Saint Ambrose College - Oaks Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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Reflections St. Ambrose College, the center for much of our growth and development, had at its conception, a philosophical base approximating the ideals of freedom and the pursuit of happiness advocated in the Declaration of Independence. As outlined in the college objectives, St. Am- brose College teaches that man can achieve the greatest measure of happiness in his understand- ing of the meaning of life based on truths about man's relations to the Creater and his fellow man. Basing its very purpose on Christian principles, the institution has committed itself to the pursuit of truth and the respect for the freedom and digni- ty ofall men. What stands today as a liberal arts institution for men and women, St. Ambrose has historically pursued a progressive course of constant growth both physically and intellectually. This institution of higher learning, at present offering a program of undergraduate studies lead- ing to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Arts in Special Studies degree, came into existence when the first Bishop of Davenport, the lVlost Reverend John MclVlullen, one year after the founding of the Diocese of Davenport, decided that one of his primary concerns was the education of youth. He set aside for this purpose two rooms at the old St. lVlargaret's School, now Sacred Heart Cathedral, and engaged two instruc- tors for a handful of boys and young men. -9' LEFT: Rev. A. J. Schulte First President of St, Ambrose. BELOW: Early dorm accomadations of Ambrose Hall. BELOW: The old Chapel, housed in the west wing of Ambrose Hall . if 1 is i wr

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X Sig ZA K 1908-1972 iii' 5 Z In Memoriam - Rev. John E. Keating 1 A gentleman is one who never inflicts pain. Newman Father John Edward Keating, 64, a member of the faculty at St. Ambrose, died of a heart attack June 26 in Spokane, where he was teaching sum- mer school at Gonzaga University. A Memorial Mass was celebrated at Christ the King Chapel with Bish- op O'Keefe as main celebrant. Fr. Keating was born May 14, 1908, in Ottawa, the son of John R. and Julia Keating. He attended Loy- ola University in Chicago where he received a Bach- elor degree in 1929 He received a Masters degree from St. Louis University in 1933 and his Ph.D. from the University of lllinois in 1950. Fr. Keating was ordained at Sacred Heart Cathe- dral in Davenport on March 8, 1941. Following his ordination he taught at St. Ambrose Academy and college until 1956 and during that time served as chaplain at Marycrest College in 1942. He was vice rector at St. Ambrose Seminary in 1945. Fr. Keating took a leave of absence in 1956 and returned last August to the faculty of SAC. During his leave he taught at Kent State University, Notre Dame, and Florida Southern College.

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ABOVE: St. Ambrose displays it's very start of co-educational institution. In 1885, the central unit of Ambrose Hall was dedicated on its present site. This same year the college was incor- porated as a literary, scientific, and religious institution. Although it was officially known as St. Ambrose semi- nary until 1908, young men not aspir- ing to the priesthood soon outnum- bered the seminarians. Diocesan priests, supported by lay colleagues, were not only in tuned to their time, but often set the pace for progressive higher education. ln 1929, women were allowed to attend late afternoon and evening classes. Ten years later, the arrangement was dis- continued, when St. Ambrose encour- aged the opening of a sister college, Marycrest. Later, nurses were allowed to attend classes also to be discontin- ued. In 1967, the present co-educa- tional system that presently abides was established. ful, i ' - M, we .. - ,A I 1' . 2, 7 SAC theatre was conducted in the above auditorium which was housed in Ambrose Hall. Today, it houses a recreation center.