Carthage College: A Legacy of Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service

Carthage College, a private institution in Kenosha, Wisconsin, stands as a testament to the enduring power of education and community. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Carthage has a rich history, marked by periods of transformation, growth, and unwavering commitment to its core values. The college awards bachelor's degrees with majors in more than 40 subject areas and master's degrees in three areas.

From Humble Beginnings to a Thriving Institution

Carthage College's story begins in 1847 in Hillsboro, Illinois. Founded by Lutheran pioneers in education, the institution was chartered by the Illinois General Assembly on January 22, 1847, as The Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church in the Far West. The name was soon shortened to Lutheran College and was known locally as Hillsboro College.

Early Leadership

The early years of Carthage College were shaped by the vision and dedication of its leaders. The official portrait of each Carthage President is displayed in the Hedberg Library.

Rev. Francis Springer (President of Hillsboro College): Born in 1810, Rev. Francis Springer preached and taught in Springfield, IL, before moving to Hillsboro, IL in 1847 to assume the presidency of Hillsboro College. After his resignation, he served as school commissioner and superintendent of schools in Springfield before joining the 10th Illinois Cavalry as chaplain. Springer remained army chaplain in various capacities until the end of the war, when he resumed preaching in Illinois. Wittenberg College granted him an honorary D.D. in 1869.
Rev. Simeon Walcher Harkey (Acting President): Born in Iredell County, North Carolina, on December 3, 1811, Harkey was influential in transferring the location of Hillsboro College from Hillsboro to Springfield, IL, where the name of the college became Illinois State University. After President Springer’s resignation in 1855, Harkey became acting president until William M. Reynolds took leadership in 1857. Harkey also was president of the general synod of his church in 1857 and in 1865 he served as chaplain at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois. Wittenberg College gave him the degree of D. D. in 1852.

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Dr. William M. Reynolds: Simeon W. Simeon Walcher Harkey was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, on December 3, 1811. Harkey was influential in transferring the location of Hillsboro College from Hillsboro to Springfield, IL, where the name of the college became Illinois State University. After President Springer’s resignation in 1855, Harkey became acting president until William M. Reynolds took leadership in 1857. Harkey also was president of the general synod of his church in 1857 and in 1865 he served as chaplain at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois. Wittenberg College gave him the degree of D. D. in 1852.
Rev. David Loy Tressler: Born in Loysville, February 15, 1839. He attended Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg and graduated in 1860 before enlisting in the Union Army as Captain of the 133 Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1870, he entered ministry in Lena, Illinois, before becoming president of Carthage College in 1873.
Rev. H. L. Wiles: Born in Frederick Co., Md., July 15th, 1840. At eighteen, he entered the Freshman class at Wittenberg College, and graduated at twenty-two with the second honors of his class, maintaining a very high degree of scholarship all through his course. He immediately entered the Theological Department from which he graduated in 1864. In the spring of 1864, he received and accepted a call to the Lucas pastorate, in Richland Co., Ohio. “Rev. H.L. Wiles has tendered his resignation to the Board of Commissioners. At the time of his election, in May last, the Board believed that immediate and prompt attention to the general and especially to the financial interest of the college were of paramount importance. But Dr. Wiles regarded himself bound by sacred ties to his congregation at Wooster, Ohio, which he thought he dare not severe [sic] at that time. At the extra session in October (1880) the Board so emphasized the necessity of his personal presence and services in the college and the churches of its territory that Dr. Wiles was virtually constricted to either resign his position and work at Wooster just before the consummation [of his Presidency] or [sever] his relations to Carthage College. In the year 1876 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the Faculty and Board of Wittenberg College. During the first year of his ministry he was married to Effie J. Routzahn of Springfield.
L.F.M. Easterday: Born in 1839, he graduated from Illinois State University and was a member of the faculty at Springfield before assuming the position of principal and instructor at the newly opened preparatory school in Carthage, IL. After two years, the preparatory school became Carthage College, and Easterday taught mathematics and astronomy at Carthage for many years before resigning in 1883 to take a post at the University of Nebraska. After the death of President Tressler, Easterday served as acting president until the appointment of J.A. L.F.M. Easterday married Abbie Hunsaker of Carthage, IL.
Rev. John Alleman Kunkelman: Born in 1832, Rev. John Alleman Kunkelman, D. D., preached in Indianapolis and Pennsylvania. Due to failing health he resigned and moved to Nebraska. After his resignation he went back to his pastoral duties in Pennsylvania at the the Church of the Holy Trinity. Rev. J.A.

