Thomas J. Shields, S. J.
Fr. Thomas McGrath, S.J. confers with Fr. Thomas J. Shields, S.J. – first documented mention of the possibility of Jesuits coming to Dallas; idea received well by Bishop Lynch.
Minutes of NOLA province
Fr. Shields, S.J. (New Orleans Provincial) meets Bishop Lynch in San Antonio at consecration of Bishop Metzger – Bishop Lynch: “I want to see you sometime to talk about something good for you and me.”
The Roundup 5/26/43
In El Paso at consecration of Christo Rei monument, Bishop Lynch and Fr. Shields meet to discuss possibility of Jesuit school in Dallas
The Roundup 5/26/43
Archives
Aerial View of campus, undated
Thomas Shields, S.J. and Edward Rooney, S.J. of Jes Educ Assoc. visit Bishop Lynch in Dallas. Msgr. Nold tours city with them to find appropriate site for new school.
Shields correspondence letters
Petition to Fr. General for permission to open Dallas school
Correspondence Letters
A cablegram from Fr. General granting permission for a Jesuit school. A formal letter of approval received on July 30.
The Roundup 5/26/43
Jesuit Archives
1941 Letter to Rome
Cardinal La Pluma, prefect of Sacred Congregation of Religious, signs formal permission of the Holy see for Jesuits to open canonically a society house in Dallas.
The Roundup 5/26/43
Archives
Postcard, undated
Bishop Lynch and his lawyer, Mr. George Burgess, arrange legal details with Fr. Shields and Mr. Charles I. Denechaud, province lawyer, for transfer of Oak Lawn-Blackburn property to the Society of Jesus. At present, orphans are living in the building pending reconstruction of the new St. Joseph's Home for Girls in suburban Oak Cliff.
Minister's Diary and Correspondence
Undated Photo
Bishop Lynch officially releases news that the Jesuits will open school in Dallas.
Oak Lawn Folder and The Roundup 5/26/43
The legal corporation known as “The Jesuit High School of Dallas Incorporated” is formed; first members are Jesuit Fathers then residing in the state of Texas.
The Roundup 5/26/43
Invitation to corner stone setting Holy Trinity
The property formerly known as the Dallas University, conducted by the Vincentian Fathers, and in later years as St. Joseph’s Home for Girls (an orphanage for girls) legally transferred from the Diocese of Dallas to the Jesuit High School of Dallas Inc. This invitation is to the setting of the corner stone of Holy Trinity. On Jesuit's 50th anniversary, alumni brought the corner stone to Inwood Rd. The president returned it later.
The Roundup 5/26/43
The Dallas Morning News
New Jesuit Dallas Administraton Announced
Fr. Austin L. Wagner, S.J., first Jesuit to take possession of new property and charged with preparing the place for a new school and Jesuit residence and promoting knowledge that the Jesuits were coming to Dallas; arrived at what became the Jesuit High School of Dallas (Oaklawn & Blackburn).
Minister's Diary and The Roundup 5/26/43
The Bishop insisted that tuition for the first few years should be sixty dollars per annum as the maximum charge for both tuition and all extra curricula activity fees. Plus, the drive for one hundred thousand dollars should begin for scholarships for poor boys.
Minister's Diary
Archives
Oak Lawn Chapel
Building renovated; whole sections virtually rebuilt; endowment fund drive promoted. Tiles for chapel floor are donated by The Sacred Heart; new pews installed in domestic chapel; donations of books, appointments to the chapel, pictures, etc. continue to be donated through the summer.
Minister's Diary
Fr. Mulhern announced as first Rector-Principal; served at Jesuit New Orleans since 1937 before coming to Jesuit High School of Dallas, arrived on the Texas & Pacific Railroad on 1/11/1942
Minister's Diary
St. Joseph's closes in order to make Jesuit the only boys Catholic school in Dallas
Minister's Diary
News article about the school opening, undated and not sourced
Fr. RT Bryant, S.J., and Bro Martial Lapeyre, S.J. arrive; Fr. Bryant donates new Buick which had been given to him.
