-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EP7PYKo9eZ9prOXmMI4lVqpOspfaQHgvrJTrWz37sGhyXb1XGveQef7IOlJ/1Q37
 K2oAWCmEJ+505I0GMsebxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001143959-03-000001.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001143959-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723121608
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001143959-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCORMACK ROBERT C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001143959

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05965
		FILM NUMBER:		03797759

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WESTVACO CORP
		STREET 2:		299 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WESTVACO CORP
		STREET 2:		299 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHERN TRUST CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000073124
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				362723087
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 S LASALLE ST
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60675
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126306000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTRUST CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780525
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-23</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000073124</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHERN TRUST CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ntrs</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001143959</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCORMACK ROBERT C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2712</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2710712</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By General Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></owner
shipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2712</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4635810</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/><footnoteId id="F4"/><footnoteId id="F5"/><footnoteId id="F6"/><footnoteId id="F7"/><footnoteId id="F8"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnotes</value></natureOf
Ownership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Transfer of shares to the Robert C. McCormack 1967 Revocable Trust, a trust of which the reporting person is a co-trustee &amp; beneficiary, from Northern Partners LP, a family limited partnership of which the reporting person is the General Partner.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Northern Partners LP except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote><footnote id="F2">11,502 shares-These shares are held in a trust of which the reporting person is a co-trustee &amp; beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F3">32,604 shares- Held by Wife</footnote><footnote id="F4">1,076,400 shares-These shares are held in trust for the benefit of the reporting person's sons.  The reporting person is a co-trustee of the trust.</footnote><footnote id="F5">1,770,552 shares-These shares are held in a trust of which the reporting person is a co-trustee &amp; beneficiary.  The reporting person's 
sons have a remainder interest in the trust.</footnote><footnote id="F6">1,622,952 shares-These shares are held in trust for the benefit of the reporting person's brother.  The reporting person is a co-trustee of the trust.</footnote><footnote id="F7">117,000 shares-These shares ae held in trust for the benefit of the reporting person's sister-in-law.  The reporting person is a co-trustee of the trust.</footnote><footnote id="F8">4,800 Common Stock Units-Represents stock units payable automatically in common stock on a one-for-one basis in accordance with vesting schedule.  The stock units are held Directly.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Eileen C. Ratzka as POA for Robert C. McCormack</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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