after opening, on November 1, 1888, the people of Highland Park set aside any misgivings and made meals for the cadets and opened up their homes to the displaced boys. Rebuilding of the academy progressed rapidly and not one day of classes was missed.
The academy's second building was designed by William W. Boyington and completed in 1889. It was made of brick and able to accommodate 75 cadets.
By the 1890s, the academy's reputation had made it possible for many cadets to be offered direct admission to colleges and universities.
By 1908, the academy offered naval encampments in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and in 1911 officially became a military and naval academy. After another fire in the academy's main building in 1915, the school moved permanently to Lake Geneva.
In 1996, the academy merged with St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, and together are known as St. John's Northwestern Military Academy."
-This summary was provided by the Lake County Discovery Museum. For further information and images that accompany this summery, please see the link below. http://lakecountyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/04/northwestern-military-academy-highland.html
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Repository
Archival history
Mixed.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Varied. Please see archivist for accession logs.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection is made up of general photographs from the Highland Park Historical Society archives. It is comprised of 17 (artificial_ series with 29 sub series. The series are divided into topics with the sub series dividing some of the larger series into more specific smaller topics, while remaining general. The topics that are covered in this collection include places, locations, buildings, negatives, and people. Many of the images were done at the Brand Brothers Studio in Highland Park. Their photographic contribution to the documentation of Highland Park through the years is vitally important and the majority of the images held by HPHS.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection is organized alphabetically by topic, yet within each box and folder the items have been left as in situ as possible.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
None known.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Many of the photographs are older and in fair condition. They have bent and torn areas and must be handled with care.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
This collection was created via an antiquarian amalgamation of images from the entirety of the HPHS collection. For research purposes, this collection has been reorganized into series and sub series for convenient use.
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Archivist's note
Processed by Konstandina D Argyropoulos, 2012.