Trinity College - Trinilogue Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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for the band of gypsies whose yearly advent caused a stir of excite- ment in the otherwise peaceful neighborhood. While these simple, harmless wanderers sat by their campfires in the cool of a spring evening, in another place a fire of a different order was slowly being kindled in the mind of a far-sighted and noble Sister of Notre Dame, Sister julia, the Provincial Superior of the Sisters in the United States. To her above all others we owe the advantages that we are enjoying at Trinity today, for it was her vision, her enthusiasm, her undaunted courage in overcoming obstacles that made the College possible. The history of the College from the beginning has been intimately connected with the Catholic University of America. For many years the Faculty of the University had been feeling the need for a Catholic college for women in the vicinity of Washington. Young women from all parts of the country had been applying there for admission, but since the courses were open only to men, their applications could not be accepted. A solution to the problem came through Sister julia's de- sire to open an academy for young ladies near Brookland. When Cardi- nal Gibbons was consulted about the matter, he gave his approval, but suggested that the plans be laid before the Rector and Vice- Rector of the Catholic University. Msgr. Conaty and Dr. Garrigan were quick to seize the opportunity to carry out a long-cherished project. They urged that the Sisters open a college instead of an academy, pointing out the possibilities for the future of such an institution. Sister julia, encouraged by the support of the Cardinal and the authorities of the University, began at once to push forward the work with her customary faith and optimism. There was much opposition at the beginning. Higher education for women was frowned upon by many in Catholic circles. The more pessimistic prophesied that no good would come of the venture and that the serious work of the Uni- versity men would be disrupted by the influx of hundreds of frivolous girls into the neighborhood. But with calm assurance of success the foundress of the new college engaged Mr. Edward Durang to 71

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iaighfbnulzd iaupzs 1892511100 o the average American the year 1897 calls up general pictures of a quaint and comparatively peaceful era, when the favorite pin-up girl was the Gibson ideal and bicycles were built for two, when mandolins and straw rides and comedy a la Weber and Field were the amusements of the hourg when Mr. Dooley and Mr. I-Iennessey were forming public opinion with their homespun phi- losophy, and President McKinley was preoccupied with thoughts of a possible war with Spain. But to us, the year 1897 had a very special significance, for it was the year of the founding of Trinity College. When we consider that the College was founded to build Catholic principles firmly into the lives of young American girls, it is something of a coincidence to learn that the site chosen for the institution was the one which held the manor lands of the pious Sir Dudley Diggs, whose love of his faith brought him to this country with Lord Balti- more to help found a colony where Catholics might practice their religion in peace. The association of the Diggs family with Trinity remains even to this day in the person of the faithful john Diggs, the son of a slave of Sir Dudley's brother. It is john's proud boast that he came to Trinity in IQOO three weeks before the Sisters, to get the place ready for them. And here he has been ever since, a sort of lord in his own domain, serving in his inimitable way the inter- ests of the house, and reflecting on the comings and goings, the inno- vations and renovations of all the years with the superior wisdom of one who was here when traditions were born. In 1897 the present campus of Trinity College was a broad ex- panse of verdant land, with pleasant stretches of cedar, pine, and sycamore groves to the north and east, a picturesque camping ground 16

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draw up plans for the buildings., I-Ier only anxiety was lack of funds. But when a cause is worthy, supporters can always be found. The strongest support of the College in these early days was the Auxiliary Board of Regents to which, after Sister julia, Trinity owes its existence. With such names on its register as Miss Mollie Sewell of Virginia, Mrs. Maurice Francis Egan of Washington, Mrs. R. P. Bland of Missouri, Miss Ella Lorraine Dorsey of Maryland, Mrs. Thomas Carter of Montana, Miss Elizabeth Sherman of Ohio, the success that was attained might have been expected. These ladies traveled from city to city in those early days, interviewing Bishops, writing notices for the press, raising funds, and contriving in hun- dreds of ingenious ways to make the new college known. Ground for the first building was finally broken on june 2 1, 1899, and as Sister julia turned the first shovelful of earth, Dr. Garrigan blessed the sod. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the same year the cornerstone of Trinity College was laid. By fall of the next year the building was ready for the Community, and on the fifth of October the Sisters entered their new home. Sister Marie Stephanie alone of that original band of pioneers remains with us to tell the story of the turbulence of those first days. There were seventy- five workmen still in the building when the Sisters came-carpenters, painters, stone-masons-giving the last touches to the new structure. The noise they made was sanctifyingf' said Sister julia in one of her letters describing those' early scenes. Cn the third of November the first students arrived. Present students from South America, China, and I-Iolland might be amused to know that six students from six different states in the country registered that morning. By No- vember sixth the enrollment had increased to nineteen. The day following, the Mass of the Holy Ghost was offered by Dr. Garrigan, and at ten o'clock on the same day the opening assembly was held. The first class of Trinity College was an actuality. Of all the founders it is the devoted Dr. Kerby whose influence has been strongest through the years. Even we who were not privi- -I8