Rev. Patrick F. Healy, S.J. Papers

Record Group — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RG08-02

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This record group contains primary and secondary source materials created by and pertaining to Rev. Patrick F. Healy. Box 1 contains seven diaries from Patrick F. Healy written within the period of 1863-1887. These diaries include both personal and travel writings. Box 1 also holds a microfilm copy of each diary, as well as the mircofilm of another diary from 1858. Boxes 2 contains correspondence written by Patrick F. Healy, and four folders of many letters of condolence sent to the Reverend upon the death of this brother, Bishop James A. Healy. Box 3 includes contains secondary sources pertaining to Reverend Patrick F. Healy, such as an obituary, newspaper clippings, published essays, and information from the Georgetown Archives.

Dates

Creation: 1863-1998

Creator

Patrick Francis Healy, S.J. (1834-1910) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials believed to be under copyright or other restrictions are available for limited noncommercial, educational and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States copyright law and with proper citation. Please note that the College of the Holy Cross may not hold the rights to all items in this collection. Users assume responsibility for identifying all copyright holders and for determining whether permission is needed to make any use of the content. For permission under rights held by the College, please contact archives@holycross.edu.

Biographical Note

Born near Mason, Georgia, in 1834 to Michael and Mary Eliza Healy, Patrick Francis Healy was younger brother to Bishop James A. Healy. Michael Morris Healy was an Irish-born former soldier and immigrant, and he married Mary Eliza Healy, a mixed-race enslaved woman. Because their marriage and children were considered illegitimate, Michael and Mary sent their children to northern schools for their education. By 1844, the Healy brothers were sent to the new Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA.

After graduating, Patrick entered the Jesuit order in 1850 and as part of his Jesuit duties was sent to Georgetown to teach philosophy. He would eventually go on to become president of Georgetown. According to historians, it was not until the 1960s that Patrick's racial history was revealed declaring him the first African American Jesuit and First African American president of a predominantly white university. Over 9 years he modernized the curriculum, expanded the law and medical schools, started a campus building spree and travelled nationwide on fundraising projects. Today Georgetown remembers him as its "second founder."

Biography from "Overview of Healy Brothers" from the Bishop Healy Committee webpage on the College of the Holy Cross website.

Extent

1.15 Cubic Feet (3 document boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Related Materials

Foley, Albert Sidney, "1912- Dream of an Outcaste: Patrick F. Healy; The Story of the Slave Born Georgian who became the Second Founder of America's First Great Catholic University, Georgetown," Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Portals Press, 1974.