Carroll, Lee, Ogle & Whiteside Counties

Nestled in the scenic hills of Mount Carroll, Illinois, lays a training center that’s in a league of its own. The Campbell Center for Historical Preservation Studies is one of a kind, in that it celebrates the conservation of history and is one of the top International destinations for collections care. The Center offers classes in a wide field of preservation study, including how to photograph a collection, preserve gravestones and cemetery monuments, the care of paper artifacts and historic masonry, all the way down to the nuts and bolts of organizing an exhibit.

“For something like this to be in Mount Carroll is very unusual,” Welton said. “It’s quite a treasure and quite an honor to have it here.”

The Center, which has operated for 28 years, is located on 14 picturesque acres, the former campus of Shimer College. The land was purchased in 1979 when Shimer College, which occupied the land since 1854, relocated to Waukegan, Illinois. The Center was the vision of Ralph Kennedy, a local furniture conservator. This location, rich in history itself, could not be more suitable for such an establishment.

Fire in 1906
When a fire destroyed the original campus buildings in 1906, the architectural firm of Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge, of Boston, designed 12 of the current Georgian Revival buildings for the new campus. This firm is known for their design work at Stanford University and the main building of the Art Institute of Chicago.

With the town so rich in history it’s fitting that the Campbell Center call Mt. Carroll home. Many of the homes are on the National Register of Historic Homes and the town itself is among the National Register of Historic Districts. A drive through this rural town is like taking a trip back in time. Many of the streets are still paved with cobblestone and the homes, architecturally significant in the Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles, are magnificent among the rolling, un-glaciated hills of northwest Illinois.   

Library

Gifted Instructors of all Backgrounds
The Center employs incredibly gifted instructors from all across the county, many having worked as conservators for nationally recognized art museums, historical societies and in private practice. The instructors come from all backgrounds and around the world, each offering their special expertise and extensive knowledge of preserving the past and sharing their enthusiasm for retaining our nation’s history. 

Instructor Margo McFarland of Chicago, specializing in the conservation of art works on paper, has been teaching at the Center for 10 years. 

“If you don’t have a population of people who understand how and why things deteriorate, and who are able to slow that deterioration and/or improve the stability of cultural property, a great deal of what we value will fall apart to the point that it’s no longer accessible or exhibitable. Even our most important treasures can degrade to the point of becoming useless and valueless,” McFarland said. “An educational facility like The Campbell Center insures that those charged with preserving and conserving cultural treasures remain on top of their game.” 

Student Testimonials
Former student, Nathan Keay, a photographer working with gallery quality collections in Chicago, said that he has read many books on photographic conversation, but that the classes offered at The Center go above anything gleaned from a book.

“The classes bring in people from all over the country from different institutions with unique problems,” Keay said. “It was great to hear about what other people are working with, their facilities and their missions.”

The Campbell Center, located at 203 East Seminary, offers courses in collections care, historic preservation, and conservation refresher courses for mid-career professionals. These courses require a varying level of expertise to attend; ranging from basic core courses that require little previous experience, to conservation refresher courses that require mid-level professional experience. A certificate program was developed in 2005, which offers three levels of certification.  

Metcalf Hall

“The education goes on after the classroom doors close,” Welton said. “It’s more than just the classes, it’s the whole thing.”

Keay echoes the same in regard to Mt. Carroll, commenting exclusively on the architecture and food.

“I don’t get out of the city very much so it’s a break. After class is over and homework is done, it’s great to enjoy the town. If there are new people around we make a habit of going to Raven’s Grin or Sievert’s or Dairy Queen. It’s a great place just to talk and get to know people in your field.”  

There are a variety of scholarships available for individuals interested in attending classes held at The Center, which again, is located among some of the most beautiful landscapes the Blackhawk Waterways Region has to offer. In addition to taking classes, people who visit Mt. Carroll have the opportunity to enjoy wonderful antique shopping, sample the small-town fare, and partake in outdoor activities such as fishing, biking, canoeing and hiking.

“There is a lot of history that really makes this place unique,” Welton said. “It’s fascinating.”

You may visit their website at www.campbellcenter.org .