Rev. Robert F. Healey, S.J. Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: SC004-HEAL

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the papers of Rev. Robert F. Healey, S.J. dating from 1924 to 1989 with the majority dating from the 1960s and 1970s. It is divided into three series: Correspondence; Professional and Scholarly Materials; and Personal.

The Correspondence series contains letters received by Fr. Healey between 1940 and 1986. Much of this pertains to his career as a classics professor and scholar. Of note, there is correspondence between Healey and Sterling Dow, a well-known expert on Greek History. The Professional and Scholarly Materials series documents Fr. Healey’s professional work as a professor, scholar and Jesuit priest. It contains his scholarly writings including copies and drafts of his doctorate thesis. There are copies of the manuscript History of Greek Epigraphy by Guenther Klaffenbach, which was translated into English by Fr. Healey. The third series, Personal contains ephemera, clippings, and other items pertaining to his family. This includes sixteen rolls of undeveloped photographic film and an ammunition box that dates to the early 1950s. It is unclear how Fr. Healey acquired this box.

Dates

Creation: 1924-1989

Creator

Healey, Robert F. (Robert Fisher), 1924-1987 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions unless otherwise noted.

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

Robert Fisher Healey, S.J. (1924-1987) was a professor, scholar and priest. His father, Arthur Healey was a member of the United State House of Representatives from Massachusetts’ 8th district from 1933 to 1942. Fr. Healy entered the Society of Jesus at Shadowbrook in Lenox after graduating from Somerville (Mass.) High School in 1941 and took his vows as a Jesuit in 1943. He studied humanities at Shadowbrook from 1943 to 1945 and philosophy at Weston College from 1945 to 1948. He then attended Oxford University in England, which awarded him a bachelor’s degree in classics in 1951 and a master of arts degree with honors in 1955, the same year he was ordained to the priesthood.

Fr. Healey was selected for special studies at Harvard University in 1956, which awarded him his doctorate in classics in 1961. He joined the faculty at Boston College in 1960, where he taught classics and was classics department chairman from 1961 to 1966. Following a year teaching at Fairfield University, he served two years as a research assistant at Harvard before joining the Holy Cross faculty. In addition to being a member of the classics department, Fr. Healey served as assistant director and associate director of special studies and director of graduate studies at the College.

He was director of the Jesuits of Holy Cross College from 1978 to his death in 1987, and was a director of the former Institute for Early Christian Iberian Studies at the College. He also was chaplain of Pope John XXIII Council, Knights of Columbus, and was a trustee and associate chaplain of Crusader Council, Knights of Columbus, at Holy Cross. A popular teacher and recognized scholar, Fr. Healey was a member of the American Archaeological Institute, American Philological Institute, Classical Association of New England and Virgilian Society of America.

Fr. Healey died on June 12, 1987 after a long illness.

Extent

4.57 Cubic Feet (6 document boxes, 3 flat boxes, 1 record carton)

1.4 Cubic Feet (1 object) : 1 metal ammunition box ; 11.5 in. x 15 in. x 14 in.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Acquisition Note

It is unclear when this collection was given to the Archives and Distinctive Collections. It was likely after Fr. Healey’s death.

Additional items were added to the collection after they were discovered in an ammunition box stored in a closet in Fenwick 421 in 2019. This room was Fr. Healey’s office during his tenure at the college. See the Fall 2019 issue of the Holy Cross Magazine for additional information.