Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

Thursday, January 11, 2024

The Tunnels of Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), Chicago, Illinois.

NEIU HISTORY
The University traces its history to Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University), which, as Cook County Normal School, was founded in 1867 to train elementary and high school teachers. The Chicago Teachers College (CTC) established the Chicago Teachers College (North Side) branch in 1949. The school relocated to the present site at North Park, Chicago, in 1961 and changed its name in 1965 to Illinois Teachers' College: Chicago North, when control of CTC passed into the hands of the State of Illinois.

In 1967, the Illinois Legislature acted to remove the title of "teachers college" from all state colleges and universities, and the college became Northeastern Illinois State College.
Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 North St. Louis Avenue, North Park Community, Chicago, Illinois.
In 1971, the school became Northeastern Illinois University after it was granted university status and was given a mandate by the Illinois Legislature "to offer such courses of instruction as shall best serve to qualify teachers for the schools of the State; and to offer such other courses of instruction, conduct such research and offer such public services as are prescribed by the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities or its successor."

In January 1996, Northeastern Illinois University established its own board of trustees.

THE TUNNELS OF NEIU
The basement tunnels that connect Lech Walesa Hall to the Student Union and other buildings on campus make traveling easier at NEIU. Students and staff can access specific tunnels to skip the cold walks between buildings.

Discovering the tunnel connecting Lech Walesa Hall (LWH) to the cafeteria took half a semester. The first time we attempted to go through the entrance, we turned right back around. We'll admit to being afraid of walking through the unknown space and getting in "trouble."
A Tunnel at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), Chicago, Illinois.


One occasion, we saw a group of students walking to the tunnel entrance. We were very blatantly following them. Despite this, our curiosity to discover where the tunnel led was stronger.

The offices and lounge area became apparent in the distance when we reached the first crossroad. It was like we had discovered another world. The cafeteria came into view as we walked and passed the second crossroad.

Since then, using the tunnel between LWH and the cafeteria has become a part of our daily routine.

The best way to travel through the tunnels is with an expert or a buddy. Our expert, Catherine Duffy, NEIU's Program Administrative Assistant, was more than willing to give us a tour of the tunnels. We met Duffy while walking through the tunnel closest to the cafeteria and into the Office of Student Employment hall.

We also met Beverly Projansky, Staff Clerk in the Office of Student Employment. Projansky, an NEIU alumna from the graduating class of 2000, recalled the blizzard of '99. "It was great for students if you figured out the tunnels," she said. "You would cross from Lech Walesa Hall through the Student Union to avoid going out."

Most students have become familiar with the shortcut during the harsh winter months.

Duffy walked us through the LWH tunnels leading into the cafeteria. The first connection is uninterrupted until you reach the first crossroad. On the left, you will see a short hallway with some organization offices; on the right, you'll see the maintenance hall. "It's not a good idea to mess around in the tunnels. Even contractors get lost," said Duffy.

If you continue straight, the Student Health Services office is on the right, and the leadership and organization offices are on the left. The lounge is just ahead, and more student organizations and media offices are tucked inside.

Although most tunnels contain storage and electrical rooms, Duffy gave us helpful hints. From the basement of Building C, students can ascend the building by taking the elevator or going up the stairs. "The elevator stops working after 5:00 PM," said Duffy. "And there is a receptionist on every floor."

The opposing tunnel of the Office of Student Employment holds the mailroom, shipping and receiving center and the Production Technical Services. On the first floor, you would find yourself in buildings E and F near the Art Gallery outside FA and by the Stage Center Theatre.

Students Erica Vergara and Jennifer Alvarez visited NEIU before their admittance.

"I knew about the tunnels since high school," said Alvarez of her past high school visits to the University.

Walking through the tunnels is quite the experience. You'll notice a change in temperature and tunnels that become narrow from protruding vents. If you travel through the tunnels, notice the signs outside doors and hallways. Signs that read "Authorized Personnel Only" should be respected.

The tunnels are convenient to those who already use them, so become acquainted with the tunnel system, save time, and follow them.

By Natalie Sanchez and Viviana Serrano

OTHER PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL SYSTEMS
University of Minnesota: named the Gopher Way. The University's tunnel system began in the 1920s when the first one connected the Nolte Center and Northrop Auditorium. SEE MAP. 

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Their tunnel system, officially established in 1954, is extensive and well-documented, connecting many campus buildings.

Purdue University: Their tunnel system, developed primarily in the 1960s, became integral to campus connectivity and even includes a "tunnel tour" program.

University of Massachusetts Amherst: Construction of their tunnel system began in the early 1960s, expanding over time and becoming a prominent feature of campus life.

https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-pedway-chicagos-loop-underground.html

Edited by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen, the first woman to head a medical division at a coeducational university, Loyola University Medical School.

