T h e En du r i ng V ision of Holy Cross That commitment comes straight from the educational philosophy of Holy Cross — and echoes through the university’s history. “At St. Edward’s, there has been lots of risktaking over the years,” says Walsh. “This speaks to the essential enduring value of Holy Cross — hope. Hope is the characteristic virtue of the Holy Cross educator. Hope always bounces back, but only after it has been heated up and made pliable through pain and suffering.” Much like St. Edward’s itself.
125 Years of Perseverance 1872 Mary Doyle donates her 398-acre farm to Father Sorin. He purchases an additional 123 acres from Colonel Willis L. Robards (receiving 20 of these as a gift). 1878 First classes are offered for local farm boys in a school sometimes called St. Aloysius Preparatory School. 1885 St. Edward’s Academy is chartered as a college; enrollment reaches 236. 1886–1888 Nicholas Clayton’s Main Building is constructed. 1893 Sorin passes away.
The First Sisters In the university’s early days, the Sisters of the Presentation, exiled from France by anticlerical legislation, ran the kitchen, laundry and infirmary of the fledgling university. They served at the school from 1903 to 1938.
1903 Main Building burns in April; it’s rebuilt for classes in the fall. Holy Cross Hall is built. 1914–1918 Enrollment declines during World War I. 1922 A tornado damages Holy Cross Hall. 1925 St. Edward’s College becomes St. Edward’s University.
“At St. Edward’s, there has been lots of risk-taking over the years. This speaks to the essential enduring value of Holy Cross — hope.” — Brother Stephen Walsh, CSC ’62
1934–1939 Loans and appropriations from Notre Dame keep St. Edward’s afloat during the Depression. 1939–1945 University enrollment declines during World War lI.
1945 Brother Edmond Hunt, CSC, is named first brother president. 1946–1949 Congressman Lyndon Johnson facilitates acquiring buildings and equipment from the War Assets Administration. 1954 First female faculty member, Marguerite Grissom, joins university. The farm is closed and livestock are sold. 1957 Brother Raymond Fleck, CSC, age 29, becomes president. 1967 St. Edward’s High School closes. 1969–1971 Ownership control passes from the brothers to the Board of Trustees. The first lay president, Edgar L. Roy Jr., joins the university. Maryhill is folded into St. Edward’s. 1972 Brother Stephen Walsh, CSC ’62 is named president. The College Assistance Migrant Program begins. 1974 The adult education program New College launches. 1984 Patricia Hayes is named the university’s first woman president. 1999 George E. Martin is named president, leading the university to achieve historic highs in enrollment, fundraising and recognition.
1943 St. Edward’s Military Academy is created. Enrollment increases to about 150. 19