University of Notre Dame
Archives   

 


Notre Dame -- One Hundred Years

Arthur J. Hope, C.S.C.


© Copyright 1999 University of Notre Dame Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher.


Contents

Prologue

I. Childhood of Edward Sorin; his early studies; his ordination and reception into Holy Cross; his interest in the Indiana missions; his departure from Le Mans with six Brothers; landing in America; the journey to Vincennes

II. Choosing the site at St. Peter's; the first school; the misunderstanding between de la Hailandière and Holy Cross; Sorin plans a college at St. Peter's; the Bishop refuses but offers Sorin land for a college near South Bend

III. Sorin and seven Brothers start for South Bend; rigors of the journey. Pokagon. Stephen Theodore Badin, his early life in the Kentucky missions, his coming to Pokagon's mission. Father Louis Deseille, his dramatic death. Father Benjamin Petit, migration of the Indians with Father Petit, his death

IV. Origin of Badin's title to the Notre Dame property. Sorin's first days at Notre Dame; builds log chapel; arrival of Brother Vincent and the rest of the colony from Vincennes. The second colony, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, come from France. The first college building, "Old College"; second college building and Novitiate. The University charter. The Manual Labor School

V. Financial problems; the primitive educational system of the pioneer university; the early faculty. The Museum; the Infirmary; the first church and its consecration; the shops; the seminary; the post-office; brick-making; the chimes. Early student life; the first commencements and exhibitions

VI. Early fires. Cholera, malaria and numerous deaths. Father Sorin's boldness regarding the Rush property. Misunderstanding between Notre Dame and the Mother House. California expedition. Sorin ordered to India, and the question of dispensation; Sorin capitulates; reconciliation. Sisters moved from Bertrand to St. Mary's

VII. Student life of the early years. Vigilance of the prefects. Some historical cases. Regulations. Student recreations

VIII. Material assistance given to Father Sorin; Badin's second gift; Propagation of the Faith; Corby's donation; Phelan property; first "scholarship." Fire. Visit of the Superior General, Father Basil Moreau; financial situation of the University. Military companies; first days of the Civil War; the Shermans at Notre Dame

IX. Notre Dame and the Civil War. The chaplains: Paul Gillen, James Dillon, William Corby, Peter Cooney, Julian Bourger, Zepherin Lévêque, Joseph Carrier. Corby at Gettysburg. Political difficulty with the draft; Schuyler Colfax. Sisters serve in war hospitals. Growth of the University; new college buildings; changes by Father Patrick Dillon, second president

X. "The Scholastic." Alumni Association. Corby, third president. Sorin becomes Superior General. The velocipede. Beginning of the Law School. Early Music School. Charter amended

XI Auguste Lemonnier, fourth president; early life. Academic progress. Lemonnier's character. His admiration for Sorin. The question of temperance. Illness and death of Lemonnier. The Library

XII. Patrick J. Colovin, fifth president. His character. Difficulty with Sorin. Student life. Sorin's shipwreck. Father John A. Zahm

XIII. The great fire of 1879. Fortitude of Sorin. Corby again president. Rebuilding

XIV. Refectory etiquette. Student recreation. Washington Hall. The Murals. Father Lilly. Senior Flag Day. Father Sorin and the Press

XV. Thomas F. Walsh, seventh president; early life and education. William Hoynes and the Law School. John A. Zahm, Alexander Kirsch, Science Hall. Louis Neyron. Albert Zahm and aeronautics. Charles Warren Stoddard. Maurice Francis Egan. Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Brownson and Carroll Halls. Sorin Hall. St. Edward's Hall

XVI. James F. Edwards and the Lemonnier Library. Father Joseph Carrier. Campus improvements. Father Walsh and total abstinence. Origin of the Laetare Medal. Father Sorin's Golden Jubilee

XVII. Theft of the crowns. Football, baseball and boating. New Manual Labor School. Orestes A. Brownson. Death of Father Walsh

XVIII. Father Andrew Morrissey, eighth President. His early life. Father Alexis Granger, his death. Death of Father Sorin. Experiments of Jerome Green. Zahm and Morrissey. The Golden Jubilee of the University. The Grotto. Spanish-American War

XIX. Changes in curriculum. Father Morrissey's correspondence. Lectures. College life. Athletics

XX. John W. Cavanaugh, ninth President. His early life and character. Educational program. Sorin statue. Translation of Badin's remains. Father Julius Nieuwland. Father Charles O'Donnell. Max Pam and the School of Journalism. Summer school. Lecturers

XXI. Father Cavanaugh and athletics. Knute Rockne. Campus fun. Burning of the Full Street car. Timothy E. Howard. Sister Aloysius. James F. Edwards. Brother Cajetan. Brother Basil. Brother Florian. Brother Leopold. Brother Bonaventure. Brother Alphonsus

XXII. World War I. Diamond Jubilee of the University. Students Army Training Corps. The chaplains

XXIII. Student soldiers. Spanish Influenza. Capt. George Campbell. The armistice. Father Cavanaugh's correspondence. His wit. Leaves the presidency

