Xaverian Brothers Records
1816-[ongoing]
Origination : Xaverian BrothersExtent : 78 linear feet 2 audio tapes 1 linear foot of photographs 10 linear feet of printed material
Repository : University of Notre Dame Archives
Address : Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
English.
Administrative Information
Restricted by contract
Preferred Citation
Xaverian Brothers Records (CFX), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN 46556
Scope and Content
Office files of the American Province (1875-1960) and of the American Central Province (1960-1974), dossiers (1816-1977), basic documents (1869-1964), financial records (1818-1974), correspondence (1881-1974), and subject files (1896-1973). Correspondents include Martin John Spalding, James Cardinal Gibbons, and many other bishops.
Office files of Xaverian institutions (1820-1974); personal papers of Xaverians (1871-1974); with manuscripts of Brother Aubert Downey's Ryken: Life and Letters and Xaverian Menology, Brother Aloysius's translation of Brother Ferdinand De Muynck's history of the Xaverians, Brother Julian Ryan's Men and Deeds, and Brother Kurt's history of the Xaverian constitutions; photographs and printed material.
Also files generated by the service of Brother Thomas More Page on the Pontifical Commission on Religious Life (1983-1986); consisting of correspondence, agenda, interviews, documentation of meetings, reports, memoranda, white papers, publicity, talks, and cassette audio tapes.
Custody of the archives of the American Central Province of the Xaverian Brothers was transferred to the Archives of the University of Notre Dame in December of 1980. Student workers made container lists and transferred files to new boxes. Archivists put documents in new folders, preserving original folder titles and supplementing them with information placed in brackets. Paper clips and most staples were removed. Printed material, audio-visual material, and photographs were separated from manuscripts. Series were identified and arranged according to provenance insofar as the nature of the manuscripts made such an arrangement practical; within series original order was generally preserved. However, Xaverian institutions were originally divided into two groups -- those that had closed and those still in operation; in the present arrangement, each Xaverian institution has its place in alphabetical order by state, city, and name. Vestiges of the Xaverian alphanumeric filing system remain on some folders (2-letter codes such as OP for "Other Provinces identify certain files); but this system never included all of the folders in the collection, and no attempt has been made to extend it. The last box of the collection (Box 159) contains a description of this alphanumeric filing system.
Background
Summary: The Congregation of St. Francis Xavier (CFX) was founded by Theodore James Ryken in 1839. At the invitation of Bishop Martin John Spalding, Xaverian Brothers came to teach in the Diocese of Louisville in 1854. In 1864, after Spalding had become Archbishop of Baltimore, Xaverians began to open schools in Maryland. The congregation had also established schools in Belgium and England, and in 1875 three provinces were established: Belgian, English, and American. Xaverians founded schools in many American states and in 1960 the American Province was divided in two: the Sacred Heart (or Central) Province and the St. Joseph (or Northeast) Province.
In 1839 Theodore James Ryken, a Dutch Catholic living in Belgium, founded the Congregation of St. Francis Xavier (CFX), known in English-speaking countries as the Xaverian Brothers. Though Ryken intended to found an order dedicated to Catholic education in the United States, the first Xaverian school opened in Bruges, Belgium, 1843. In 1853 Louisville Bishop Martin Spalding invited the Xaverians to open schools in his diocese, and in 1854 the first colony of brothers came to America.
In 1860 Ryken resigned his position as Superior General of the congregation and Brother Vincent Terhoeven replaced him. The same year a second colony of Xaverians came to America. In 1864 Martin Spalding, then Archbishop of Baltimore, asked the Xaverians to open schools there, and they did so.
The congregation had also established schools in England. In 1875 the congregation was divided into three provinces -- Belgian, English, and American. Brother Alexius Vanderwee served as the first American Provincial from 1875 to 1900. Under his administration, American brothers opened schools in New York State, Massachusetts, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
From 1900 to 1907 Brother Dominic served as American Provincial and extended the range of Xaverian activities to include New Jersey, Michigan, California, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. From 1907 to 1925 Brother Isidore Kuppel served as American Provincial; under his authority averians began to operate in the District of Columbia.
