Latest News
March 12, 2010
Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies
Named Approved Continuing Education Provider
by American Institute of Architects
The Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies has been accepted into the award-winning AIA Continuing Education Systems as a new Registered Provider.
The Campbell Center was approved by the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIS/CES) as a provider of educational programs for, and can register courses to deliver to architects for continuing education credit. Continuous learning is required for architects to stay competitive in the profession and to serve their clients effectively. The Campbell Center is pleased to be selected to provide ongoing training courses for the AIA.
Through education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach activities, the AIA works toward a public environment that is responsive to the people it serves while representing the professional interests of America’s architects. Their members are required to complete 18 hours of continuing education per year for membership renewal. Campbell Center Program Director Sharon Welton is working with Architectural Conservator, author, and instructor David Arbogast to develop and offer annual continuing education courses on the Mt. Carroll campus for AIA member architects to attend, beginning in the summer 2010 session.
The Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies is well known in the field of preservation education. More than 1,100 institutions have been represented at the Campbell Center. Unlike distance learning and internet courses, courses at The Campbell Center provide intensive, practical hands-on training. Students at the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies have the opportunity to meet and network with professionals from across the country.
November 2, 2009
The Campbell Center sends American chestnut seedlings grown from historic campus trees to be planted at Independence Hall
A little bit of Mount Carroll, IL will be making its way to a permanent home at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. Three tiny American chestnut seedlings, propagated from blight-resistant trees growing at the Campbell Center in Mount Carroll, will be heading to Philadelphia to be planted along side other historic American tree species.
In August of this year, Todd Hart, historic architect from Independence National Historic Park, arrived at Campbell Center to attend a workshop. During a discussion with members of Campbell Center staff, he soon came to realize that three old-growth American chestnut trees had survived the chestnut blight and still grew on the historic college campus. One of these trees has the distinction of being listed on the Big Tree Register as being the largest recorded American Chestnut tree in Illinois. This tree is believed to be as old as the campus itself, which dates back to the early 1850’s. Perhaps it was planted by Francis Shimer herself while she was planting her fruit and nut orchards during this time. Mr. Hart was not the first person to take note of these rare American trees.
Chuck Bruell has a passion for identifying and watching over the surviving American chestnuts that grow in Illinois and Iowa. Each fall Mr. Bruell, with permission from the trees’ owners, carefully harvests seeds to take back to his nursery to propagate. It is because of Mr. Bruell that the genetics of many now dead trees still survive today. Mr. Bruell is excited to provide the year-old seedlings that will be donated to Independence National Historic Park.
Susan Edens, historic landscape architect at Independence National Historic Park, is excited also. Landscape records for Independence Hall dating back to 1780 list American Chestnut (Castanea dentate) as being one of the trees chosen to be planted on the grounds. The chestnut has been missing from the park landscape, perhaps since the blight was brought from Asia on nursery stock around 1900. She tells Sharon Welton, Program Director at the Campbell Center, that it is a goal of hers to add native American tree species to the park grounds, and looks forward the receiving the chestnut seedlings.
The Campbell Center is honored to have a bit of their campus history going to grace such an important site for American history. After all, Campbell Center has spent the last 30 years teaching preservation of architecture and museum artifacts to professionals from all over the country. It seems only fitting that they can now help preserve this American icon.
No one can say for sure if these little seedlings will survive to maturity. There are many obstacles that face their future, and it will be years before the trees will be large enough for visitors to really notice. Also, there is no guarantee that these seedlings will be resistant to the still-present blight. But the fact remains that Mount Carroll can be proud to know that their town had a hand in restoring this American tree to the place where our history began. It is a very special honor.
May 13, 2009
Campbell Center partners with Walsh University of North Canton, Ohio to provide college credits for many of the Campbell Center Courses.
The Campbell Center is very pleased to announce its partnership with Walsh University of North Canton, Ohio. Campbell Center students will be able to apply to receive college credits through Walsh University for many Campbell Center courses. Approximately 29 courses have been selected at this time for this program. Additional fees will be charged to the regular Campbell Center course tuition for these credits. Much more information will be available soon. Watch the website for the details to come.
January 29, 2009
*Download the 2009 Course Catalog (pdf 1.6mb)*
January 1, 2009
The Campbell Center receives notification of NEH funding.
The Campbell Center is happy to announce that the National Endowment for the Humanities has accepted our recent grant proposal and will continue to help support our Collections Care Program through 2010. NEH funds help pay for a number of the costs involved with this program as well as provide scholarships for students wishing to take collections care courses. The Campbell Center is grateful to NEH for recognizing the importance of these courses for the preservation of our country's humanities collections.
January 15, 2009
Campbell Center announces changes in its Certificate Program.
The Campbell Center announces that changes have been made to the Collections Care Certificate Program. We feel that the new structure will better meet the needs of our students. A Historic Preservation Certificate has also been added. See the Certificate Program Section for more details.
August 5th, 2008
Storm Hits Campbell Center
On Monday, August 4th, 2008, a fierce wind storm hit Mt. Carroll. Although no tornados were reported, winds hit 80 mph. The storm hit in the early evening, around 6:30 p.m. Many course participants were already on their way to view the Mississippi river from the tall bluffs outside Savanna, IL. Within minutes of the storm's approach, the sky turned dark with an eerie greenish glow. The wind and rain quickly followed. At times it was difficult to see even a few feet outside the patio doors at Howe dorm. As quickly as the storm came, it was passed. When we were able to leave the building, we found the campus looking like a war zone. Trees and tree limbs had fallen throughout the campus. Two of the three campus entrances were completely blocked off by fallen trees. We lost our oldest tree, a huge maple. We were very fortunate, though, because not one building was damaged in any way by the falling trees. We were even more fortunate that all our students returned unharmed to the campus. Mt. Carroll was one of many towns to lose all electrical power. One of our board members came to our rescue with a bag full of flashlights and batteries (thanks, Ed!). The students spent about 3 or 4 hours without electricity, but everyone was a good sport about it and considered it an adventure. Many thanks goes out to the city of Mt. Carroll who were on the scene almost immediately and had our main entrance cleared within an hour. Click here to see the photos.
Illinois Humanities Council Announces Tuition Assistance
The Illinois Humanities Council has announced that they will offer Technical Assistance Grants of $500 for any Campbell Center course. You must be a not-for-profit organization that is developing programs for Illinois audiences. For more information go to www.prairie.org/grants.
Campbell Center wants your input
We would also invite any suggestions for other class subjects that may be of benefit for those who have been affected by the recent floods. If you have any suggestions or requests, please send an email to director@campbellcenter.org.
For updates on what's new at the Campbell Center, sign up for our e-mail newsletter.
March 31, 2008
The Campbell Center has just launched their new website with a new updated look. Hope you all enjoy it.