Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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Inaugurated in 1942, the Alumni Fund strives, by soliciting annual subscriptions from the members ot the Asociation, to build up a permanent reserve fund that may be used for far-sighted and long- range planning for the future of the col- lege. Every year since 1942 has seen an increase in the number of alumni who take this opportunity of expressing their attitude towards their Alma Mater. Not only has the number of contributors risen steadily, but the amount ot money col- lected for the Fund has likewise seen an appreciable increase. The final report for the 1944 Drive showed a total in excess of thirty-seven thousand dollars contrib- uted by almost seven hundred members of the Association. An interesting sidelight on the Drive is furnished in a letter from Reverend Albert C. M. Steffens 327, at present Chaplain at the College, who Wrote in 1945, It's sort of amusing to note that THE LADIES 1TH the finesse and ability of a Well organized association, the Ladies Auxiliary of Manhattan College stands as a respected and vener- ated organization though it has been in existence but ten years. The prime func- tion of this auxiliary is to associate the mothers and wives of Manhattan's alumni and students in the variation of aspects of life at the college. As a secondary function it strives to coordinate its efforts in attaining greater good for the college. Trusting in the ability and interest of Mrs. James E. Dougherty, to whom was 2 in 1942 my 'biti was sent from England, in 1943 from North Africa, in 1944 from Italy - and this year 1945, from Cali- fornia! Only God knows where it will be sent from next year, for at the moment Fm hastily getting ready to run the 'gauntlet' againf' It has since been our happy privilege to see his wanderings with the Army, over, at least for a while, and that 1946 found him an interested and interesting resident on the campus! Like any vvideawalce body the Alumni Associations has many a project at pres- ent on the hre. In the revitalization that is bound to come from the repatriation of so many Manhattan men from abroad, new faces will be seen at the committee meetings, new and brighter plans will continue to be prepared to bring greater prestige and glory to the college, but of one thing we are certain. the loyalty and interest of the former Men of Manhat- tanf' and their constantly efficacious de- sire to advance the welfare of the college. AUXILIARY given the important task of organizing the society, the Auxiliary came into ex- istence in 1938. Success was assured, tor Mrs. Dougherty brought to this work all the qualifications that made for pros- perity and success in the newly-estab- lished association. Mrs. Dougherty was six times President of the Alumnae of the College of Mount Saint Vincent, or- ganizer and first President of the Afihli- ated Catholic Alumnae Societies and held numerous other executive positions. Her deep interest in the work done at Man- hattan is evinced by the fact that she re-

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on their Alma Mater, and in every crisis, through the years, they have been most dependable to assist her in her problems and in her opportunity. Primarily composed of those whose courses here were successfully termin- ated, whose work in the college was crowned with the scholastic success of a degree, the Society has taken on, partic- ularly during these war years, many an enthusiastic Manhattanite whose course in the college was but a short run, many who, in former times might have been listed as ex-members. The draft and the fortunes of war took many of these in whose work the college may justifiably glory and the alumni group has in recog- nizing the import of the situation, added here and there, many a name of a Man- hattanite in spirit and in the course of time, in fact. At the seventy-seventh annual ban- quet, held this year on Saturday evening, February ninth in the East Ballroom of the Hotel Commodore, more than six hundred members of the fifty-two hun- dred active alumni met in a festive spirit to rejoice in the reunion after military and naval campaigns, met to celebrate together for many their return to civilian status and to reshape the friendships so tightly knit in college days. Presided over by Dr. Joseph L. McGoldrick, F.A.S.A., President of the association, it featured a recall to Christian morality voiced by the United States Solicitor-General, the Honorable I. Howard McGrath, LL.D., honoris causa, '-l2. The most interesting talk of the evening was delivered by Brother B. Thomas, Ph.D., LL.D., Pres- ident of the college, to whose report on the state of the college the assembled group listened with the greatest attention and interest. Besides stressing the in- crease of the enrollment of the college 2 1 l fosvfwlz L. IUC Goldrick, AID., F.A.S.A. Pl'CSI.dl'llf of H10 JKHIIIIIIII' Society and the problems connected therewith, Brother Thomas commented favorably on the newest project of the Association, the establishment and maintenance of the Alumni Fund for the beneht of the col- lege. VVilliam I. Kenville spoke for the class of Nineteen twenty-one, observing its silver jubilee and Bryan I. Kellway voiced the confused sentiments of the average man in the class of Nineteen forty-live, whose career was so check- ered, whose program was so accelerated and whose outlook on life was so dis- ordered by the problems presented by a world at war. Notable in the achievements of the Association is the organization, under the direction of Brother Conrad, of the complete and modern alumni oflice at the school. From the files kept here, from the equipment installed here and from the painstaking and excellent care given to the details of the Association here, much of the benefits of the Society can be traced. It is here that records are kept that insure the mailing of the News- letter to all the members of the Associa- tion, it is here that the donations and annual contributions to the Alumni Fund are carefully recorded and checked.

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nounced all other activities to concentrate her time and energy on the Ladies Aux- iliary of the College. At the first meeting of the Auxiliary, the first proposition of the members was the linancial assistance of the college and the exertion of their influence in that di- rection. The immediate objective was the securing of funds for the building of the proposed Cardinal Hayes Library. In attempting to aid in this undertaking the Auxiliary initiated a subscription contest and bridge still annually held in the spring and winter seasons. At the beginning of each college year, invitations are extended to mothers of the incoming freshmen. New members of the Auxiliary are formally introduced to the President of the College and in- ducted into the Society at a Tea and Social held on the campus in the first week in October. At the conclusion of the school year a report of the activities of the Ladies Auxiliary for the year com- pleted is presented to the members at a formal meeting held at the college. Regularly, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, the Auxiliary meets in the auditorium of De La Salle Institute, on VVest 74th Street. It is at these meetings that plans are formulated for the activi- ties of the ensuing academic year. Fol- lowing the business meeting an entertain- ment program concludes the meeting. In 1946, under the continued sponsor- ship of Brother C. Edward, Moderator, the following executive officers were elected: Mrs. Fred J. Leuper, President, Mrs. John I. Costa, Vice President, Mrs. Charles Cunningham, Recording Sec- retary: Mrs. Edward A. Devlin, Corres- ponding Secretary and Mrs. Frank E. Norton, Treasurer. The past year was one of the most ac- 2 tive of the Auxiliaryls existence. Signifi- cant ceremonies marked the completion of a decade of interest in and service to Manhattan when on Saturday, Novem- ber 24, the solemn ceremonies of the Church commemorated the completion of ten years of the organization. Under the sponsorship of Brother C. Edward, Vice President of the College and Moderator of the Society and the leadership of Mrs. Fred J. Leuper, President, Solemn I-Iigh Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the Chapel of St. ,Iohn Baptist de La Salle, with three members of the alumni society officiating and a fourth acting as Master of Ceremonies. The testimonial dinner held at 12:30 in the college cafe- teria brought Brother E. Victor, Visitor of the New York Province and many other members of the order prominent in the college and closely in touch with its activities. A most signilicant tribute of praise and thanksgiving for the con- tinued good work of the Auxiliary was expressed. In the words of the Quad- rangle : 'fThis celebration of the founda- tion of the Ladies Auxiliary only gives to the mothers what is their just due for their wonderful work and the cooperation MJ