During the administration of Brother Paul Scanlan as American Provincial, 1925 to 1928, the pope at last officially recognized the congregation (1927). From 1928 to 1937 Brother Paul Scanlan served as Superior General of the order, the first American to become Superior General of any religious order founded in Europe.
From 1928 to 1934 Brother Osmund Gallagher served as American Provincial; near the end of his administration a Xaverian school opened in Maine. Brother Ambrose Driscoll served as American Provincial from 1934 to 1937 and as Superior General from 1937 to 1953. Brother Edmund McConnell replaced him as American Provincial in 1937 and served until 1944.
Under the provincial administration of Brother Oswald, 1944-1950, Xaverians from America began missionary work in Uganda. Brother Oswald was later elected Superior General (1953).
Brother William Sheehan served as American Provincial from 1950 to 1956 and Brother Nilus Cullen from 1956 to 1962. In 1960 the American Province was divided in two. The American Northeastern Province, also known as the St. Joseph Province, includes the New England states and all of New York State except for New York City and Long Island. The African missions are also under the control of this province. The American Central Province, also known as the Sacred Heart Province, includes the rest of the United States.
Brother Thomas More Page served as American Central Provincial from 1962 to 1965, when he was elected Superior General. Brother Pastor served as American Central Provincial from 1965 to 1968, and Brother Bernard Starkey from 1969 to 1975. Brother Philip Dougherty became American Central Provincial in 1975.
| 1797/08/30 | Xaverian founder T.J. Ryken born, Elshout, Holland |
| 1824/02/20 | Alexius Vanderwee, first American Provincial, born Antwerp, Belgium |
| 1826 | Ryken nurses the sick in cholera plague, North Holland |
| 1828 | Ryken becomes a Trappist lay brother, Alsace, France |
| 1831 | Ryken comes to America as a lay catechist |
| 1831-1834 | Ryken works among Indians with Father Stephen Badin |
| 1834 | Ryken returns to Europe to found order to work in |
| 1839 | Theodore James Ryken founds Xaverians Bruges, Belgium |
| 1843 | First Xaverian School opens in Bruges, Belgium |
| 1843/12/03 | Ryken, Brother Francis Xavier, first invested |
| 1854 | Ryken takes vows along with nine others |
| 1854 | Louisville Bishop Spalding invites Xaverians to USA |
| c1854 | Novitiate opens in Louisville, KY |
| 1854-1889 | Immaculate Conception School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1854-1911 | St. Patrick's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1860 | Brother Vincent Terhoeven becomes second Superior General |
| 1860 | Second colony of Xaverians arrives in America |
| 1860-1872 | St. Boniface School operates, Louisville, KY |
| c1860-1880 | Brothers Francis, Stephen, and Dominic, Novice Masters, |
| 1860-1933 | St. John's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1863- | St. Xavier' s High School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1863-1874 | St. Martin's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1863-1899 | Cathedral School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1864 | St. Xavier' s Institute, first CFX high school, Louisville, KY |
| 1866 | Spalding, now Bishop of Baltimore, invites Xaverians |
| 1866-1950 | St. Mary's lndustrial School operates, Baltimore, MD |
| 1867-1872 | Our Lady's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1868-1869 | St. Anthony's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1868-1872 | St. Peter's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1872- | St. Michael's School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1872- | St. Patrick's School operates, Baltimore, MD |