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E.F. Bartholomew: Edward Fry Bartholomew, born in 1846, was a Pennsylvanian native who earned his B. A. degree from Pennsylvania College (later known as Gettysburg College) and his M. A. Bartholomew became the chair of the Natural and Physical Sciences at Carthage and soon became president in 1884 and stayed until he left in 1888. Even after leaving, though, he kept in close contact with the college.
Holmes Dysinger: Born in 1853, was a Pennsylvanian native who attended Pennsylvania College, receiving his A. B. in 1878 and later his M. A. in 1881. After graduating
Dr. John M. Ruthrauff: Born in 1846, Ruthrauff was an Ohio native who thanks to his life on the farm, possessed a character that was admired throughout his life. His educational training included time at Greensburg Academy, Mount Union College, and Wittenberg College. After encouragement from Dr. Frederick L.
Frederick Lester Sigmund: Sigmund, DD. was the former pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Carthage, Illinois which already had close ties with the college. Sigmund worked extensively with Henry Denhart to found the endowment for Carthage, thus ensuring the long term survival of the school.
Harvey D. Hoover: Harvey D. Hoover was born in 1881. HIs higher education began at Gettysburg College in 1895 and after two years he went to Susquehanna University to finish his undergraduate degree and graduating from the Theology department in 1902. He was elected president of Carthage College from 1909-1926. He then took a position at Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary teaching practical theology.

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N.J. Wickey: President Wickey grew up in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. He got his Bachelors of Divinity at Pennsylvania College in 1912 and his Master of Art from Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1915 before attending Harvard in 1916. He later became a traveling fellow to Oxford on behalf of Harvard in 1919-1920. Prior to becoming President of Carthage, he was a professor of Philosophy at Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota and the pastor of a large church in Fargo, North Dakota. After leaving Carthage, he later settled in Eugene, Oregon as the pastor of Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church. Secretary of the Board of Education at the United Lutheran Church of America (1944).
Rudolph G. Schultz: Rudolph Schultz, a World War I veteran, focused his tenure on increasing enrollment, getting the school out of debt after the great depression and increasing funding. He worked heavily to reach out to surrounding Lutheran Congregations by encouraging faculty and administrative personnel to speak at local services and meetings. This outreach eventually lead to greater ties to the Synod.
Erland Nelson: Erland Nelson was the first non-pastoral president in history. He helped steer the college through declining enrollment during World War II. During the war, he worked to help Japanese American students attend Carthage while they were in internment camps. After the war, he helped expand the campus by adding additional dormitories for the returning GIs and a new dining hall to accommodate the influx of students.
Morris Wee: Morris Wee graduated from St. Olaf, and Luther and then was a pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin before becoming President of Carthage College. Started the CHEY program Worked on refurbishing the campus. After his tenure at Carthage, Wee returned to ministry at First Lutheran Church in Duluth for 3 years before moving to Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis for 10 years.
Ruth Wick (Acting President): Ruth Wick was the Vice-President of the college during the tenure of Morris Wee and was acting president after his resignation. She previously taught at the University of Wisconsin. Wick’s stint as Vice President was notable for two reasons. First, she was the first vice president of the college, and second, was more highly involved in the administration of the institution under Wee as he worked to secure funding for campus improvements.
Rev. Harold H. Lentz: Rev. Harold H. Lentz served as president of Carthage from 1952 to 1976, leading the college during a period of transition. During his tenure as president, the college moved from Carthage, Ill., to Kenosha. Lentz authored The Miracle of Carthage, which chronicled the growth of the college from its inception in 1847 to 1974. His other scholarly works include A History of Wittenberg College: 1845-1945 and Reformation Crossroads. Lentz earned a bachelor’s degree in 1932 from Wittenberg University. He earned a bachelor of divinity degree from Hamma Divinity School, Columbus, Ohio in 1935; a master of arts degree from Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, in 1939; and a doctorate with honors from Yale University, New Haven, Conn., in 1943. In May 1987 Carthage awarded an honorary doctor of humanities degree to Lentz for his dedication and leadership to the college. Following his ordination in the United Lutheran Church in America in 1935, he served nearly 15 years as associate pastor and as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashland, Ohio, before he became president of Carthage. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor.
Erno J. Dahl: Erno Joyce Dahl was born on November 11, 1928 in Waco, Texas, United States and received his Bachelor’s degree at Luther College in 1952, his Bachelor of Theology degree at Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, in 1955. Doctor of Philosophy, Durham University, England, 1957. Prior to leading Carthage College, Dahl was a Professor theology at Texas Lutheran College, Seguin, before becoming dean in 1964. From 1968-1970, he was a dean at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, 1968-1970, and was vice president academic affairs from 1970-1977.
Alan R. Anderson: Born Sept. Navy during World War II. Anderson worked at Carthage for more than 35 years. In 1953 he became director of admissions and was later appointed administrative assistant to the president and vice president of development. Anderson was president of Carthage from 1986 to 1987. He received an honorary doctorate of laws from the college in 1988. In 2004 he was presented the Carthage Flame Award, the college’s highest honor.
F. Gregory Campbell: Gregory Campbell came to Carthage from the University of Chicago, where he had been special assistant to the president, secretary of the Board of Trustees, and senior lecturer. In addition to his 16 years in Chicago, Campbell held administrative and/or faculty positions at Yale University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a historian, he specialized in international relations and Central European history. He was awarded two Fulbright grants, a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, and a Lewis-Farmington Fellowship at Yale. Dr. Campbell holds a B.A. from Baylor University, an M.A. from Emory University, and a Ph.D.
Gregory S. Woodward: Gregory S. Woodward served as the 22nd president of Carthage College. He took office in August 2012 and left in June 2017 to assume the presidency at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cornell University.. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and master’s degree from Ithaca College. Mr. Woodward was a fellow in higher education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and a graduate of Harvard’s New President Institute.
John R. Swallow: President Swallow graduated from Sewanee in 1989 with honors in both mathematics and English literature. He went on to earn two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in mathematics, all from Yale University. Joining the faculty at Davidson (North Carolina) College in 1994, he taught there for 17 years - 10 of them in an interdisciplinary humanities program. President Swallow returned to his undergraduate alma mater in 2011.

