Historical Images of Porter County

The Valparaiso Male and Female College
Valparaiso, Indiana

Date: Circa 1865-1871
Source Type: Carte-de-visite (CDV)
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: Not applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: This extremely rare image is taken from a carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph imprinted with "The Valparaiso Male and Female College, Valparaiso, Ind." on the reverse. Founded by the Methodist Church, the Valparaiso Male and Female College operated between 1859 to 1871. It was one of the first four year coeducational institutions to operate in the United States. The college went defunct in 1871 and was closed for approximately two years, reopening in 1873 as the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute. The original large brick structure consisted of the west portion of the building (right side of building in the image below). The tower and the east wing were erected in 1867. The structure shown here, with several additions, was destroyed on February 15, 1923, by a fire originating from an overheated stove.

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