Mothers Club Scrapbook
Dallas Morning News August 9, 1942
First Ad
$100,000 Scholarship Fund for needy students launched. Dallas Jesuit will be the first Jesuit institution in the United States to begin its work of education with an Endowment Fund (Minister's Diary). If the Jesuits "leave the school...Bishop Lynch automatically would become chairman of the endowment committee which would then have the authority to dispose of the fund within the diocese as it saw fit" (Dallas Morning News Jan 21, 1942). A fundraising carnival is planned for April 23, chairman of the arrangements is Miss Catherine Richardson (DMN April 11, 1942).
Minister's Diary and The Dallas Morning News
Archives
Undated Photo
Official opening of school office. Prior to this, business was handled in the corridors, parlors and even on the front steps. "A qualified librarian, Miss Lois La Grange was engaged to finish up the library work" started by the scholastics. She continued the work in the Registrar's office where she also served as receptionist.
Principal's Diary
Eddie Maher, Jr. is hired as coach at $1,000 a year (Archives). The August 30, 1942 Dallas Morning News notes Jesuit is in the Dallas 8-AA of the Texas Interscholastic League. Maher "will direct the entire athletic program of Jesuit High" (p.7). The Sept. 2 News later reports the team "will open the season Sept. 25 against Waxahachie High. Six letter men reported for practice Tuesday" and Maher is looking for Class A or B teams to play against.
Principal's Diary
Archives
Sophomore class 1942-1943
74 students registered as of 8/29/42. See 9/14/42 post for final numbers and demographic breakdown (Note that Marty Maher is not in the composite picture due to having an appendectomy.)
Principal's Diary
New Jesuit school dedicated by Bishop Lynch; Low Mass in chapel offered by Fr. Thomas Shields, S.J. with Bishop.
Minister's Diary, Principal's Diary, Mother's Club scrapbook and The Roundup 5/26/43
Jesuit Archives
Rev. Joseph C. Mulhern, Rector-President, Principal
Rev. Austin L. Wagner, S.J. Minister
Rev. James M. Buckley, S.J. Teacher and Prefect of Religious Counseling
Rev. James D. Carroll, S.J. Assistant Principal
Rev. Hilton A. Crane, S.J. Teacher
Rev. Fred M. O’ Connor, S.J. Teacher
Rev. William J. Reagan, S.J. Teacher
Mr. Edward J. Bergen, S.J. Teacher
Mr. Elwood P. Hecker, S.J. Teacher, Moderator of Music
Mr. Michael P. Kammer, S.J. Teacher, Moderator of Dramatics
Mr. John C. Moran, S.J. Teacher, Prefect of Intramural Sports
Br. Martial O. Lapeyre, S.J. Superintendent of Bldgs. & Maintenance
Archives
Even the requirement bulleting has ads
Archives
Archives
Nov. 4, 1942 Envelope for Parents Letter from Ft. Mulhern, S. j.
Approx. 195 students registered: Freshmen, 4; Sophomores, 2; Juniors, 2; Seniors, 4 168 on full tuition, 17 free, 9 partial tuition. Tuition: $50.00 plus $10.00 activity fee Non-Catholic: 1st year - 4; 2nd year - 2; 3rd year - 2; 4th year - 3 Classes first meet on ground floor assembly hall at 9:15 for a brief talk by Fr. Mulhern. Shortened periods and dismissal at 12:30 because most of the books had not arrived. For students who desire military training, Jesuit will sponsor a private junior air training corps.
Principal's Diary
Penance Hall opens in Room 101 for an hour where the students “may employ themselves in profitable study” (Province Prefect).
