History
Lake Forest was founded in 1857 by Reverend Robert W. Patterson as a Presbyterian (still a member of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities) alternative to the Methodist Northwestern University in Evanston. It was originally named Lind University. It had a medical college from 1859–1863, which later split off and eventually merged with Northwestern University, the predecessor of the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Patterson and his fellow Chicago Presbyterians established the town of Lake Forest as well as the university upon the highest bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. St. Louis architect Almerin Hotchkiss was hired to design the town of Lake Forest with a university park at its center. Hotchkiss used the ravines and forest as guidelines to create a layout that seemed consistent with the natural boundaries and paths. Lake Forest Academy, the first stage in the development of the university began in 1858, while collegiate-level courses began in 1860. By the mid-1860s the fruits of this university park vision were realized as a small New England-style village had been established with an academy building, a Presbyterian church and several homes. For a short time, the college was known as Lind University, named after the man who had given $80,000 to launch the university. But, by 1865, the name reverted to Lake Forest University. In 1876 Mary Eveline Smith Farwell started Lake Forest College, a division of the university, under the leadership of the Reverend Patterson. In 1878, College Hall (now Young Hall) was built following a fire that destroyed the former hotel being used for classes.
The Reverend James Gore King McClure arrived in Lake Forest in 1881 as the pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Under his influence over the next 50 years, the College experienced a large transition "from a pluralistic graduate and professional emphasis to a singular undergraduate liberal arts focus," says Lake Forest College Archivist Art Miller, who co-wrote 30 Miles North: A History of Lake Forest College, Its Town, and Its City of Chicago. During this time, the College's theater group, the Garrick Players, and two of its publications - the yearbook, and student newspaper, The Stentor - were formed. By the 1920s, the College has broken connections with the Academy and its only focus was the liberal arts. Following World War II, the College experienced further growth, taking control of what is now South Campus and constructing the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
In 1960, William Graham Cole, from Williams College, took over as president and brought with him Eastern faculty and students, further diversifying the campus. During his time as president, in 1965, the school's name was officially changed to Lake Forest College. In March 2010, the college received a gift of $7 million from alumna Grace Groner.
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