Saint Joseph’s College was a coeducational, private, Catholic liberal arts college located in Rensselaer, Indiana. On Feb. 3, 2017, the school announced it would temporarily suspend operations at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year.

SJC was founded in 1889 by Father Joseph A. Stephan, a missionary from Germany as a secondary school to educate Native Americans. In 1962, President Eisenhower dedicated the Halleck Center (named after Republican representative Charles Halleck).

From 1944 to 1974, the Chicago Bears held their training camp at Saint Joseph’s College. Portions of the 1971 film Brian’s Song – about Brian Piccolo, a Chicago Bears running back who died from carcinoma in the 1970s – were filmed on campus, and a charity game for Joy Piccolo, the Bears vs college all-stars, was played on July 23, 1971.

The Administration Building – the main academic building – burned to the ground in a disastrous fire in February 3, 1973. At the time, many thought the fire would close the school, but the school recovered.

Volunteers are currently working to preserve and digitize important, historic document and items related to Saint Joe’s history.