Kendall College Records

Kendall College was founded in 1934 as the Evanston Collegiate Institute, following the merger of two seminaries in Evanston, Illinois. In its early years, the school emphasized work-study programs that enabled students to pursue their education while gaining employment experience. Many students worked at the Washington National Insurance Company, established by brothers George and Harry Kendall. The Kendall family provided significant financial support to the institution, and in recognition of their contributions, the school was renamed Kendall College in 1950. In 1985, Kendall established the School of Culinary Arts, which quickly gained a national reputation for excellence in culinary and hospitality education. The program attracted students from across the country and contributed to the college’s growth and visibility in the professional culinary world. In 2005, Kendall College relocated from Evanston to a new, Chicago's Goose Island neighborhood, allowing for expanded programming and closer ties to the city’s vibrant hospitality industry.

In 2018, Kendall College became part of National Louis University, joining its mission to provide career-focused education with a strong foundation in the liberal arts.