EXHIBIT NUMBER (24)

TO 2004 FORM 10-K     

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the undersigned officers and directors of Northern Trust Corporation hereby severally constitute and appoint William A. Osborn, Steven L. Fradkin and Kelly R. Welsh, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys and agents with full power to them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names, in the capacities indicated below, Form 10-K, annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and to file such Form, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby granting to such attorneys and agents, and each of them, full power of substitution and revocation in the premises, and generally to do all such things in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Northern Trust Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our attorneys, or any one of them, to such Form, and all that our attorneys and agents, or any of them, may do or cause to be done by virtue of these presents.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto executed this Power of Attorney this 15th day of February, 2005.

/s/ William A. Osborn

William A. Osborn

Chairman of the Board, Chief

Executive Officer, President

and Director

/s/ Steven L. Fradkin	/s/ Harry W. Short
Steven L. Fradkin	Harry W. Short
Executive Vice President	Executive Vice President and Controller
and Chief Financial Officer	(Chief Accounting Officer)
/s/ Duane L. Burnham	/s/ Susan Crown
Duane L. Burnham	Susan Crown
Director	Director
/s/ Robert S. Hamada	/s/ Robert A. Helman
Robert S. Hamada	Robert A. Helman
Director	Director

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/s/ Dipak C. Jain	/s/ Arthur L. Kelly
Dipak C. Jain	Arthur L. Kelly
Director	Director
/s/ Robert C. McCormack	/s/ Edward J. Mooney
Robert C. McCormack	Edward J. Mooney
Director	Director
/s/ John W. Rowe	/s/ Harold B. Smith
John W. Rowe	Harold B. Smith
Director	Director
/s/ William D. Smithburg
William D. Smithburg
Director
STATE OF ILLINOIS                                )
)             SS
COUNTY OF COOK                                  )

I, Victoria Antoni , a Notary Public, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above named directors and officers of Northern Trust Corporation, personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person, and severally acknowledged that they signed and delivered the instrument as their free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

GIVEN under my hand and notarial seal this 15th day of February, 2005.

/s/ Victoria Antoni

Victoria Antoni

Notary Public

My Commission Expires:

7/25/07

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