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The Story of Notre Dame
Brother Aidan's Extracts


TRUSTEES, NOTRE DAME

(1850) Rev. E. Sorin, Rev. F. Cointet, Rev. R. Shortis, Rev. Alexis Granger; Brothers Vincent, Lawrence, and Francis Xavier.

(1854) Rev. E. Sorin, Fathers Cointet, Granger, Shortis; Brothers Vincent, Lawrence, Stephen, Francis Xavier."

-- Minutes of Minor Chapter (Local Council), June 12, 1854.

"For the meeting Reverend Father Superior decided in the presence of, and the full consent of, the Trustees of Notre Dame du Lac, namely, Rev. Father Cointet, Rev. Richard Shortis, and Brother Vincent (Jean Pieau), agreeable to what had been announced by himself in two previous Councils, namely, September 27, 1852, and of January 11, 1853, that from this day the Board of Trustees of the said University should assume to itself the other members composing the Minor Chapter of Notre Dame, namely: the Rev. A. Granger, as Secretary; Brother Lawrence, (Jean Menage) Brother Stephen (Fintan Moore) and Brother Francis Xavier (Rene Patois); for the reasons that these members knew as much as the first and that they were assembled oftener; and that by continuing to meet together as before, that is, weekly, the well-being of the University should be better secured, to which all the members fully assent. He then referred to the regulations contained in the Constitutions of the House for the directions that should be followed in the meetings of the Board."

-- Local Council, June 12, 1854.

"References to Sept. 27, 1852: 'It was resolved that the Board of the University should be reorganized as soon as Fr. Cointet will be here."

-- Local Council. Sept. 27, 1852

"Jan. 11, 1853: 'It was decided that the University administration board should be reorganized."

-- Local Council. Jan., 11, 1853

"Preparatory seminary at St. Thomas, Bardstown, Kentucky . . . . To this is annexed a school for boys, with 30 students, who pay annually $35.00 in federal money, mostly in produce."

-- Principles etc. Burns: p. 326, 1825.

(See Brothers of St. Joseph -- Salary -- 1856)

1833: "The charge for board and tuition at Vincennes Academy in 1833 was only $86.00 according to the 'Catholic Almanac' for that year."

-- Principles etc. Burns: p. 351.1833

1833: "All food and laundry expenses were assumed by the school (C.C.D., Hammond) and the Sisters (of Holy Cross) received a salary of $15.00 a month."

-- Our Provinces, p. 242, Sr. Renata.1833

"In Lowell, Massachusetts, ' a room was rented for the school, and an Irish schoolmaster placed in charge, the pupils being charged 6 cents a week, a not uncommon tuition fee in those days."

-- Principles etc. Burns: p. 285, 1823.

"Article II. Each Principal and teacher in a parochial school shall be paid a salary of $35.00 per month for twelve months, over and above the expenses entailed by general maintenance."

Archdiocese of St. Francisco, "Authority and Rules of the School Board"

-- A History of Catholic Education, Burns p. 186.

(See "Lafayette, St. Mary's Academy, 1888")

"The tuition at Notre Dame between 1842 and 1848 was $90.00 a year."

-- Scholastic, 53:18, 182.Feb. 14, 1920.

"It was also resolved after a long debate that in view of the unsettled conditions of the financial affairs of the county, the price for board and tuition shall be henceforth $150.00 in gold or its equivalent in currency."

-- Local Council, Sept.. 18, 1864.

"Local Council determined that the amount of $150.00 in gold for the board and tuition of students being found uncertain, and almost impracticable, the fixed sum of $300.00 in currency shall henceforth be our charges for all newcomers." Sept. 18, 1864.

(See also Ft. Wayne -- Tuition -- 1893)

"The terms per quarter for board and tuition, including washing and mending, at that time were $18.00. How could it be done? We find, also that no extra charge is made, except for books and stationery, which are furnished at store prices, and for the services of an eminent physician who attends the institution -- before the Crimean War opened a market for American produce the necessaries of life were far in excess of the demand."

-- Scholastic A. J. Stace, 1888 (Period mentioned about 1843)

(Brother Bernard to Sorin, Sept. 8, 1847) "Brother Thomas charges from $1.00 to $1.50 per quarter according to the capacities of the pupils. Brother Basil charges $2.00 a pupil indiscriminately.

"If the Trustees of the Church will not collect the fees of the pupils without payment, what shall I do?"

