NCC: Lowell Maechtle papers

Dr. Lowell Maechtle was born August 10, 1915 in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He attended North Central College and graduated in 1936. He then began his graduate work at the Oberlin School of Theology. Maechtle returned to Naperville and completed his Divinity degree at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1939. Maechtle served as a parish pastor in Wisconsin following his graduation from ETS. After two years, Maechtle decided to pursue a Ph. D. in sociology and began classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1942. Although his degree was not officially awarded until 1952, Maechtle largely completed his coursework and research between 1942 and 1945. His research focused on the psychological effects of Civilian Public Service camps on conscientious objectors during World War II. His completed dissertation was titled “A Socio-Psychological Study of the Adjustment Problems of Conscientious Objectors in Civilian Public Service Camps during World War II.”

Maechtle returned to his alma mater in 1951 as the chair of the Sociology Department. He had gained previous experience in higher education at Indiana Central College in Indianapolis and at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. After less than four years at North Central, Maechtle passed away in May 1955. Maechtle married Alyce Marks and they had two children, Greydon and Stephan.