Principal's Diary, Province Prefect Annual Report 1955, The Roundup 12/23/42 and 5/26/43
Aug. 1942 Well wishes from Bishop Patrick Lynch to the Principal Fr. Mulhern
1st Mass of the Holy Spirit
Principal's Diary; The Roundup 5/26/43
Held at noon with appointed cheerleader Gene Drake
Principal's Diary
Team travels to Waxahachie with loss of 19-6.
Principal's Diary
Plays Pleasant Grove on the Jesuit field. 40-0. First win in the short football history.
Principal's Diary
Defeated by St. Mary's 13-0 in the Cotton Bowl. Paid St. Mary's $300 to come to Dallas. Financial loss about $150. Later, on November 1, Jesuit paid St. Edwards of Texarkana $175 guarantee and lost about $150. However, Jesuit defeated St. Edwards 32-6.
Principal's Diary
Held in the Jesuit assembly hall
Principal's Diary
Inez de Lira new handy man hired.
Archives
Sample Transcript
Honor Line Started
The Roundup 5/26/43
Archives
Nov. 4, 1942 parent letter discussing grades and military training from Fr. Mulhern S. J.
Assembly of all students in 2nd period to explain the proposed military training set up under the auspices of the Air Training Corps of America
Principal's Diary
Jesuit Dallas Archives
1944-1945 Program
The Society was organized at a banquet held at the Cliff Towers Hotel in Oak Cliff.
Letter arrives with accreditation by the State Department of Education (Note: The Roundup 5/26/43 notes accreditation on 11/2/43)
Principal's Diary
Basketball 1942-1943
"Students had been informed at assembly that a basketball program will be sponsored if they sell 200 season tickets at one dollar each before December 1st." The Principal's Diary Dec 1 notes the program is assured because 274 season tickets were sold.
Principal's Diary
Clubs formed: Choral [Mr. Hecker], Philothespic [moderator M. P. Kammer, SJ], Science [includes Radio club], Sodality [formed by Fr. James Buckley, SJ]
The Roundup
Jesuit Archives
Although this picture is not from the first games, it is from the era. Coach Eddie Maher is pictured.
Football 1st season record: 5-2 Jesuit won the game on the Jesuit field against Birdville 12-0.
Principal's Diary and The Roundup
Jesuit Archives
Vol. 1 of The Roundup
The Roundup 5/26/43
Archives
First Recruiting Document
Membership accepted in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools at their annual meeting. Represented by Fr. Mulhern. "Affiliation with the Southern Association supplements recognition already received by the new Catholic school from the Texas Department of Education earlier this year" (DMN Dec. 5, 1942). The Dec. 12 edition of the News notes that Jesuit was the only private school in Texas added to the Accredited list.
Principal's Diary and The Roundup 5/26/43
Pearl Harbor requiem mass with Rev. James Buckley, S.J. celebrant.
The Sodality of Mary in Jesuit H. S. begins with Rev. Buckley, S.J., Director
Pat Koch, V.P. of club: “If anyone is in doubt to whether or not they can sing please let Mr. Hecker decide that.”
Includes new school song: “The Ranger Victory March” written by faculty member, Mr. Edward P. Hecker, S.J. (The Roundup 5/26/43 gives 12/14 date)
Principal's Diary, The Roundup 12/23/42
Don Marquis donated numerous items to the Archives.
Met in 4th period assembly with the debut of the band. The Ranger Victory song was taught. Words and music by Mr. Elwood P. Hecker, S.J. Arranged by Mr. Hohman, music director.
Principal's Diary
Library Club Formed
"Basketball team participates in the Plano tournament. Loses to Sunset H.S. in championship round; wins from North Dallas H.S., 28-24 in the consolation bracket, then loses to Plano, 38-9" (Principal's Diary) First home game in gym on January 6, 1943 - North Dallas 22 Jesuit 20 The first mention of the Jesuit basketball team in the DMN cites Jesuit participating against Sunset in a Plano Invitational starting December 30, 1942 (DMN 12/30/1942)
Principal's Diary and The Dallas Morning News
Altar Boys Club formed
The Roundup 1/22/43
