Salve Regina University - Regina Maris Yearbook (Newport, RI)

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Bishop greets Mr. Robert Goelet. the charter class that first morning was Dr. Michael Walsh, Director of Education in Rhode Island. The words of the college presi- dent. Mother Mary Hilda, R.S.M., Sister Mary James, R.S.M., Dean and our chaplain. Reverend Doctor Dillon, warmly welcomed us to our new home. Like all good things, the opening day finally came to an end, and we settled down to the double task of scholastic endeavors and the establishment of collegiate traditions. The Class of ' 51 elected Lucy Roberts Prefect of the Sodality, and began its own private tra- dition in the form of Mary Quinn, class president. October brought the inception of the Liv- ing Rosary, a Sodality tradition and tribute to Our Lady, celebrated on the Feast of the Holy Rosary. On this day, October 7, the college was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Later in the month Eileen Schwenk, gowned in regal robes of blue and white and seated on her throne in the Great Hall, was crowned Queen of the Missions. The Regina Players offered in Eileen ' s honor, their primary production, appropriately en- titled Her First Assignment . On the following day, our first retreat was officially opened by Father Larkin, SS.CC. The Sacred Heart was enthroned in the col- lege and re-enthroned in our hearts in a beautiful ceremony which climaxed the re- treat. Then on December 4, Ochre Court preened herself (as did her youthful inhabitants) for her role as hostess at the first Salve Regina social affair of the Christmas season — a tea dance with Providence College. Bright lights, soft music, happy laughter transformed the Great Hall from a familiar place to a magic ballroom straight from the pages of Arabian Nights. Ochre Court was built to impress and how well she fulfilled her role that eve- ning! To turn from the social to the spiritual — Reverend Doctor Dillon received new sodal- ists into the Sodality of Maria Regina in the college chapel on December 1 2 to initiate a ceremony which never fails to touch us with its purity and simplicity. The next date circled on our calendar re- calls a literary landmark in our history. Patri- cia Byrne, our peripatetic editor, aided and abetted by a small but noble band, turned out Volume One, Number One of Ebb Tide on December 16. Christmas festivities at S. R. C. were high- lighted by a party for some of the under- privileged children of Newport. The stately balconies of Ochre Court resounded with the joyous and unrestrained laughter of the tiny tots and the bigger tots. The spirit of good cheer pervaded the college all that pre-Christmas week, and was climaxed by the pageant, the formal dinner by candlelight, and the caroling. The strains of Noel, Noel echoed and re-echoed as we departed and were homeward bound for the holidays. Studiaetis, a mid-year exam disease, was arrested by the bustle and excitement sur- rounding the first visit of our benefactress, Mrs. Robert Goelet. After a formal tea, each member of the class was introduced to this charming and gracious lady. As she departed, Mrs. Goelet remarked, It was just like com- ing home! Soon after her visit, public an- nouncement was made of the Goelet ' s second generous gift of the property that was later to be known as Mercy Hall. On February 6, in the chapel, Father Dil- lon awarded us our classical scholars ' robes. All peace and fair renown be thine to bless the cap and gown . . . and so we were initi- ated into the land of Academia. No sooner had the pleats begun to wrinkle in our collegiate gowns than a fever over a Ten

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Arch bishop Francis P. Ke- ough is preceded by Msgr. Peter E. Blessing in the processional. Arch bishop Keough blesses the college as- sisted by clergy - Sept. 2 4 . 1947. such a college. It was not until thirteen years later, however, that the sisters found a build- ing in which to begin their work. On March 24, 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Goelet of Newport donated their estate, Ochre Court, to the Sisters of Mercy. The dream of the sisters was realized. Salve Regina College, the first Catholic College for women in Rhode Island, was formally opened on Mercy Day, September 24, 1947. The Most Reverend Bishop Francis Keough presided at the cere- monies and the first class was officially wel- comed to their castle by the sea. Freshman Features First class! First day! ... It seems so long ago and yet, paradoxically, it was only yesterday in our college life. It would be impossible to recapture that day in mere words. In each of our memories there is impressed some highlight of Mercy Day, 1947. Our hearts were bursting with pride as we surveyed the splendor that was Salve Regina, and yet we were strangely humbled when we heard Bishop Keough declare that we were to be the pioneers of S- R. C. Among the many famous persons who came to greet Ni ne

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Left to right: Frances McGuiness, Barbara O Rourke. Bishop McVinney, Joan Danis, Jane Murphy, Lucy Roberts. different type of gown began to break out. Looming on the horizon was the night of nights — our first formal. April 30 . . . the Court Cotillion ... so many things to re- member about our first prom — so many won- derful things. We whirled through the dance on an enchanting carousel and Franny Mc- Guiness captured the magic ring. A lovelier queen than Franny never graced the pages of a history, and no royal ball ever surpassed our cotillion in sheer beauty and happiness. In May, John H. Greene, President of the Sons of the Revolution in Newport, presented the state and federal flags to the college on behalf of Senator Theodore F. Greene: and, Mayor Pardee gave a large graphic map of London to the Dean. On May 9, we honored Our Lady, and on May 16, we honored our parents. On World Sodality Day, we paid humble tribute and gave heartfelt thanks to the Queen of our college. At the Parents ' Tea we had our first opportunity to introduce our families to the faculty and our friends. The Queen ' s Choristers and Verse Choir displayed their respective talents, and after tea in the formal dining room, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was celebrated in the chapel. Bishop extends hand of welcome to Jane Sullivan. Eleven