Relocation and Growth

In 1852, the college moved to Springfield, Illinois, and was renamed Illinois State University. This institution is not to be confused with the one in Normal, Illinois, which carries the same name. In 1870, the College moved again, this time to the rural, west-central city of Carthage, Illinois, where the College acquired its current name.

The Great Depression and World War II presented significant challenges, lowering enrollment to 131 students in 1943. However, the college persevered, and enrollment increased again after the war as a result of the G.I. Bill.

A pivotal moment arrived in 1962 when the college relocated to Kenosha, Wisconsin, marking the beginning of a new era of growth and expansion. By 1916, the College gained accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and received the association’s highest rating of “A” - one of only four colleges in Illinois to gain this honor.

The next decade brought a period of continuous expansion. Enrollment increased fivefold, the endowment tripled, and physical assets increased 600 percent.

Academic Excellence and Unique Programs

Carthage College offers a diverse range of academic programs, emphasizing a well-rounded education and experiential learning.

Curriculum and Opportunities

Carthage offers a Bachelor of Arts in more than 40 areas of study and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Carthage also partners with master's level institutions to offer dual-degree programs in engineering, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and pharmacy.

The academic calendar spans two 14-week semesters, separated by a month-long January term. During January Term, known on campus as "J-Term", participating students select one class and attend it daily. In addition to on-campus courses, many students travel with faculty on study tours in either January or the summer months. Destinations in 2016 included Cuba, Nicaragua, and World War II battle sites in Europe.

All students must complete a senior thesis. This capstone project can take the form of a research project, music recital, art exhibit, or some other original demonstration of scholarship or creativity.

Western Heritage Program

All Carthage students were required to take Western Heritage, a year-long course sequence in which they read, discussed, and wrote about major Western texts. The reading list included works by Plato, Homer, Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, and W. E. B.

"Reacting to the Past"

Many classes employ a teaching tool called “Reacting to the Past.” Students take on the roles of historical figures. One example is the History of Mexico course where students use primary sources to plot assassinations, overthrow governments, and even engage one another’s armies on the battlefield.

Lincoln's Legacy

Abraham Lincoln served as a Trustee of the College in 1860-61 and sent his oldest son Robert Todd to the Preparatory Department of the College when the college was located in Springfiled, Illinois.

Since 1997, Abraham Lincoln has stood larger than life on the Carthage campus, elegantly greeting students, faculty, staff, and visitors from Sesquicentennial Plaza. Around Mr. Lincoln are etched the names of hundreds of Carthaginians. And seated nearby? The bronze sculpture is a landmark on the Carthage campus, celebrating the connection Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Hay have to Carthage, and illustrating the passage of wisdom from one generation to the next.

Through the first year of his presidency, Mr. Lincoln served as a trustee at Illinois State University, which later became Carthage. Mr. Hay attended Illinois State and later served as Mr. For sculptor Michael Martino, the scene is analogous to the learning moments that happen every day at Carthage. Knowing Mr. Lincoln’s penchant for storytelling, Mr. Martino imagined a moment when Mr. Lincoln paused during dictation to impart some lighthearted wisdom to Mr. “That’s the difference between somebody who’s just conveying information and somebody who’s been really inspired,” Mr. Martino said. “A Learning Moment” was dedicated in 1997 as part of the College’s sesquicentennial celebration. Made of hollow bronze, the Lincoln statue stands 9 1/2 feet tall. True to Mr. Martino’s vision, in warmer months classes often convene in Sesquicentennial Plaza. As his first major commission, the sculpture smoothed Mr. Martino’s transition to full-time artist. As an artist, he finds depth of feeling in Honest Abe’s facial features. The sculptor also installed a 24-inch-tall bust of Mr. Lincoln at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha. Though he has sculpted many other subjects, he remembers what he learned while researching Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Martino grew to admire the way the president meshed fierce determination and political skills to achieve results.

