Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary carries on the tradition of the Chicago Archdiocesan High School Seminary. The concept of the high school seminary was established by Archbishop James E. Quigley in 1905. He appointed Father Francis Purcell as Rector of the new Cathedral College of the Sacred Heart. Cathedral College began with fifty-two high school freshmen; and both the Archbishop and Rector determined that they were educating the city’s future priests. According to the founders, "those priests should never lose contact with their heritage, their families, their Church."

In 1912, Fr. Purcell declared that the school was starting to make a name for itself; however, in the summer of 1915, Archbishop Quigley was failing in health and died on July 10.

Archbishop Quigley’s vision of a seminary system did not die - indeed it was reborn - in the imagination and administrative genius of Archbishop George Mundelein, the newly appointed Archbishop of Chicago.

Soon after his arrival in Chicago, Archbishop Mundelein announced plans for the building of a preparatory seminary at Rush and Chestnut. The school should serve as a memorial to Archbishop Quigley. In November of 1916, ground was broken, and the cornerstone of the seminary and chapel was laid at the corner of Rush and Pearson Streets.

Classes were first held at Quigley Seminary at 103 East Chestnut Street in September, 1918. The following December 8th, Archbishop Mundelein said Mass in a temporary chapel in the library during which he ordained six (6) priests. Thus, the first Mass he celebrated at Quigley was an Ordination Mass.

By 1922, over 600 students were enrolled at the minor seminary, a building designed to hold 500. The freshmen were moved back to the original Cathedral College building and excavation of a west wing on Rush Street designed to hold another 500 students was begun in March, 1925.

The student body had increased to 1300 by the mid-fifties. In the late 1950’s, the plan for seminary expansion included the construction of a new high school, and Quigley Preparatory Seminary South was founded in 1961. In only 56 years Chicago’s "little seminary" had become one of the largest systems in the world.

In 1989, when the Church in Chicago had to face a changing economic scene, the seminary once again adjusted. To continue to provide the finest academic and formational programs to high school seminarians, a new program needed to be established. After evaluating the needs of the Archdiocese and understanding the financial crisis of the Church in Chicago, Cardinal Bernardin made a very difficult decision - to close both Quigley North and Quigley South. The impact of the closing of the two seminaries was felt throughout the country. The Archdiocese of Chicago has the distinction of having the largest seminary system in the United States.

True to the tradition established in 1905 by Archbishop Quigley, Cardinal Bernardin maintained the vision of a high school seminary. Along with his decision to close both Quigley North and Quigley South came the dream of a new high school seminary, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. The new seminary has a long and proud heritage. Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary located at 103 East Chestnut Street was dedicated on August 26, 1990, by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. Fr. John Daley was appointed Rector, and Fr. John Klein was appointed President. In 1995, Fr. Michael Foley was appointed Rector. Current rector is Fr. Peter Snieg, who succeeded Fr. Foley in 2000.

These past years have added new chapters to Quigley’s history as we built on the traditions of the past and developed many of our own. In these years, we have revamped our formation program to strengthen our priesthood focus, to deepen our students’ love of the liturgy, and to foster a spirit of service among the seminarians. Academically, we have built a strong program which includes 10 advanced placement courses and opportunities to study at Loyola University.