Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  BARRAT SHERRY S
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/01/2006
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NORTHERN TRUST CORP [NTRS]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION, 50 S. LA SALLE ST.
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP & Pres-Personal Fin Svcs
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

CHICAGO, IL 60603
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 39,414
I
Family Trust
Common Stock (1) 27,000
D
 
Common Stock 6,419 (2)
I
401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy) 09/17/1998 09/17/2006 Common Stock 12,000 $ 16.75 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy) 09/16/1999 09/16/2007 Common Stock 16,000 $ 28.3125 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy) 09/15/2000 09/15/2008 Common Stock 16,000 $ 34.5938 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)   (3) 05/13/2009 Common Stock 30,000 $ 45.1563 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)   (4) 05/15/2010 Common Stock 25,000 $ 70.2813 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)   (5) 05/21/2011 Common Stock 25,000 $ 68.105 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy) 08/19/2002 02/19/2012 Common Stock 2,125 $ 53.655 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)   (6) 05/20/2012 Common Stock 25,000 $ 52.3 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy) 08/18/2003 02/18/2013 Common Stock 3,680 $ 32.615 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)   (7) 02/18/2013 Common Stock 35,000 $ 32.615 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)   (8) 02/17/2014 Common Stock 35,000 $ 49.12 D  
Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy) 03/31/2005 02/15/2015 Common Stock 30,000 $ 44.465 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
BARRAT SHERRY S
NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
50 S. LA SALLE ST.
CHICAGO, IL 60603
      EVP & Pres-Personal Fin Svcs  

Signatures

By Eileen C. Ratzka as POA for Sherry S. Barrat 01/04/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Represents stock units payable automatically on a 1-for-1 basis in shares of the Corporation's common stock.
(2) as of 12/20/2005
(3) 5/13/2001 as to 20,000 shares and 5/13/2002 as to 10,000 shares
(4) 5/15/2001 as to 8,334 shares; 5/15/2002 as to 8,333 shares; 5/15/2003 as to 8,333 shares
(5) 5/21/2002 as to 8,334 shares; 5/21/2003 as to 8,333 shares; 5/21/2004 as to 8,333 shares
(6) 5/20/2003 as to 8,334 shares; 5/20/2004 as to 8,333 shares; 5/20/2005 as to 8,333 shares
(7) 2/18/2004 as to 11,667 shares; 2/18/2005 as to 11,666 shares; 2/18/2006 as to 11,667 shares
(8) 2/17/2005 as to 8,750 shares; 2/17/2006 as to 8,750 shares; 2/17/2007 as to 8,750 shares; 2/17/2008 as to 8,750 shares

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