Gannon University - Lance Yearbook (Erie, PA)

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HISTORY OF GANNON On November 3, 1944, the State Council of of young men in the tri-state area. Plans for the iucation approved a charter which brought formation of such an institution had bee n of annon College into existence. Issuance of the prime importance to Bishop Gannon since early larter marked the successful culmination of the in the 1920's. forts of the Most Reverend John Mark The 1944 charter empowered the college to annon, Bishop of Erie, Pennsylvania, and his confer the bachelor of arts and bachelor of lucational Counsellors to found an independent science degrees. ty college which could serve the great number From rather humble beginnings, the physical plant of the college grew rapidly. Originally,

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I . His Excellency, The Most Reverend John Mark Gannon, D.D., J.C.D., L.L.D. ( Kancellor of Gannon College

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the former Strong mansion, in the heart of the have made the new facilities important both to city, was converted into the Administration the college and to the city. Building, the keystone of the infant college. An- Attached to the Administration Building is other portion of the estate was transformed into the Library Building completed in 1947. The the splendidl) equipped science building, book collection has grown to over 30,000 volumes. Downey Hall. In November of 1949 the Audi- The years since 1944 have seen the college ex- torium-Gymnasium was completed. The struc- pand to the west along residential West Sixth lure, which faces Perry Square, has a seating Street. Suttelle Hall, the R.O.T.C. Building, Capacity f 3,W)0. Intercollegiate and intra- two private mansions — now faculty residence mural sports activities and community programs halls — and three freshman dormitories have been