Loyola University - Wolf Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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THE WOLF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA C. T. Vincent STUDENT LIFE 17 INTRAMURALS 49 CLASSES 59 ORGANIZATIONS 103 FACULTY 125 FACES PLACES 141 ADVERTISERS 175 DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY EDITION 1912-1987

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Celebrating A 75th Anniversary: Loyola Is Recognizee! As A Leader In Catholic Education Celebrating seventy-five years of dedication to the pursuit and discovery of truth, Loyola University is recognized as one of the leaders of Catholic education in the South. The Jesuits were among the earli- est settlers of Louisiana and the New Orleans area. As early as 1725, there was a question of opening a Jesuit college in New Orleans. In 1733, Fa- ther de Beaubois, who was in charge of the local Jesuit missions, peti- tioned the French government for a college to be established in New Or- leans. The petition was ignored, and the college was to wait until another century. The Jesuits returned to New Or- leans in 1847 when the charter of the province was given. This charter, known as the Societe Catholique d ' Education Religieuse et Litteraire was expanded March 6, 1856 by an amendment which empowered the corporation to confer literary hon- ors, degrees, and diplomas. This resulted in a college of liberal arts and sciences known as Immacu- late Conception, to which a prepara- tory school was attached. Popularly known as the Jesus School, it was located on Baronne and Common Streets in downtown New Orleans. The first classes were held February 1, 1849, with a faculty of seven. The system of studies followed the Ratio Studiorum of the Jesuits which em- phasized philosophy and the classics. As the city grew, so did Jesuit edu- cation. Foreseeing the development of a new parish, the Reverend John O ' Shanahan, S.J., superior of the southern Jesuits, purchased the tract of land opposite Audubon Park of St. Charles Ave. in 1889. A wooden church was erected May 29, 1892, by lay brothers of the New Orleans mis- sion skilled in carpentry. The Rever- end John Downey, S.J., was the first pastor and superior of the residence of the Holy Name of Jesus. This church was later dismantled and moved to Westwego. On September 7, 1904, the St. Charles Avenue property became the home of an academy and college, both known as Loyola College, locat- ed at the rear of the church. The plan of studies, administration, and orga- nization of the new school was iden- tical to that of Immaculate Concep- tion. Only one student was classified as a college student, while eight at- tended the academy. Subjects such as Latin, Greek, French, math, history, geography, penmanship, elocution, and religion were taught. The first graduate was Basil R. Beltran, later to become a distinguished Philadelphian physi- cian. In 1907, the Marquette Association for Higher Education, with Mr. B.A. Oxnard as President, was organized for the purpose of establishing a uni- versity from the two colleges. The same group was responsible for the financing of Marquette Hall. On Sep- tember 11, 1911, the colleges of Im- maculate Conception and Loyola were to form a university with all studies taking place at the St. Charles Avenue site. Sixty-nine stu- dents registered when Loyola opened. Early in 1912, the university applied for a charter from the Louisi- ana General Assembly to be recog- nized as a university. The assembly granted the charter first in April, and then gave its final approval on July 10, 1912. Thus, Loyola was autho- rized to grant all university degrees. The class of 1912 did not receive degrees under the charter, because it was not fully approved until the summer after their commencement. The first degrees under the charter were awarded in March, 1913. As a result of the early and complicated evolution of Loyola, she welcomed 1911 and 1912 graduates with char- tered diplomas at the same time. As the diamond anniversary edi- tion of the Wolf is presented, we hope that each student may realize as he walks through Loyola that thousands have trod these same paths before, just as thousands will travel them in the future. Loyolans, this is your heritage.