Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society
Abstract
Wheaton, Illinois and Wheaton College share a name derived from early settlers, a geographic space, and conservative political and religious values. In their early years, the college admitted black students and the suburb had black residents. Their paths diverged after pressure from religious movements and suburbanization: Wheaton continued as one of the few Chicago suburbs to have black residents, yet the college stopped admitting black students around the 1920s. Wheaton passed Illinois’ first fair housing law in 1967 but controversy regarding a significant downtown project led to subsequently pursuing development aimed at wealthier residents and the proportion of non-white residents lagged behind nearby suburbs. At Wheaton College, the number of non-white students and faculty has slowly increased in recent decades. The history of these two communities suggest paths toward welcoming racial and ethnic minorities are non-linear and new goals – influenced by external pressures - can supersede prior efforts.
First Page
293
Last Page
316
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5406/jillistathistsoc.112.3.0293
Publication Date
Fall 2019
Recommended Citation
Miller, Brian J., and David B. Malone. “Race, Town, and Gown: A White Christian College and a White Suburb Address Race.” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1998-), vol. 112, no. 3, 2019, pp. 293–316. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/jillistathistsoc.112.3.0293. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.