Born on March 26, 1863, Bertha Van Hoosen spent her early years on her parents' farm in Stony Creek Village, Michigan. Free to roam about and observe the life cycle of the animals on the farm, she later recalled that the toughness of farm life gave her a practical, realistic outlook. As a young girl, she attended several public schools close to her home before graduating from high school in Pontiac, Michigan, at age 17. Following the example of her older sister Alice, she enrolled in the literary department at the University of Michigan in 1880. She met two women who had decided to study medicine here, and their enthusiasm inspired her to follow in their footsteps. Despite her parents' refusal to finance her education, she enrolled in Michigan's medical department after receiving her bachelor's degree in 1884. To pay her way, she earned money teaching calisthenics at a high school, serving as an obstetrical nurse and teacher, and demonstrating anatomy. Four years later, she graduated with her doctor of medicine degree.

Dr. Van Hoosen accepted a series of residencies, first at the Woman's Hospital in Detroit, then at the Kalamazoo, Michigan, State Hospital for the Insane, and finally at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston. She felt ready to begin private practice after four years of additional hospital training.

With money saved from her previous jobs, young Dr. Van Hoosen opened a private clinic in Chicago in late 1892. Like most new practices, hers grew slowly. To keep the practice afloat, she taught courses in anatomy and embryology at the Woman's Medical School of Northwestern University. At the same time, she continued her postgraduate training, accepting a clinical assistantship in gynecology at the Columbia Dispensary in Chicago (later reorganized as the Charity Hospital and Dispensary), where she received further instruction in surgery and obstetrics. As her medical expertise grew, Dr. Van Hoosen's private practice flourished, and she was in great demand as a teacher. 
Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen
In 1902, though her appointment was opposed by the male faculty, she was made a professor of clinical gynecology at the Illinois University Medical School, a position she held until 1912.

In 1913, Dr. Van Hoosen was appointed head of the gynecological staff at the Cook County Hospital, thus becoming one of the first women in the United States to receive a civil service appointment. In 1918, she was awarded a prestigious post as head of obstetrics at Loyola University Medical School, making her the first woman to head a medical division at a coeducational university. Dr. Van Hoosen continued to maintain her private practice and to serve as an attending physician at several additional Chicago hospitals.

Dr. Van Hoosen devoted herself to treating women and children throughout her career. In addition to helping develop better methods of prenatal care, she lectured widely on sex education as a member of the Chicago Woman's Club Committee on Social Purity. In addition, she pioneered the use of scopolamine-morphine anesthesia during childbirth. Popularly known as "twilight sleep," this form of anesthesia rendered patients unconscious without inhibiting their reflexes. Dr. Van Hoosen delivered thousands of healthy babies and published a book and several articles detailing her research.
Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen's Surgical Training.


An outspoken feminist, Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen grew increasingly vocal over the medical establishment's discriminatory treatment of women. Barred from membership in the Chicago Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and discouraged by her isolation within the American Medical Association, she called for a meeting of medical women in Chicago. Their panel led to the formation of the American Medical Women's Association in 1915, with Van Hoosen as the organization's first President.

In 1947, Bertha Van Hoosen, M.D., published an autobiography detailing her pioneering role in medicine and her abiding interest in women's health issues. After more than sixty years, she had done much to advance the position of women in medicine—training physicians, fostering closer ties among her women peers, and serving as a model for those striving to enter fields previously closed to women. In addition, Dr. Van Hoosen could reflect on a rewarding career teaching and practicing obstetrics.

Throughout her career, Dr. Van Hoosen trained several dozen women surgeons. She maintained close ties to her female colleagues, offering surgical assistance to her female peers throughout the United States and her travels through Europe and Asia. 

After retiring from practice in 1951 at age 88, she died of a stroke on June 7, 1952. She is buried at Old Stoney Creek Cemetery in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen's Illinois State Historical Society marker is located in the
South Lobby of the Fine Arts Building at 410 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

GOOGLE MAP
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Friday, November 3, 2023

Jesse W. Fell was a successful businessman, advocate for education, and close friend of Abraham Lincoln.

Jesse W. Fell played a significant role in the development of Illinois in the early 1800s. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1808, and moved to Illinois in 1831. He initially settled in Bloomington, where he opened the first law office in the city.
Jesse W. Fell
In the early 1830s, Fell was appointed Commissioner of Schools in McLean County. This position introduced him to buying and selling land, which he enjoyed much more than being a teacher or a lawyer. He also developed a love of plants and trees, and he became known as "The Tree Planter" for his efforts to beautify the area.

Jesse Fell and Abraham Lincoln first met in 1834 while attending a session of the Illinois state legislature at Vandalia. Fell was a lobbyist for his newly adopted McLean County, while Lincoln was a legislature member. The two men quickly became friends, and their paths would cross frequently over the years, as they were both involved in politics and the law.