| 1874-1888 | St. Louis Bertrand School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1875- | Mt. St. Joseph College operates, Baltimore, MD |
| 1875 | Xaverians establish Belgian, English, American Province |
| 1875-1900 | Brother Alexius Vanderwee serves as American Provincial |
| 1876 | Novitiate moves to Old Mt. St. Joseph's, Louisville, KY |
| 1878-1893 | St. Joseph's School operates, Baltimore, MD |
| 1878-1948 | St. James Home operates, Baltimore, MD |
| 1880-1887 | Xaverians serve in West Troy, NY |
| 1881-1847 | St. Patrick's School operates, Lowell, MA |
| 1881-1923 | St Peter's School operates, Richmond, VA |
| 1883 | Br Joseph Novice Master, Brs Leonard and Peter assistants |
| 1887 | Brother Cajetan serves as Novice Master |
| 1889-1947 | St. Mary's School operates, Lawrence, MA |
| 1891 | Brother Paul Novice Master, Br. Theodore assistant |
| 1891-1901 | Br. Cajetan serves as Master of Aspirants at Juniorate |
| 1891-1907 | Juniorate operates at St. John's, Danvers, MA |
| 1891-1913 | Assumption School operates, East Boston, MA |
| 1891-1931 | St. Mary's School operates, Norfolk, VA |
| 1892-1931 | St. Paul's School operates, Portsmouth, VA |
| 1893- | St. Joseph's School operates in Somerville, MA |
| 1893-1923 | Fitton School operates, East Boston, MA |
| 1894- | St. John's operates, Worcester, MA |
| 1896-1897 | St. Thomas College operates, Scranton, PA |
| 1897-1933 | Central Catholic / Cathedral High School operates, Wheeling, WV |
| 1898 | Brother Dionysius serves as Novice Master |
| 1898-1923 | Old Point Comfort College operates, Fort Monroe, VA |
| 1899-1915 | Brother Chrysostom serves as Superior General |
| 1900 | Brother Norbert serves as Novice Master |
| 1900-1907 | Brother Dominic serves as American Provincial |
| 1900-1915 | Mt. St. Joseph's Industrial operates, Millbury, MA |
| 1900-1923 | St. Patrick's School operates, Richmond, VA |
| 1901 | Br Basil Novice Master, Brs Theodore and Walter assist |
| 1901-1907 | Br. Bernardine serves as Master of Aspirants, Juniorate |
| 1902-1905 | Sacred Heart Industrial operates, Arlington, NJ |
| 1902-1929 | St. Vincent's School operates, Newport News, VA |
| 1903-1907 | St. Joseph's Agricultural operates, Rutherford, CA |
| 1904- | St. Joseph Home / CYO Home operates, Detroit, MI |
| 1904-1919 | St. John's Industrial operates, Deep River, CT |
| 1904-1931 | St. Francis Xavier Manual Training School, Elm Grove WV |
| 1905-1923 | St. Agnes Institute operates, Manchester, NH |
| 1907 | Brother Theodore serves as Novice Master |
| 1907- | St. John's Prep School operates, Danvers, MA |
| 1907-1913 | Br. Alexander directs Juniorate seniors at Mt. St. Joseph |
| 1907-1913 | Br. Linus directs some Juniorate students at St. John's |
| 1907-1913 | Juniorate students at Mt. St. Joseph, St. John's and Old Point Comfort |
| 1907-1925 | Brother Isidore Kuppel serves as American Provincial |
| 1908-1972 | Leonard Hall Naval School operates, Leonardtown, MD |
| 1908- | Working Boys Home operates, Newton Highlands, MA |
| 1908-1937 | St. Lawrence Home operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1910-1921 | St. James Parochial School operates, Newark, NJ |
| 1911- | St. Joseph's College / Prep operates, Bardstown, KY |
| 1911-1915 | Paradise Protectory operates, Abbotstown, PA |
| 1912-1913 | St. Patrick's High School operates, Washington, DC |
| 1912-1922 | St. James School operates, Salem, MA |
| 1913 | Brother Alphonse serves as Novice Master |
| 1913-1919 | Br. Pacomius serves as Master of Aspirants, Juniorate |
| 1913-1922 | Juniorate operates at Old Point Comfort College, VA |