-- Provincial Archives.1847

(Brother Bernard to Sorin; Sept. 8, 1847) "1) (As above) 2) I wish you would furnish me with a list of charges per quarter according to the capacities of the pupils. Brother Thomas charges . . . (As above) 3) What shall I do for a time piece? Brother Thomas says the pastor will put me off from time to time with soft promises and perform nothing."1847

(Tuition for St. Mary's of the Lake, Chicago, 1859) "Terms: Per session of five months for day scholars in college . . . $15.00; Commercial Course . . . $10.00 (Tuition at Notre Dame per year . . . $150.00) 1859

"Jan. 23, 1865. Father P. Dillon read a sketch of a circular to be addressed to parents, the object of which is to facilitate payments by allowing them to pay at a reduction for several years in advance the tuition. Which means also that the house shall be able to meet the great expenses of the proposed new College."

N.B. (Day Scholars were allowed to enter college at this meeting also)

(See "La Salle, 1897")

"St. Mary's County School (Country?) (1825) Cost $4,000. Charge per session; $6 for tuition, besides board paid in produce. Very popular. Has 120 boys. 'Application must be made twelve months in advance to secure admission'"

-- Principles etc. Burns: p. 326.1825

Notre Dame Tuition, 1871. "Matriculation fee . . . $5.00 "Board, Bed, Bedding, Tuition (Latin and Grammar) Washing, Mending, Doctor's fees and medicine and attendance in sickness . . . $150. 1871

"French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, and Irish, each -- $10.00 Instrumental music . . . $12.50; Use of piano . . . $10.00."

"Use of violin . . . $2.00. Use of Philosophical and Chemi cal apparatus . . . $5.00."

-- Scholastic, June 12, 1871.

"Students who spend their Summer Vacation at College are charged $35.00 extra."

-- Catalog, 1871.

(Fort Wayne; Provincial archives) "Pupils in select class, $6.00 a quarter. Pupils in parochial school . . . 75 cents a month. Two Brothers pay $1.25 a month; Three, $1.50, four,

"Pastor has the right to send poor children free. Owing to hard times only $300.00 was collected in the last three months.

"Brother John Chrysostom has to borrow money to pay the full bill. Parish was to have supplied coal. No contract."

1877: See "La Salle, 1877".

1847: See "Brother Bernard, Tuition".

Notre Dame Tuition: 1874

"Matriculation Fee . . . $5.00 Board, Tuition, (Latin and Greek) for five months . . . $150.00 French, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian and Irish . . . $10.00 each. Instrumental music . . . $12.50 Use of piano . . . $10.00 Use of violin . . . $2.00 Drawing . . . $15;.00 Lab Fees . . . $5.00 Graduation Fee . . . $5.00 Commercial . . . $8.00 Science . . . $10.00 Classical. Summer vacation at college . . . $35.00."

-- Scholastic, 1874.

" . . . The Council of Administration recommended the reception of boarders and fixed the price at $35.00 per half year."

E. Sorin, F. Cointele, T. Marivault, Bro. Lawrence, Bro. Peter, Bro. Vincent,

-- Nov. 20, 1843.

"188-: About 1880 a night school was opened for boys who had to work during the day. The boys paid $1.00 a month tuition."

-- Our Provinces p. 92. Sr. M. Renata. 1880s

"Poverty was the lot of the Sisters as it was of most Catholic foundations. They had to depend for their support on whatever the pupils could pay for tuition."

-- Ibid.

"When the depression years continued to a take their toll of family finances, St. Peter's parish (La Porte) was unable to pay the salary of the Sisters in full. Beginning in 1922-23 and for two years following the Sisters received only half of the stipulated $35.00 a month, but the people were generous with their donations of food."

-- Ibid.

1843: "Board, washing, mending and medical attendance; with the English Course, embracing all the branches of a practical education; Orthography, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar and Composition, to which particular attention will be paid; Geography, ancient and Modern history, the most approved method of bookkeeping, Surveying, Mensuration, Math., Astronomy, the use of the Globes, Rhetoric, etc . . . . $100.00 per annum. Half Board: $40.00 per annum. Day Scholars in the above course . . . $20.00 per annum. The same in the languages) Preparatory School . . . $16.00 per annum. The French, German, Spanish, and Italian languages are taught at an extra charge of $8.00 each. Music and Drawing . . . $20.00 each."

Advertisement from South Bend Free Press, Dec. 2, 1843,

-- Leeper's "Footprints", pp. 5-6.

1854: See: "Teachers, Early Notre Dame"

-- "Bishop Hailandiere to Sorin, Oct. 12, 1843"

-- "Salaries"

(Michigan City, Sisters of Holy Cross) "The reasons Father Bleckman gave for making the change were: the refusal of the Sisters to do Church work, and the fact that Sisters did not remain during vacation to look after the children, also that he had cheaper Sisters."

-- Our Provinces Sr. Renata, p. 247. July, 1937,


‹— Brother Aidan's Extracts —›