Northwestern Baptist Education Society.

The Society was incorporated in 1876 with the purpose of providing financial aid to deserving students studying for the ministry while attending a Baptist college or seminary in the West. The administration of the Society was taken over by the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1912.

From the description of Records, 1860-1925. (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52248343

The first meeting of what was to become the Northwestern Baptist Education Society was held on September 14, 1891, at 7 Custom House Place, Chicago. "The Joint Committee of the Trustees of the University of Chicago and the Theological Union" met "in response to a communication of the Ladies' Baptist Education Society." The purpose of the meeting was stated to be to form "one ministerial society, to take the place of the different organizations now working for the same end in this field," and to harmonize "interests now to some extent conflicting," and to afford "the necessary aid to students for the ministry in the Northwestern States."

Before the Society was fairly in working order, however, the Great Fire disorganized every plan that had been made and for the time put out of sight the work and needs of the Society. During the next few years the Executive Committee met more or less regularly and handled the business of the Society.

The Society had, since its founding, received the sum of $14,326.89 from fifteen states. The state conventions of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin had by this time taken official action guaranteeing cooperation with the Society and on November 18, 1876 the Society was incorporated under the general laws of Illinois. Thomas W. Goodspeed was secretary from 1876 until he resigned in 1889 to raise funds for the new University of Chicago.

The last meeting of the Society was held in the office of Dean Mathews on May 8, 1925.

From the guide to the Northwestern Baptist Education Society of Chicago. Records, 1871-1925, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)