Thomas I. Gasson
Thomas I. Gasson | |
---|---|
13th President of Boston College | |
In office 1907–1914 | |
Preceded by | William F. Gannon |
Succeeded by | Charles W. Lyons |
Personal details | |
Born | Sevenoaks, Kent, England | September 23, 1859
Died | February 27, 1930 Montreal, Quebec, Canada | (aged 70)
Alma mater | University of Innsbruck |
Orders | |
Ordination | July 26, 1891 by Simon Aichner |
Thomas Ignatius Gasson (September 23, 1859 – February 27, 1930) was an American
As president, he initiated the college's relocation from the South End of Boston to a new campus in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts that he purchased. He oversaw the construction of the new campus' first building, the recitation hall, which was later named Gasson Hall. For this, he became known as Boston College's "second founder." His tenure came to an end in 1914, and he moved first to Maryland and then to Georgetown University, where he served as graduate dean for sociology for nine years. He then briefly led the Manresa Institute on Staten Island, before being stationed at Loyola College in Montreal, where he died in 1930.
Early life
Thomas Ignatius Gasson was born on September 23, 1859, in Sevenoaks, Kent in England. His ancestry on his father's side was French Huguenot, while that on his mother's side was a longtime family of Kent, which produced several rectors of St. Nicholas Church in Sevenoaks. He was sent to St. Stephen's School in London, before immigrating to the United States in 1872.[1] He had little money or belongings, and sustained himself as an errand boy.[2] Though he had intended to live in Philadelphia with his older brother, he was taken under the care of two Catholic women.[1] They had him instructed in the Catholic faith, and on October 5, 1874,[3] he was formally received into the Catholic Church at the Chapel of the Holy Family in Philadelphia (later known as the Church of the Gesú).[1]
Education and early career
Shortly thereafter, he entered the
Gasson returned to the United States in the summer of 1892. He taught poetry to students in Frederick, Maryland, for two years, before beginning his study of ascetical theology for one year. Upon completion of his studies, he was made a professor of ethics and economics at Boston College in August 1895.[4]
President of Boston College
Construction of a new campus
Gasson was appointed
On January 25, 1909, he convened a competition of architects to design new buildings for the site. The winning design called for 15 buildings in the English Gothic style and sports fields.[9] Gasson broke ground on the centerpiece of the plan, the recitation building, on June 19, 1909.[10] Construction of the building was slow and inhibited by lack of funds; as a result, Gasson sold a portion of the land previously purchased, to finance the building.[11] The recitation building finally opened for class on March 28, 1913.[12] That year, he purchased the bells to hang in the building's tower.[13] The recitation building later came to be known as Gasson Hall.[14] For his establishment of the college in its new location, Gasson became known as Boston College's "second founder."[15]
Graduate curriculum
Several Catholic laymen sought to establish a graduate night school in Catholic philosophy. In response, Gasson opened a graduate department in December 1912, which provided lectures on philosophy, literature, and professional ethics. The following year, it began granting master's degrees.[16] This program was disestablished shortly after the end of his presidency in 1914.[12] Gasson's term as president came to an end on January 11, 1914, and he was succeeded by Charles W. Lyons.[14]
Later years
Following the end of his presidency, Gasson moved to the Jesuit retirement home in
Gasson became ill and underwent surgery. He died on February 27, 1930.[3] Upon his death, The Stylus of Boston College compiled eulogies of him by such people as the Mayor of Boston, John F. Fitzgerald; the President of Boston University, Lemuel Herbert Murlin; and The Boston Post.[18]
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 113
- ^ Conway 1931, p. 76
- ^ a b "Thomas Ignatius Gasson, SJ, President's Office Records, 1868-1940, (bulk 1907-1914)" (PDF). Boston College Library. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
- ^ a b c Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 115
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 111
- ^ Lapomarda 1977, p. 211
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 116
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 118
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 120
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 122
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 126
- ^ a b Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 128
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 132
- ^ a b Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 133
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 114
- ^ Donovan, Dunigan & FitzGerald 1990, p. 127
- ^ a b Conway 1931, p. 86
- ^ Tributes to Our Former President 1914, pp. 248–253
Sources
- Chase, John L. (1966). A Directory of Graduate Deans at Leading United States Universities, 1872–1965. Washington, D.C.: OCLC 747513. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019 – via Google Books.
- Conway, William J. (February 1931). "Obituary: Father Thomas I. Gasson, S.J." Woodstock Letters. LX (1): 76–86. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019 – via Jesuit Online Library.
- Donovan, Charles F.; Dunigan, David R.; FitzGerald, Paul A. (1990). History of Boston College: From the Beginnings to 1990. Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: University Press of Boston College. .
- Lapomarda, Vincent A. (1977). The Jesuit Heritage in New England. Worcester, Massachusetts: The Jesuits of Holy Cross College, Inc. ISBN 978-0960629404. Archivedfrom the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2023 – via CrossWorks.
- "Tributes to Our Former President, Rev. Thomas I. Gasson, S. J." The Stylus of Boston College. Vol. XXVII, no. 4. January 1914. pp. 248–253. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
External links
- The Menace of Socialism: Being a Report of an Address by The Rev. Thos. Gasson, S.J. and a Reply Thereto by Hon. James F. Carey (PDF). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Social-Democratic Publishing. 1912. (PDF) from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2019.