John T. Stuart was a prominent lawyer and politician in Springfield, Illinois, in the 1830s. He was also active in politics. In 1837, Stuart formed a law partnership with Abraham Lincoln. The two men became close friends and worked together for several years. Stuart was a mentor to Lincoln and helped him to develop his legal skills. Stuart and Lincoln were both at that time members of the legislature from Sangamon County. The two men roomed together in the winter of 1834-35, and Jesse Fell lived in the same house. Lincoln and Stuart fascinated Fell, who noted the sharp contrast between Stuart's attractive person and polished manners and Lincoln's big-boned, angular, wrinkled face and direct ways. Stuart introduced Fell to Lincoln, and the two became almost at once great friends. Their friendship transcended all differences of creed, education or destiny. 

In the late 1830s, Fell was especially active during the Illinois land boom. He co-founded the town of Clinton, Illinois, with James Allin and worked to create DeWitt County. He also established Livingston County.

Fell and Lincoln worked together on several projects. Fell was involved in the founding of several towns in Central Illinois, including Clinton, Pontiac, and Normal.

He was active in the Whig Party in the 1840s. Fell became very involved in politics during the mid to late 1850s and helped to organize the Illinois Republican Party in 1856.

Fell played an essential role in Lincoln's political career, and he urged Lincoln to challenge Stephen A. Douglas to the famous series of debates in 1858. He also played a crucial role in managing Lincoln's presidential campaign.

In addition to his business interests, Fell was a strong advocate for education. He was instrumental in the founding of Illinois State Normal University, which opened in 1857. Its name was changed to Illinois State University in 1967. He donated land for the campus and served on the board of trustees for many years.
Illinois State Normal University


After the Civil War, Fell continued to be involved in business and civic affairs. He died on February 25, 1887, at the age of 78. He is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, located at 302 East Miller Street, Bloomington, Illinois, 61701.


Copyright © 2023 Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

The Newberry Library and Walter Loomis Newberry's History.

Walter Loomis Newberry died on November 6, 1868, during a return trip from France for medical treatment. His bequest of $2.1 million ($46 million today) would eventually result in the foundation of the Newberry Library on July 1, 1887.

Walter Newberry was a businessman and philanthropist who was a prominent figure in the early development of Chicago, Illinois. He was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, on September 18, 1804, and moved to Chicago in 1833. 
Walter Loomis Newberry (1804-1868)
Newberry quickly established himself as a successful businessman with interests in land development, banking, shipping, and railroads. He was also a civic leader, serving as an alderman on the Chicago Common Council and President (1863-1863) of the Chicago Board of Education.

Newberry was a generous philanthropist, and he donated large sums of money to support education, culture, and social welfare causes. In 1887, his will established the Newberry Library, a research library that is one of the leading independent research libraries in the Nation. 
Postcard of the Newberry Library in Chicago from Washington Square (aka Bughouse Square) c.1910 from the "I Will" series of postcards, Acmegraph Company, Chicago, ca.1910.


Today, the Newberry Library, at 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, stores tens of thousands of digital files from its collection, which consists of over 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 1,300 distinct archival collections containing approximately 5 million manuscript pages. The number of digital image files stored by the Newberry Library is not publicly disclosed, but it will likely be in the millions.
Early Interior of the Newberry Library, Chicago.


Newberry was also a patron of the arts and sciences. He was a founding member of the Chicago Historical Society and the Chicago Academy of Sciences. He also donated money to support the construction of several public buildings in Chicago, including the old Chicago Main Public Library and the Chicago Art Institute. 

Newberry was one of the founders of the First Chicago Bank, which morphed into (The First National Bank of Chicago in the 1860s, which financed the Civil War; Union National Bank in 1900; Metropolitan National Bank in 1902); and today it is the Chase Bank.

The Newberry Library was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Newberry died at the age of 64. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, 4001 North Clark Street in Chicago.

Newberry's legacy continues to benefit the city of Chicago and the world. The Newberry Library is a vital resource for scholars, students, and the general public.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Friday, August 11, 2023

The 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois.

The World's First Parliament of Religions was a historic interfaith gathering held in Chicago, Illinois, from September 11 to 27, 1893. It was the first large-scale gathering of representatives from the world's religions, and it helped to promote religious tolerance and understanding.


On the platform of the Parliament of Religions 1893 (left to right), Virchand Gandhi (Jainism), Anagarika Dharmapala (Buddhism), Swami Vivekananda (Hinduism), G. Bonet Maury (Christianity).




