About Northstar
Before us.
Beyond us.
A short history, told the way the archive keeps it: in letters, clippings, plans and photographs.
Fictional demo history
1968
Founding
Twelve teachers and a borrowed hall. The charter asks for “a university that answers questions with better questions.”
1968
Founding
Twelve teachers and a borrowed hall. The charter asks for “a university that answers questions with better questions.”
NORTHSTAR UNIVERSITY
CHARTER OF FOUNDATION · 14 MARCH 1968
1. The University shall teach any person able and willing to learn, without regard to where they began.
2. It shall keep its library open to all members, and its doors open to the town.
3. It shall be a university that answers questions with better questions.
← keep this one
1969
First class
Two hundred and eleven students enrol. The local paper sends a photographer.
THE VALLEY COURIER · 8 SEPT 1969
211 Students Begin at Northstar
The new university opened its doors on Monday to a first class drawn from eleven towns. “We have more questions than buildings,” said the acting principal, “which is the right way round.”
1974
Founders’ Hall
The first permanent building opens on what is now the quad.
Founders’ Hall, 1974 1982
First research lab
A converted boiler room becomes the Science Center’s first lab.
BOILER RM CONVERSIONDWG 1982-0312004
Campus expansion
Engineering, the Arts Center and the residences complete the quad.
2026
Today
Fifteen schools around one quad, and the same question on the wall of the library.
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The university
archive.
Photographs, documents, objects, buildings and publications. Open one to look closer.
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