Von KleinSmid Mansion

Von KleinSmid Mansion
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	218 W. Center, Sandwich, Illinois
Coordinates	41°38′49″N88°37′13″W / 41.64694°N 88.62028°W / 41.64694; -88.62028
Area	1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Built	1865
Architectural style	Italian villa
NRHP reference No.	85000979 [1]
Added to NRHP	May 9, 1985

The von KleinSmid Mansion was built for the von KleinSmid family of the DeKalb County city of Sandwich, Illinois, in the mid-nineteenth century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The building is located on Sandwich's West Center Street, and is under private ownership. ^[2]

It was the childhood home of Rufus B. von KleinSmid, former President and Chancellor of the University of Southern California (1921-1947, 1947-1964). ^[3] He became known for his work in international relations and encouragement of foreign students at USC, as well as accomplishing a major capital building program. In the early 20th century, while studying criminal psychology, he became a passionate supporter of eugenics. ^[4]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "ILLINOIS – De Kalb County". National Register of Historical Places.
3. "Rufus B. von KleinSmid". University of Southern California. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
4. Rufus von KleinSmid, 1913, "Eugenics and the State," p. 2, https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/1150/von%20KleinSmit_%20Eugenics%20and%20the%20State.pdf