The Parliament was organized by the World's Congress Auxiliary to the Columbian Exposition, which was a world's fair held in Chicago to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. The Parliament was held in the Art Institute of Chicago building before the Art Institute moved in, and it featured over 700 delegates from over 20 different religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism.
1893 World's ParliamenWorld'sligions, The Buddhist High Priests of Siam.



The Parliament was a major success attracting over 750,000 visitors. It helped to promote religious tolerance and understanding around the world. It also helped to inspire the development of new interfaith organizations, such as the Parliament of the World's Religions, which still exists today.
1893 World's Parliament of ReliWorld'sDancing Dervishes.


Here are some of the key speakers and events from the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions:
  • Reverend John Henry Barrows: The general chairman of the Parliament, Barrows was a Unitarian minister who was passionate about promoting religious understanding. He gave the opening address to the Parliament, calling for a "world faith" that would unite all people of all religions.
  • Swami Vivekananda: A Hindu monk, Vivekananda was one of the most popular speakers at the Parliament. He gave a passionate speech calling for a "harmony of religions" and a "brotherhood of man" His speech was a significant turning point in how Hinduism was perceived in the West.
  • Mohammed Abduh: An Egyptian scholar and reformer, Abduh was one of the leading voices of Islam in the 19th century. He gave a speech calling for a "reinterpretation" of Islam to make it more relevant to the modern world.
  • Henry Steel Olcott: A co-founder of the Theosophical Society, Olcott was a leading figure in studying comparative religion. He gave a speech in which he argued that all religions are essentially the same and that they all aspire to the same goal.
  • Bishop Charles Henry Brent: An Episcopal bishop, Brent was one of the most vocal advocates for religious tolerance at the Parliament. He gave a speech calling for a "new world faith" that would unite all people of all religions.
The 1893 World's Parl"ament of Religions was a landmark event in the history of interfaith diaWorld'sIt helped promote religious tolerance and understanding worldwide. It inspired the development of new interfaith organizations. The Parliament's legacy continues today, encouraging people to work for peace and understanding betParliament'snt religions.

1993 World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago, Illinois.
The 1993 World's Parliament of Religions was a gathering of religWorld'saders and scholars from around the world, held in Chicago, Illinois, from September 4-10, 1993. It was the second World Parliament of Religions, following the first in 1893. The Parliament's theme was "A Global Ethic: Building a Just and Peaceful World."

Over 8,000 people from over 100 countries attended the 1993 Parliament to celebrate, discuss and explore how religious traditions can work together on the critical issues which confront the world. They repreWorld'svarious religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, SikWorld'saoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Baha'i. Each area had a series of workshops, panels, and lectures. There were also performances by artists and musicians from different religious traditions.

2023 World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago, Illinois.
The 2023 Parliament of the World's Religions will be hosted from Monday, August 14 through Friday, August 18, at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center, Chicago, Illinois.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Abraham Lincoln's Plank on Education

When Lincoln prepared his first circular to be distributed among the voters of Sangamon County, Illinois, in the summer of 1832, he worked a plank[1] on education into his political platform. The following excerpt shows his interest in the subject when he was only twenty-three. 
Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.


"Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or sys· tern respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in. That every man may receive at least a moderate education, and thereby be enabled to read the histories of his own and other countries, by which he may duly appreciate the value of our free institutions, appears to be an object of vital importance, even on this account only, to say nothing of the advantages and satisfaction to be derived from all being able to read the Scriptures and other works both of a religious and moral nature, for themselves. 

For my part, I desire to see the time when education─and by this, morality, sobriety, enterprise, and industry─shall become much more general than at present, and I should be gratified to have it in my power to contribute something to the advancement of any measure which might have a tendency to accelerate that happy period." 

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.



[1] Lincoln's plank on education was a platform for the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election. The plank called for universal education, meaning that all children, regardless of social class or race, should be able to attend school. The plank also called for establishing public schools, which would be funded by the government. Lincoln's plank on education was a radical idea at the time, as most children in the United States did not attend school. However, Lincoln believed education was essential for a democracy to function correctly. He argued that an educated citizenry would be better equipped to make informed decisions about government and to participate in civic life. The Republican Party's victory in the 1860 election helped to pave the way for establishing universal education in the United States. In the years following the Civil War, many states passed laws that established public schools and required children to attend school. Today, education is considered a fundamental right in the United States, and all children can attend school.

Monday, July 3, 2023

The "Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab Kit," the Most Dangerous Toy in the World.

Marshall Field & Co. State Street Store sold the U-238, Christmas 1950, as informed by a former Toy Dept. employee.
The U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory kit for children was produced by Alfred Carlton Gilbert and is still listed as 'the most dangerous toy in the world.' It included three sources of radiation and four uranium ores that are also radioactive. The kit, which first went on sale in 1950, came with an instruction booklet, a pamphlet on how to prospect Uranium, and various tools that enabled children to dive deep into the world of atomic chemistry. 


