Case 7: The Centennial and Beyond

64. Rev. John Brosnan, S.J. [Chemistry laboratory in Healy Hall] Silver gelatin

print [1900?]

65. Rev. John Mullaly, S.J. to Rev. Patrick Healy, S.J., August 4, 1879

"You will need all the strength and health you have gained for the work before you."

Patrick Healy Builds a University

James, Patrick, Sherwood, and Michael Healy were four remarkable sons from a family of ten children born to Michael Morris and Mary Eliza Healy of Jones County, Georgia. Their birthdates were April 6, 1830, February 27, 1834, January 24, 1836, and September 1839, respectively. Michael Healy, the father, was an Irish immigrant who came to America by way of Canada. Successful in land lotteries held in Georgia after the War of 1812, Mr. Healy was able to turn his good fortune into a prosperous cotton plantation on the banks of the Ocmulgee River near Macon, Georgia. Mary Eliza had been a mulatto domestic slave on the plantation of cotton magnate Sam Griswold until Mr. Healy purchased her in 1829. Deeply devoted to her, Michael Healy took Eliza as his wife, despite the fact that the marriage was technically against the laws of Georgia and that any offspring would be classified legally as slaves.

Considered property by law, Healy's sons were barred from schools in Georgia. Unable to educate his sons properly at home, the family determined to send them North for schooling. Mr. Healy's attempt to escape the stifling Georgia Black Codes was hampered by the shocking amount of bigotry and prejudice displayed to him by Northern school officials. After an exhausting search, he located a Quaker school in Flushing, Long Island, willing to accept his three eldest sons.

The educational paths of all four boys eventually converged on the College of the Holy Cross at Worcester, Massachusetts. Here James, Patrick, and Sherwood fully embraced the Catholic faith of their father, who had fallen out of practice because of the lack of Catholics and churches in Georgia at the time of his settlement. These three would later pursue priestly vocations which would stimulate and illustrate their talents for service, compassion, and learning. James would become the first black bishop in the American Catholic Church; Patrick would serve as president and rector of Georgetown University; Sherwood became director of the seminary in Troy, New York, and rector of the Cathedral in Boston. The future Captain Healy was baptized at Holy Cross like his brothers, but would undertake a career in the Revenue Cutter Service, a branch now part of the Coast Guard. Known as "Hell-Roaring Mike," he is still a legendary figure in Alaska and the Coast Guard.

Having been freed from the clutches of legal and overt prejudice by a father of devotion and foresight, the four Healy brothers would take advantage of their opportunities to become impor- tant figures in American history as well as the Black heritage of the United States.

-William M. Ferraro C '82

66. Julius Ulke [Rev. Patrick F. Healy, S.J.] Silver albumen print [1879?]

67. Original gas fixture from the Healy building

68. George Prince [The Society of Alumni at the Centennial Celebration]

Silver albumen print, 1889

69. Rev. John Brosnan, S.J. [Gaston Hall] Silver gelatin print [1910?]

70. John G. Shea. Memorial of the first centenary of Georgetown College, D.C.

comprising a history of Georgetown University. Published for the College by P.F. Collier, New York, 1891

71. Centenary of Georgetown University. February 20-22, 1889 [program ]

72. Centennial medals, Georgetown University Alumni Association. 1889

73. Georgetown University 1789-1889 Centennial Banquet Society of Alumni [1889]

74. Constitution of the Society of Alumni of Georgetown College. 1880

76. Invitation to the first annual meeting of the Society of Alumni. June 23, 1881

77. [Ticket] The annual banquet of the alumni association of Georgetown University.

January 13, 1876

78. [Proceedings, first annual meeting] Society of Alumni of Georgetown College.

Washington: 1881

Origins of the Law School

79. [Rev. John Early, S.J.] Silver albumen print [1870?]

Father Early served as president from 1858-1866, and 1870-1873.

80. William Merrick to Rev. John Early, S.J., June 9, 1859. The earliest proposal for a

Georgetown University School of Law

81. University of Georgetown Law Department. First Annual Commencement

June 4, 1872

82. Rev. John Brosnan, S.J. Georgetown University School of Law. Silver gelatin print

[1910?]

83. Georgetown Varsity Eleven. Once a Week, February 10, 1891

84. Annual Field Games. Georgetown University Athletic Association. Analostan Island.

May 7, 1892

85. [Program] Georgetown versus Washington. American League. Georgetown Field.

April 22-23, 1901.

86. [Ticket] Georgetown University Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Concert at the

Waldorf-Astoria. Wednesday, February 7, 1900

87. J. Fairfax McLaughlin. College Days at Georgetown and Other Papers.

Philadelphia: 1899

88. [Program] Glee and Banjo Clubs. Georgetown University [1897]

89. [Program for the Paris Olympics, 1900]

Arthur Duffey's copy. Duffey, a Georgetown man, held the world record in the 100-yard dash.

90. [The Georgetown University Baseball Club] Silver albumen print, 1884