NCC, NCTV team up for documentary series

As part of its sesquicentennial, North Central College has teamed up with Naperville Community Television to produce “A Promising Start,” a five-part documentary series that chronicles the college’s 150-year history.

The documentary production is led by Naperville Community Television’s Emmy award-winning Executive Director Elizabeth Braham Spencer, who also is adjunct professor of broadcast communication at the college.

The documentary brings the college’s story to life through re-enactments, video, historical photos, letters and interviews with historical experts such as Ann Durkin Keating, chair of the college’s history department and C. Frederick Toenniges Professor of History at North Central.

Titles and years covered by each of the five parts of the documentary series are: “A College Is Born” (1861-1916), “The Growth of a College” (1916-1946), “Challenges of the Post-World War II Years” (1946-1975), “A Student-Centered Community” (1975-1990) and “Moving into the 21st Century” (1991-2011).

The first two segments premiered in May and September, and the third installment debuted Nov. 7. The fourth part is scheduled to premiere in February, and the fifth and final segment is expected to debut in May. DVD copies of the first three parts of the documentary will be for sale at the college’s bookstore, 100 E. Jefferson Ave. The DVDs will be available singly or as a set; call the bookstore at (630) 637-5635 to learn more. The cost is $9.95 each or $39.95 for the complete set of five, available beginning in May.