A little history about Alfred Gilbert. First known as the Mysto Manufacturing Company, the company was founded in 1909 in Westville, Connecticut, by Alfred Carlton Gilbert, a magician, and his friend John Petrie to supply magic shows. 

Gilbert invented the Erector construction toy concept, first released by Mysto Manufacturing Company as the Mysto Erector Structural Steel Builder in 1911.
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In 1916, the company's name was changed to "A.C. Gilbert Company." 

Beginning in 1922, Gilbert made chemistry sets in various sizes and similar sets for other sciences, adding investigations into radioactivity in the 1950s with a kit featuring a Geiger counter and radioactive samples. 

Gilbert began making microscope kits in 1934. In 1938, Gilbert purchased American Flyer, a struggling manufacturer of toy trains, and Gilbert re-designed the entire product line, producing 1:64 scale trains running on an 'S' gauge track. At the same time, Gilbert introduced a line of 'HO' scale trains, primarily marketed under the brand name Gilbert HO.

After WWI, Gilbert released the Atomic Energy Lab in 1950. The kit allowed children to create and watch nuclear and chemical reactions using radioactive material. A line of inexpensive reflector telescopes followed the Sputnik-inspired science craze in the late 1950s.

"Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab Kit."
The most dangerous toy in the world.

The set originally sold for $49.50 ($630 today) and contained the following:
  1. Battery-powered Geiger–Müller counter.
  2. Electroscope.
  3. Spinthariscope.
  4. Wilson Cloud Chamber.
  5. Four glass jars containing uranium-bearing ore samples (autunite, torbernite, uraninite, and carnotite from the "Colorado plateau region") served as low-level radiation sources of Alpha particles (Pb-210 and Po-210).
  6. Beta particles (Ru-106).
  7. Gamma rays (possibly Zn-65).
  8. "Nuclear spheres" are used to make a model of an alpha particle.
  9. Gilbert Atomic Energy Manual — a 60-page instruction book.
  10. Learn How Dagwood Split the Atom — comic book introduction to radioactivity.
  11. Prospecting for Uranium — a book.
  12. Three C batteries.
  13. 1951 Gilbert Toys catalog.

  Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, May 17, 1950
Atomic Kits for Kiddies, Latest in Toys.
New Haven, Conn., May 16 [Special] — Now it's a toy for the kiddies ─ atomic energy, that is.

A toy manufacturing company disclosed today the atomic energy commission has sold it a quantity of what the Commission said is harmless, altho radio-active isotopes, for inclusion in an atomic energy kit for budding physicists.

A spokesman for the company said it plans to retail the kit under the name of "U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory." The outfit will include, in addition to the isotope, a sample of uranium ore, a book of instruction, and working reproductions of such scientific devices as a Geiger counter, a spinthariscope, and a cloud chamber.

MORE FOR TEENAGERS
"This outfit is more for teenagers than for kiddies," the spokesman said. "We expect it to do a great deal to promote the understanding of atomic energy." The same company has manufactured chemistry sets.

A boy owner of an atomic energy laboratory will be able to hide his isotope under a rug and locate it by the Geiger counter, it was said. He can put the isotope in a dark room and, with the aid of a spinthariscope, watch the manifestation of atomic disintegration thru the appearance of sparks.

The spokesman said the AEC and postal authorities have given approval for the manufacturing and distribution of the kits. The company is the A.G. Gilbert Manufacturing Company.

HALF-LIFE ISOTOPES
The AEC said in Washington DC that the isotopes sold to the toy company are known as "Zinc 65" with a "half-life" of 250 days.

The meaning of the term half-life was not explained. The AEC said it understood the company proposes to make toys in which children can watch atomic disintegration.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Monday, April 3, 2023

The House of the Good Shepherd was Founded in 1859 in the Town of Lake View, Illinois.



The Sisters of the Good Shepherd's original building was located on the West side on Price Place. In 1907 they moved to 1126 West Grace Street (at Racine Avenue) in the Town of Lake View, Illinois, The Town of Lake View was officially annexed to Chicago on July 15, 1889.

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Addresses for shelters are hard to find today, as they are deemed dangerous for women and children sought by their spouses or stalkers. 

Today, Lakeview (not Lake View) is one of Chicago's 77 communities with four neighborhoods; (1) Lake View East, (2) North Halsted, (3) West Lakeview, and (4) Wrigleyville.


The House of the Good Shepherd opened a Technical School for Girls of Color with 25 students in 1911, which was later closed in 1953. 

The Grace Street facility was deemed unsafe and a fire hazard in 1970. The rebuilt facility was opened in 1975, and they opened a domestic violence shelter in 1980 with a Children's Center the same year.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Hamburger University, from the World Renowned, McDonald's Corporation, Chicago, Illinois.

