Rev. Maurice F. Reidy, S.J. Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: SC131-REID

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the papers of Fr. Reidy including correspondence from family, friends, colleagues and other Jesuits. The topics discussed in this correspondence ranges from personal information, activities and issues at Holy Cross and its History department, to the activities of the American Jesuit Historical Conference and other historical organizations. There is correspondence to the Provincial of the Jesuit New England Province. Additionally, there are letters regarding his Ph.D and articles that he was writing.

The collection also has a variety of different materials documenting his life as Jesuit priest, teacher and scholar. There are sermons, retreat notes, writings, class notes and exams. Fr. Reidy was active in the Civil Air Patrol. There is a folder of records and correspondence pertaining to his service and his insignia.

Dates

1931-1981

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

Maurice Reidy was born in Worcester, MA on March 23, 1913. He entered Georgetown University in 1931 and entered the Society of Jesus at Shadowbrook, Lenox, MA on September 7, 1932. He studied theology at Weston College from 1936 to 1945 and taught History at Boston College from 1939 to 1941. He was ordained on June 17, 1944. In 1952, Fr. Reidy earned his Ph.D. in History at Harvard University. He came to Holy Cross in 1950 as professor of English constitutional and European History. He served as dean of Holy Cross from 1962 to 1966 and as a member of the board of trustees from 1962 to 1971, all the while continuing to teach. Fr. Reidy devoted much of his time to sports and he was instrumental in starting lacrosse at Holy Cross in the mid-1950s as well as having it declared a varsity sport in 1958. Additionally, he tutored the varsity football kickers for a number of years. Fr. Reidy was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in 1981. He died on July 9, 1981.