For my final digital project, I chose to review the 1871-1872 selection from the Vice President’s Diary. As a Priest in the late 19th century, the author of these entries had a very particular focus which emphasized or highlighted the ecclesial hierarchy over the lives of the students. For example, popular topics of entry for him were the Bishop, Fr. Damen and his missionary companions, liturgy and feast days. Only on a few occasions does the author mention the students other than keeping track of new “scholars,” who have been received by the college, or their examinations. This source provides a unique view into St. Ignatius College, which emphasizes its position as an Ecclesial Center. Instead of painting a broad image of the diary, I would like to highlight a few selections from the diary instead.
September 7th
According to the Vice President, the new Provincial of the Missouri province “Rev. Thomas O’Neil” [sic] paid Saint Ignatius College a visit, just as Fr. Damen and his missionary companions left for Cincinnati then Kentucky. I have attempted to research this further, but interestingly nine years later another Jesuit priest named Rev. Thomas O’Neill becomes president of St. Ignatius College. Whether they are the same priest remains a mystery to me.
October 9th
On this day, the Vice President wrote, “Last night an awful fire broke out around 10 o’clock. It continued its ravages till around noon today. The whole of the north side is in ruins.” He goes on to detail a massive number of Catholic structures and apostolates destroyed by what we have come to call the Great Chicago Fire. He records that the following day all were engaged in providing aid to the suffering. For the next month he keeps tally of how many “old scholars” he has not heard from since the fire. On November 6, 1871 he had still not heard from five students.
November 7th
The Right Reverend (Coadjutor) Bishop Thomas P. Foley chose to take up residence with the Jesuits of Holy Family Parish and Saint Ignatius College. From here on out, the Vice President does a nice job tracking this Bishop’s activities such as where he goes for mass, his lectures, and his effect on the Jesuit Community. This diary would be an excellent source to model the life of a late nineteenth century bishop.
January 4th
Sickness must have been on the Vice Presidents mind this day in 1872. He describes two Jesuit Brothers, Haughuty [sic] and Smith who have been sick. This is interesting to me, because religious brothers have often been a forgotten piece of the Catholic system, yet the Vice President makes several notes abut Jesuit brothers throughout his diary entries. He also describes one student who was serious ill with typhoid to the point that he was “anointed last week,” referring to the student’s proximity to death.
February 22nd
The Vice President noted that the city did not do much in remembrance of George Washington’s birthday. This observation oddly enough points to the immigrant Americanization process or to the patriotism felt by Catholics. For those who felt like Catholicism was incompatible with being American, this entry demonstrates a the strong feelings of patriotism felt by this Jesuit priest.
March 27th
In his documenting of the Bishop, the Vice President wrote that the “Bishop sang the Requiem Mass at the convent for Mother (Mary Rose) Gauthreaux, (Superiorsess of the convent of the Sacred Heart) who died yesterday (at age 47). His lordship aided by several other fathers performed the funeral service.” Her order’s school, although it has moved locations, exists today just south of Loyola University’s Lake Shore Campus.
February 22nd
The Vice President detailed how Bishop Foley traveled to Saint Louis, Missouri for the consecration of Bishop Patrick John Ryan. From this source, it appears that the city of Chicago and city of Saint Louis have clear ecclesial connections.
Reflection
Although the Vice President does not say a whole lot about the life of students at the college, the diary does highlight the Catholic nature of St. Ignatius College. Additionally it does a nice job relating information about major Catholic figures such as priests, religious superiors, and bishops. One last piece I found interesting, but I did not choose to explore further was how the Vice President also detailed the weather in many of his entrees, which I am sure they could be used by historians who wished to explore Chicago’s climate over the past 150 years.
The Ramonat Rite 