The McDonald's chain was famously born when an ambitious milkshake mixer salesman named Ray Kroc partnered with and eventually bought out Maurice and Richard McDonald, two brothers with a small but popular chain of hamburger restaurants. Kroc opened his first new location in Des Plaines, Illinois 1955, naming it McDonald's.
The McDonald's № 1 Store Museum (1955-2017) in Des Plaines, Illinois, was a replica of the first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, opened by Ray Kroc in April 1955. The company usually refers to this as The Original McDonald's, although it is not the first McDonald's restaurant but the ninth; the first was opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California, in 1940, while the oldest McDonald's still in operation is the third one built, in Downey, California, which opened in 1953. However, the Des Plaines restaurant marked the beginning of future CEO Kroc's involvement with the firm. It opened under the aegis of his franchising company McDonald's Systems, Inc., which became McDonald's Corporation after Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers' stake.










The third McDonald's restaurant opened on August 18, 1953, at 10207 Lakewood Boulevard, Downey, California. It was also the second restaurant franchised by Richard and Maurice McDonald before the involvement of Ray Kroc in the company. The original building is a museum, while the red roof in the background is a modern McDonald's serving food and kid's toys.


Hamburger University started in 1961 with a class of 15 people and was held in the basement of a McDonald's restaurant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Fred L. Turner, a grill cook, developed and operated the educational program. Soon, Turner's McDonlad's corporate education and training programs became the pioneering concept for other businesses. 

Fred Turner became McDonald's CEO in 1973 and replaced Kroc as Chairman in 1977, later named Senior Chairman upon Kroc's death. Under Turner, McDonald's expanded its operations to 118 countries, with over 31,000 outlets and over a billion hamburgers sold. Fred retired in 2004, serving as Honorary Chairman until he died in 2013.

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Those who attended Hamburger University in its earliest days received hands-on instruction from Fred Turner and Ray Kroc.

Hamburger University was designed exclusively to instruct personnel employed by McDonald's Corporation or by McDonald's Independent Franchisees in the various aspects of the business and operations of McDonald's.

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The first "Corporate College" was created by General Electric (GE) as a place for Nationwide management employees to learn in conjunction with the company's business plans and development goals. GE Crotonville, Ossining, New York, started in the mid-1950s. Today, it's called the GE Management Development Institute.

This makes Hamburger University one of the first corporate education programs of its kind. McDonald's retains more rising stars by developing talent and leadership at Hamburger University.

McDonald's Global Headquarters was located on an 80-acre campus in Oak Brook, Illinois, from its founding until 2018, when the McDonald's headquarters moved to Chicago's West Loop into a new complex built on the former site of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios.

Managers in McDonald's restaurants graduated from Hamburger University, eventually moving to a 130,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on the McDonald's Home Office Campus in Oak Brook, Illinois.

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2022 - TOP 5 CORPORATE UNIVERSITIES
       1) Google; Googleplex
       2) McDonald's Hamburger University
       3) Apple University
       4) Disney University
       5) Intel Network Builders University

Students at McDonald's Hamburger University, for example, at the restaurant ownership level, learn to successfully run a restaurant and report and analyze the books. Further education is necessary to become an executive to support the franchises and help them develop business skills and focus on leadership skills. With a degree, the graduate is confident and ready to support McDonald's employees, restaurant owners, and sales growth.

Hamburger University is a fundamental degree-granting institution, so much so that credits earned can be applied toward an associate's or bachelor's degree at other colleges and universities.

McDonald's Home Office Campus and Hamburger University moved to 1045 West Randolph Street, Chicago, and opened in its new home in June 2018. 
1045 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.



McDonald's office space, including Hamburger University, occupies 490,000 square feet of the building.

They have grown from the old main campus in Oak Brook, Illinois, to the addition of seven satellite campuses worldwide at one time: Tokyo, London, Sydney, Munich, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Moscow. A faculty of 30 resident professors teach and communicate in 22 languages with the help of translators and technology. 

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McDonald's has reopened its doors under a new name in Russia after the fast food giant pulled out of the country over its invasion of Ukraine. Fifteen McDonald's restaurants in and around Moscow reopened with their new name, "Vkusno & Tochka," which translates as "Tasty and that's it." Businessman Alexander Govor, who already owns 25 restaurants in Siberia, agreed to buy all 847 Russian McDonald's outlets after the chain boycotted the country in early March. He vowed to keep all their 62,000 employees on equivalent terms for at least two years.