XXIV. James A. Burns, tenth president. Early years and ordination. Zahm and Morrissey. Burns becomes superior of Holy Cross College, Washington. Made president of Notre Dame. Internal reorganization of the University. Preparatory department closed. Endowment drive. Death of Morrissey and Zahm. George Gipp. Eamon De Valera

XXV. Matthew J. Walsh, eleventh President. Early life and education. Building programs at Notre Dame. The Dining Halls. Academic changes. Martin McCue. Charles Phillips

XXVI. Notre Dame and the Ku Klux Klan. Father Alexander Kirsch. Father John Scheier. Sister Martha. Sister Cecelia. Fathers Timothy Maher, Daniel Spillard and Thomas Vagnier. Brothers Columba, Philip Neri, Alexander, Terence and Cajetan

XXVII. Football. Alumni and the endowment drive. Benefactions. Laetare Medalists. New publications

XXVIII. Charles L. O'Donnell, twelfth President. Early life, studies, and teaching days. Army chaplain. Elected Provincial. Building Program. Endowment and gifts

XXIX. Laetare Medalists (1929-34). G. K. Chesterton. Frank Hering. Fathers Albertson and DeWulf. Knute Rockne. Charles Phillips. Father Hudson

XXX. Character of Father Charles O'Donnell. Excerpts from his correspondence. His sickness and death

XXXI. John F. O'Hara, thirteenth President. His youth and training. His work as Prefect of Religion. Elected President. The development of the Graduate School

XXXII. Faculty augmented. Building program. Rockne Memorial. Visit of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Visit of Eugene Cardinal Pacelli, Pius XII. Father O'Hara named Bishop. Father J. Hugh O'Donnell, fourteenth President. Notre Dame and the Navy. War effort. Death of Father O'Donnell

XXXIII. John J. Cavanaugh, fifteenth President; early years. Gifts to the University. The Notre Dame Foundation. Vetville. The Mediaeval Institute. Scientific research. Lobund. Economic research. Athletics. Reorganization of the administration


To the Queen of Heaven, Our Lady, Notre Dame

Preface to First Edition

NOTRE DAME'S one hundredth birthday is the occasion for this new history. For on November 26, 1942, she rounded out a full century of existence during which she has seen herself weather many a crisis, make undoubtedly some mistakes and enjoy some rare good fortune.

It has been impossible to write this history from a strictly objective point of view. That would require the talents, perhaps, of an outsider, and I am distinctly an "insider." For over twenty-five years, I have been closely associated with Notre Dame and Notre Dame's men and that association has made of me not exactly a disinterested observer.

Nevertheless, affection for my school has not blinded me to certain deficiencies that may have manifested themselves in policy and personnel. In my analysis and interpretation, I have tried to be just. If I seem to revive old misunderstandings, I do so persuaded that both the University of Notre Dame and her men are big enough and glorious enough to survive criticism.

I am perfectly aware that objections may be taken to certain statements found in this volume. That is only natural. Of all the figures and events that pass through these pages, no two men would have the same universal judgment.

This history -- it might better be called a chronicle -- is not without its imperfections. Besides my own limitations, there was the necessity of haste. It was impossible for me, in the space of fourteen months, to absorb fittingly all the material and sources placed at my disposal.

I am particularly grateful for the cooperation of Professor James A. Corbett. For the past eight years he has been gathering data for the compilation of this history. Most of the material contained in the first eight chapters, I have written from his notes. The chapters which cover the administrations of Father Thomas F. Walsh and the Most Rev. John F. O'Hara are also credited largely to Mr. Corbett. To William Farrell, former professor at Notre Dame, I express my gratitude for his research work in the files of newspapers.

It has been a pleasant duty to consult with men whose memories rise out of an earlier Notre Dame. Fathers William Connor, John DeGroote, Bernard Ill, Joseph Maguire had all lived and talked with the great Sorin. Fathers Matthew Walsh, Eugene and Thomas Burke, to mention only a few, have aided me greatly. To Father Walsh, whose companionship and encouragement helped me through many a difficult day, I offer my sincere thanks. Of all the Notre Dame men I know, Father Walsh is richest in the lore of our school. And of those riches, he has given me without stint.

My thanks, too, are due those who have taken so much pains with the manuscript, -- besides Father Walsh -- , Father T. Francis Butler and Father Leo L. Ward.

I have a deep sense of obligation, also, to my Superiors who assigned me to this task and who have aided in its fulfillment.

-- ARTHUR J. HOPE, C.S.C.
New Year's Day, 1943.


Preface to Second Edition

Very little change has been made in this second edition. In chapter six I have been persuaded, after further reading and study, that my picture of Father Sorin's relations with the founder of Holy Cross, Basil Anthony Moreau, was distorted. I welcome this opportunity to correct that false impression. I thought it well, also, to revise chapter 32 so that it would coincide with the end of Father Hugh O'Donnell's administration. Chapter 33 is entirely new.

-- ARTHUR J. HOPE, C.S.C.
  May 30, 1948.


The Story of Notre Dame

<< ======= >>