Campus Life and Traditions

Carthage College provides a vibrant and engaging campus life, fostering a strong sense of community and tradition.

Student Body and Faculty

In fall 2016, Carthage had enrollment of 2,818 undergraduate students and 112 graduate students. The student body is 55 percent female and 45 percent male. The college has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. In fall 2016, the college employed 160 full-time professors and 162 part-time faculty members.

Campus Landmarks and Traditions

Kissing Rock: Kissing Rock has been a part of Carthage since 1913. Stationed prominently at the entrance to Evergreen Walk, the rock quickly became part of Carthage life. One tradition recounts that any woman sitting on the rock was obligated to kiss the man who found her there and countless marriage proposals have been made and accepted near it. Today, Kissing Rock is a multifaceted symbol of the Carthage spirit. Students paint the Rock to promote their organizations and causes, publicize upcoming events, and celebrate.
The Christmas Festival: The Christmas Festival has been a part of Carthage's holiday season since 1974. Every year at the start of December, Carthage hosts a musical celebration of the birth of Christ for the community.
Old Main Bell: For decades, the Old Main Bell sat in the tower at the top of Old Main, the first building on the campus in Carthage, Illinois. After athletic victories, students would race down Evergreen Walk to ring the bell.

Greek Life - Phi Kappa Sigma

During the early 1980's, several students at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin were looking for a different fraternal experience than the one that was available on campus. They moved to establish a new national fraternity at Carthage, initially discussing chartering with the Sigma Chi National Fraternity. To comply with IFC rules, the men first established a local chapter, Sigma Chi Omega, with the intent to convert the local to a national within a year. Due to disagreements with the headquarters of Sigma Chi, aided by courting from several other national fraternities, the young men began to search for a new national charter. The men visited several chapters and decided to charter to Phi Kappa Sigma after an impactful visit to the Alpha Beta Chapter at the University of Toronto. The Gamma Gamma Chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma was colonized in 1983, being chartered with 23 founding members in Spring of 1984.

Campus Facilities

Hedberg Library: A high point in the recent history of the college was the dedication of the Hedberg Library on October 18, 2002. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington gave the dedicatory address. The Hedberg Library at Carthage College was the 2004 Wisconsin Library Association Library of the Year. The library also won the Highsmith Award in 2007 for Family Fun Night, a program for community members that encourages learning for children from 2 to 13. In 2001, the Hedberg Library opened its doors, adjoining the H. F. Johnson Center for the Fine Arts. The former Ruthrauff Library was renovated into the A. W.
Campbell Student Union: In fall 2011, a new student union opened on the site of the former W. F. Seidemann Natatorium. It houses a new press box, new bleachers, a new and larger bookstore, new dining options, a campus "living room", a new dining room, a 200-seat theatre, an art gallery, and a gaming area. In April 2012 the student center was formally dedicated and named the Campbell Student Union in honor of retiring President F. Gregory Campbell and his wife, Barbara, for their 25 years of service to Carthage.
David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Natural and Social Sciences: In fall 2015, a new science center opened in the newly renovated David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Natural and Social Sciences. Originally built in 1962, the former Science Hall was renovated and renamed in honor of David A.
The Tower: In fall 2018, the newest residence hall, The Tower, was opened. The Tower provides students with apartment-style suites with personal bathrooms, as well as media lounges on each floor and communal kitchens on every other floor.

Athletics

Carthage athletic teams are the Firebirds. The college is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) since the 1961-62 academic year; which they were a member on a previous stint from 1946-47 to 1951-52. Over a third of Carthage students are involved in varsity intercollegiate athletics, and another third participate in the many intramural and club sports offered.

Nickname Change

In 2005, the NCAA ruled that Carthage, along with several other colleges, would be ineligible to host NCAA-sanctioned playoffs and tournaments because their nickname, "Redmen", was perceived as an offensive reference to Native Americans. A decision was made to rename the Carthage men's teams the "Red Men". This is in accordance with the circa 1920 origin of the name-the team's red uniform jersey-while removing any possible controversial connotations. In conjunction with the rearticulation of the name, a new logo for the team replaced the traditional feathered Carthage C. In 2020, the Carthage Board of Trustees and Athletics voted unanimously to retire the Red Men/Lady Reds nickname and mascot "Torchie" from athletics, adopting the new nickname "Firebirds."

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