To date, Hamburger University has produced around 330,000 degree holders worldwide.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

A Primer about President Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered for his vital role as the leader in preserving the Union during the Civil War and beginning the process (Emancipation Proclamation) that led to the end of slavery in the United States. He is also remembered for his character and leadership, his speeches and letters, and as a man of humble origins whose determination and perseverance led him to the nation's highest office.
1865


President Lincoln endured extraordinary pressures during the long Civil War. He carried on despite generals who weren't ready to fight, assassination threats, bickering among his Cabinet members, massive loss of life on the battlefields, and opposition from groups such as the Copperheads. However, Lincoln remained brave and persevered. He didn't give in to the pressures and ended the war early. He kept fighting until the Confederacy was defeated. A lesser man would have given in and stopped the war before the goals had been achieved. Lincoln did not do this.

The Emancipation Proclamation didn't immediately free any slaves because it only applied to territories, not under Lincoln's control. Legal freedom for all slaves in the United States did not come until the final passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865. Lincoln was a strong supporter of the amendment but was assassinated before its final enactment.

President Lincoln's domestic policies included support for the Homestead Act. This act allowed poor people in the East to obtain land in the West. He signed the Morrill Act, designed to aid in establishing agricultural and mechanical colleges in each state. Lincoln also signed the National Banking Act legislation, establishing a national currency and creating a national bank network. In addition, he signed tariff legislation that offered protection to American industry and a bill that chartered the first transcontinental railroad. Lincoln's foreign policy was preventing foreign intervention in the Civil War.

Lincoln's most famous speech was the Gettysburg Address, given while he suffered from a mild case of smallpox. Lincoln explained that our nation was fighting a Civil War to see if we could survive as a union. He stated it was proper to dedicate a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield to honor the men who had fought and died there. Lincoln said that the people still alive must commit to finishing the task that the soldiers who lost their lives had begun, saving the nation as a union of the North and South.

One crucial way Lincoln affects contemporary society is that we look back on his presidency as a role model for future generations. Lincoln's character affects us because we now compare all politicians to the example Lincoln set. Another effect of Lincoln is his sophisticated quotations. Politicians love to quote Abraham Lincoln because he is considered America's wisest, problem-solving president. Lincoln's primary effect on America today is simply through the good example he set regarding leadership and integrity. Many American politicians in our time tried to emulate his thinking by using Lincoln's quotes in their speeches.

Lincoln had a Charismatic leadership style (persuasiveness, charm and sympathy), Transformational (causes change), and Democratic leadership (run by the people) style, compared to an Oppressive (authoritarian) or Laissez-Faire (hands-off). 

When there was disagreement between advisors and himself, he often told a story demonstrating his point and influenced others to follow his lead. This method often worked, and people admired and respected Lincoln for it. He could virtually disarm his enemies with his highly moralistic debate and competent leadership. Lincoln possessed qualities of kindness and compassion combined with wisdom. One of his nicknames was "Father Abraham." Like George Washington (Indian tribes called President Washington "Father"), Lincoln demonstrated an extraordinary strength of character. 

Seven hundred professors, elected officials, historians, attorneys, authors, etc., participated in the poll and rated the presidents. Abraham Lincoln was ranked number one, Franklin Roosevelt was second, and George Washington finished third. The categories included leadership qualities, accomplishments, crisis management, political skill, party appointments, character and integrity. Lincoln was ranked first, second, or third in all categories, and his overall ranking was first among all American presidents.

A 2009 C-SPAN poll consisted of a survey of 65 Doctoral historians. The participants were asked to rank the presidents in ten categories ranging from public persuasion and economic management to international relations and moral authority. Abraham Lincoln finished number one, George Washington came in second, and Franklin Roosevelt was third.

Lincoln became successful through sheer ambition and hard work. He spent less than 1 year attending ABC schools as a youth growing up on the frontier. The lessons were taught orally, and schools thus got the nickname "blab" schools. Lincoln would read any book he got his hands on. Later when Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois, at 22 years old, he began to study law books in his spare time. In New Salem, he earned the nickname "Honest Abe," He was self-educated and became a lawyer in 1836, although he never attended college. Lincoln was a very successful attorney with extensive practice before his election as president in 1860. Additionally, Lincoln served four terms in the Illinois State House of Representatives and one term in Congress.

Lincoln's most significant action was his decision to fight to preserve the Union. Ultimately, this decision to fight the Civil War resulted in the USA remaining one nation rather than splitting into two separate countries or worse.

