Saint Ignatius Timeline

The Reverend Arnold J. Damen, S.J. (1815-1890) - perhaps you've seen the Chicago street named for him - founded Saint Ignatius College Prep in 1869. Due to the cost of borrowing money after the Civil War and the fact that Holy Family Church parishioners were newly-settled Irish immigrants, establishing a Jesuit college in Chicago during the late 19th century appeared to be an impossibility. But Father Damen accomplished the unthinkable without requesting financial assistance from his parishioners. Instead, he began a fundraising campaign for which he traveled across the country and to Europe to raise the money to build Saint Ignatius College Prep. Fr. Damen believed that because the school would have a significant impact on the world, it was crucial for individuals beyond Chicago to contribute to the college's construction. His tenacity and his belief in the mission resulted in construction commencing in 1866. The school officially opened its doors to 37 students and four faculty members in 1870.

Once upon a time at Saint Ignatius College Prep, a student could earn a high school diploma and a Bachelor's degree. That would change in the early 20th century. On September 24, 1907, Loyola Academy was born in Rogers Park. The post-secondary departments of Saint Ignatius College Prep became associated with Loyola Academy in 1909, leading to the establishment of Loyola University. By 1922, Loyola University was largely a separate entity.

In the 1970s, Saint Ignatius College Prep faced financial challenges because of widespread inflation. Then president, Reverend Joseph E. Bowen, S.J. (1945-1986), who was in charge from 1975 to 1981, implemented fundraising programs to keep up with costs. In the ongoing effort, he wrote to actor and comedian Bob Hope to see if he would lead a benefit for Saint Ignatius College Prep. Hope accepted the invitation for the December 1976 event at the Auditorium Theater. It raised a record-breaking $250,000. The picture you see shows the news conference Hope led with Fr. Bowen and Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley.

The 1980s saw the beginning of a series of large renovation and construction projects that would continue throughout the 1990s. Reverend Donald F. Rowe, S.J. (1941-2021), who was president of Saint Ignatius College Prep from 1981 until 1998, oversaw the overhaul and expansion work. In 1992, a complete renovation of the "New Wing" began - necessary considering the building which housed arts and sciences programs, had not undergone any major change since it was built. Also in 1992, Jim '32 and Genevieve McLaughlin donated one million dollars at the annual Christmas concert. Their donation allowed for the addition of a 38,000-square-foot building to the "New Wing." This addition, which would be called the McLaughlin Center for Performing Arts and Sciences, was to include a theater, dressing rooms, workrooms, classrooms and science laboratories. There was also to be a music room, which would be called the McDonough Music Center, which was made possible by the generosity of Jim '51 and Jacque McDonough. The groundbreaking for the McLaughlin Center for Performing Arts and Sciences was held on June 14, 1994.

Saint Ignatius College Prep celebrated its 150th anniversary from March 2019 until January 2020. Dr. Eileen Junkins '91 planned the months-long celebration that began at Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade, where Fr. Michael P. Caruso, the school president, was the guest of honor. Other events followed, but the official kick-off for the 150th Anniversary was the Ignatian Celebration on August 24, 2019. It featured live entertainment, food and games for the Saint Ignatius College Prep family.  Final calendar events on what was supposed to be a year-long celebration were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis. A resilient Wolfpack bounced back from the pandemic with full operations resuming in the 2021-2022 school year.