| 1914-1927 | St. Mary's High School operates, Clarksburg, WV |
| 1915 | Br Sylvan Novice Master, Br Columbianus assistant |
| 1915-1928 | Apostolic Mission House operates, Washington, DC |
| 1916-1926 | Cathedral High School operates, Wichita, KS |
| 1917- | Assumption Academy / St. Francis De Sales, Utica, NY |
| 1917 | Brother Julian serves as Novice Master |
| 1917- | Camp Calvert operates, Leonardtown, MD |
| 1917-1942 | Cathedral School operates, Richmond, VA |
| 1918-1934 | Xaverian School operates, Alexandria, VA |
| 1919-1923 | Br. Theodore serves as Master of Aspirants, Juniorate |
| 1919-1928 | Brother Bernard serves as Superior General |
| 1920- | Holy Cross School operates -- first in N.Y. City -- Brooklyn |
| 1921- | Sacred Heart Novitiate operates, Fort Monroe, VA |
| 1923- | St. Joseph Juniorate operates, Peabody, MA |
| 1923- | St. Matthew's Parochial School operates, Brooklyn, NY |
| 1923-1924 | St. Edward's College operates, Huntington, WV |
| 1923-1928 | Br. Osmund serves as Master of Aspirants, Juniorate |
| 1924-1970 | Holy Name Parochial School operates, Brooklyn, NY |
| 1925-1928 | Brother Paul Scanlan serves as American Provincial |
| 1926- | Keith Academy operates, Lowell, MA |
| 1926- | Mission Church High School operates, Roxbury, MA |
| 1926- | St. Michael's Diocesan High School operates, Brooklyn, NY |
| 1927 | Pope officially recognizes Xaverian Brothers |
| 1928 | Br. Jason serves as Master of Aspirants, Juniorate |
| 1928 | Paul Scanlan becomes Superior General |
| 1928-1934 | Brother Osmund Gallagher serves as American Provincial |
| 1928-1934 | Xaverian House of Studies operates, Washington DC |
| 1928-1937 | Brother Paul serves as Superior General |
| 1930 | Mount Saint Joseph, a Junior College, affiliated with The Catholic University of America |
| 1931 | Belgian Province starts colony in Belgian Congo |
| 1931- | Xaverian College operates, Silver Spring, MD |
| 1932 | Assumption Academy becomes St. Francis De Sales High School |
| 1932- | Catholic High School operates, Malden, MA |
| 1933- | John Bapst High School operates, Bangor, ME |
| 1934-1937 | Brother Ambrose Driscoll serves as American Provincial |
| 1935- | St. Theresa's School operates, Brooklyn, NY |
| 1937-1944? | Brother Edmund serves as American Provincial |
| 1937-1953 | Brother Ambrose serves as Superior General |
| 1940- | Our Lady of Good Counsel High School operates, New York, NY |
| 1941- | Cardinal Hayes High School operates, New York, NY |
| 1942- | Cardinal Hayes Annex operates, New York, NY |
| 1942- | Flaget High School operates, Louisville, KY |
| 1944-1950 | Brother Oswald serves as American Provincial |
| 1949 | American Province starts mission in Uganda |
| 1949- | St. Francis Xavier Secondary School, Uganda, Africa |
| 1950-1956 | Brother William serves as American Provincial |
| 1952- | Archbishop Stepinac High School operates, White Plains, NY |
| 1953/03 | Brother Oswald elected Superior General |
| 1954- | Mount Loretto operates, Staten Island, NY |
| ?1956-1962? | Brother Nilus serves as American Provincial |
| 1960 | American Province splits into Central and Northeast Provinces |
| 1960 | American Central Province opens schools in Bolivia |
| ?1962-1965 | Brother Thomas More serves as American Provincial |
| ?1965-1968 | Brother Pastor serves as American Provincial |
| 1965/04 | Brother Thomas More elected Superior General |
| 1969-1975 | Brother Bernard Starkey serves as American Provincial |
| 1975 | Brother Philip Dougherty serves as American Provincial |
- Apostolic Mission House operates, Washington, DC -- 1915-1928
- Archbishop Stepinac High School operates, White Plains, NY -- 1952-
- Assumption Academy becomes St. Francis De Sales High School -- 1932