Although Lincoln was criticized for stepping over the traditional bounds of executive power, he faced the greatest threat to federal authority in the country's history. He felt his job was to protect the Union from disintegrating. Also, Lincoln's contribution to freedom for the enslaved people was significant, and he got the ball rolling with the Emancipation Proclamation. We honor Abraham Lincoln for preserving the Union and beginning the process of freedom for Negroes.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Abraham Lincoln decided to fight to prevent the nation from splitting apart.
  • Abraham Lincoln was a resolute commander-in-chief during the Civil War, which preserved the United States as one nation.
  • Abraham Lincoln's foreign policy successfully prevented other countries from intervening in America's Civil War.
  • Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which led to the end of slavery in the United States. He is also remembered for his character, which began the process of freedom for America's slaves. The document also allowed negro soldiers to fight for the Union.
  • Abraham Lincoln strongly supported the Thirteenth Amendment, formally ending slavery in the United States.
  • Legislation Abraham Lincoln signed into law included the Homestead Act, the Morrill Act, the National Banking Act, and a bill that chartered the first transcontinental railroad.
  • Abraham Lincoln set an example of strong character, leadership, and honesty, which succeeding presidents tried to emulate. Barack Obama stated during his presidential campaign that he would look to Lincoln as a role model.
  • Abraham Lincoln gave many great speeches before and during his presidency, including the House Divided Speech, the Cooper Union Address, the First Inaugural Address, the Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural Address.
  • Abraham Lincoln wrote famous letters to Grace Bedell, Horace Greeley, Fanny McCullough, and Lydia Bixby.
  • Abraham Lincoln's quotes are among the most famous passages in the world. Unfounded Quotes Attributed to Abraham Lincoln.  
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Monday, December 26, 2022

Clyde Tombaugh from Streator, Illinois, discovered that Pluto was a planet.

Clyde William Tombaugh was born in Streator, Illinois, on February 4, 1906. His family purchased a farm near Burdett, Kansas, while he was still young, where a hailstorm ruined his family's crops and put an end to his hopes to attend college at the time. 


Unimpressed with store-bought telescopes, Tombaugh constructed his first telescope at 20, grinding the mirrors himself. Throughout his life, he built more than 30 telescopes.

In 1928, he put together a 23-centimeter (9-inch) reflector telescope from the crankshaft of a 1910 Buick and parts salvaged from a cream separating machine. Using this telescope, young Clyde made detailed observations of Jupiter and Mars, which he sent to Lowell Observatory to garner feedback from professional astronomers.


Instead of receiving constructive criticism, Tombaugh was offered a position at the observatory. The staff had been searching for an amateur astronomer to operate their new photographic telescope in search of, among other things, the mysterious Planet X.


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Only a short time after its discovery in 1781, astronomer William Herschel declared it was initially either a comet or a star. The new planet, Uranus (no jokes, please), was found to have strange movements that could only be attributed to another celestial body. Neptune's discovery in 1846 somewhat accounted for the orbit, but there were still discrepancies that led scientists to conclude yet another planet existed. In 1894, businessman Percival Lowell built Lowell Observatory to study Mars. In 1905, he turned the telescope to search for the elusive Planet X, though he died before the new planet was found.

When Tombaugh was hired in 1929, he joined the search for the missing planet. The telescope at the observatory was equipped with a camera that would take two sky photographs on different days. A device known as a blink compactor rapidly flipped back and forth between the two photographs. Stars and galaxies remained unmoving in the images, but anything closer could be visually identified by its motion across the sky. Tombaugh spent approximately a week studying each pair of photographs, which contained over 150,000 stars and sometimes nearly a million.

On February 18, 1930, Tombaugh noticed movement across the field of a pair of images taken a month beforehand. After studying the object to confirm it, the staff of Lowell Observatory officially announced the discovery of a ninth planet on March 13, 1930.


With the discovery came the right to name the new body, so the staff opened a worldwide call for suggestions. Eleven-year-old Venetia Burney of England suggested the name Pluto because the dark, distant planet resembled the abode of the Greek god of the underworld.

In 1934, he married Patricia Edson, and they had two children, Annette and Alden. He earned his bachelor's and master's degree in astronomy from the University of Kansas, working at the observatory during the summers.

Tombaugh remained at Lowell Observatory until the advent of World War II when he was called into service teaching navigation to the U.S. Navy at Arizona State College. After the war concluded, he worked at the ballistics research laboratory at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Tombaugh received the "Pioneers of White Sands Missile Range" medal. From 1955 until he retired in 1973, he taught at New Mexico State University.


Pluto endured as a planet for more than 70 years. As astronomical instruments became increasingly precise, other similar-sized objects were found beyond the orbit of Neptune. In 2006, almost a decade after Tombaugh's death, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet.

The New Horizons mission to Pluto launched on January 19, 2006, and carries some of Tombaugh's ashes on board as it travels to Pluto. New Horizons performed a flyby of the Pluto system on July 14, 2015.

NASA's 'New Horizons' Mission to Pluto and a Puzzling Discovery.
[runtime: 19:38]

Although most famous for discovering the most controversial body in the solar system, Tombaugh also found a comet, hundreds of asteroids, and several galactic star clusters throughout his career. 

Tombaugh passed away at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on January 17, 1997.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.