Restricted by contract
Xaverian Brothers Records (CFX), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN 46556
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.
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.