- Assumption Academy / St. Francis De Sales, Utica, NY -- 1917-
- Assumption School operates, East Boston, MA -- 1891-1913
- Camp Calvert operates, Leonardtown, MD -- 1917-
- Cardinal Hayes Annex operates, New York, NY -- 1942-
- Cardinal Hayes High School operates, New York, NY -- 1941-
- Cathedral High School operates, Wichita, KS -- 1916-1926
- Cathedral School operates, Louisville, KY -- 1863-1899
- Cathedral School operates, Richmond, VA -- 1917-1942
- Catholic High School operates, Malden, MA -- 1932-
- Central Catholic / Cathedral High School operates, Wheeling, WV -- 1897-1933
- Fitton School operates, East Boston, MA -- 1893-1923
- Flaget High School operates, Louisville, KY -- 1942-
- Holy Cross School operates -- first in N.Y. City -- Brooklyn -- 1920-
- Holy Name Parochial School operates, Brooklyn, NY -- 1924-1970
- Immaculate Conception School operates, Louisville -- 1854-1889
- John Bapst High School operates, Bangor, ME -- 1933-
- Juniorate operates at Old Point Comfort College, VA -- 1913-1922
- Juniorate operates at St. John's, Danvers, MA -- 1891-1907
- Juniorate students at Mt. St. Joseph, St. John's and Old Point Comfort -- 1907-1913
- Keith Academy operates, Lowell, MA -- 1926-
- Leonard Hall Naval School operates, Leonardtown, MD -- 1908-1972
- Mission Church High School operates, Roxbury, MA -- 1926-
- Mount Loretto operates, Staten Island, NY -- 1954-
- Mt. St. Joseph, a Junior College, affiliated with Catholic University -- 1930
- Mt. St. Joseph College operates, Baltimore, MD -- 1875-
- Mt. St. Joseph's Industrial operates, Millbury, MA -- 1900-1915
- Novitiate moves to Old Mt. St. Joseph's, Louisville, KY -- 1876
- Novitiate opens in Louisville, KY -- c1854
- Old Point Comfort College operates, Fort Monroe, VA -- 1898-1923
- Our Lady of Good Counsel High School operates, New York, NY -- 1940-
- Our Lady's School operates, Louisville, KY -- 1867-1872
- Paradise Protectory operates, Abbotstown, PA -- 1911-1915
- Sacred Heart Industrial operates, Arlington, NJ -- 1902-1905
- Sacred Heart Novitiate operates, Fort Monroe, VA -- 1921-
- St Peter's School operates, Richmond, VA -- 1881-1923
- St. Agnes Institute operates, Manchester, NH -- 1905-1923
- St. Anthony's School operates, Louisville, KY -- 1868-1869
- St. Boniface School operates, Louisville, KY -- 1860-1872
- St. Edward's College operates, Huntington, WV -- 1923-1924
- St. Francis Xavier Manual Training School, Elm Grove WV -- 1904-1931
- St. Francis Xavier Secondary Schoo1, Uganda, Africa -- 1949-
- St. James Home operates, Baltimore, MD -- 1878-1948
- St. James Parochial School operates, Newark, NJ -- 1910-1921
- St. James School operates, Salem, MA -- 1912-1922
- St. John's operates, Worcester, MA -- 1894-
- St. John's Industrial operates, Deep River, CT -- 1904-1919
- St. John's Prep School operates, Danvers, MA -- 1907-
- St. John's School operates, Louisville, KY -- 1860-1933
- St. Joseph Home / CYO Home operates, Detroit, MI -- 1904-
- St. Joseph Juniorate operates, Peabody, MA -- 1923-
- St. Joseph's Agricultural operates, Rutherford, CA -- 1903-1907
- St. Joseph's College / Prep operates, Bardstown, KY -- 1911-
Alphabetical List of Institutions
Index
Xaverian BrothersRyken, Theodore James, 1797-1871.
Spalding, M.J. (Martin John), 1810-1872
Gibbons, James, 1834-1921
Downey, Aubert
DeMuynck, Ferdinand
Julian Brother
Kurt, Brother
Page, Thomas More
Catholic Church. Pontificia Commissio de Vita Relgiosa in Statibus Foederatis Americae Septentrionalis.
Monastic and religious life
Monasticism and religious orders
Brothers (in religious orders, congregations, etc.)
Catholic Church -- Bishops -- Correspondence
Account books.
Letters.
Translations.
Interviews.