You Don't Know Jack: A Small Tribute to the Mascots of Georgetown. A Selection of Materials from the University Archives

Stephen Richard Kerbs Exhibit Area

A newspaper clipping containing the Obituary for Rough and Ready, the mascot for the College bakery and kitchen, published in the Georgetown College Journal

Obituary for "Rough and Ready", mascot for the College bakery and kitchen, Georgetown College Journal, 1873

While the presence of dogs on campus likely stretches back to the early days of the College, the first one to be documented was "Rough and Ready", the guard dog of the College bakery and kitchen. "Rough", a terrier, met his demise in a showdown with another dog on campus in 1864. Following his death, Fr. Ford, S.J., wrote a lengthy tribute to "Rough" and his service to the College, a portion of which is sampled here.

Read a transcript of the full text of the Obituary for "Rough and Ready".

A black and white photograph of Hoia the dog with his owner Rev. William H. Carroll, S.J. and Tom.

Photograph of "Hoia" with his owner Rev. William H. Carroll, S.J. and Tom, Georgetown College Journal, 1906

"Hoia" was the first mascot to be informally associated with athletics on campus. A large dog of unknown breed, "Hoia" adopted the Prep boys' football team in the 1890s and would often get in trouble for biting the halfbacks on the College football team.

A black and white photograph of a small boy dressed in a football uniform taking a three point stance on the field.

Small Boy at the Georgetown vs. Virginia Football Game, Ye Domesday Booke, 1911

Taking on the duties of mascot for what seems to be this one and only time, the small boy led the football team to a 9-0 victory over Virginia.

Georgetown mascot Stubby on a football field with a Georgetown cheerleader

"Stubby", photographed playing fetch with a GU Cheerleader, Ye Domesday Booke, 1923

After spending almost two years fighting with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, "Stubby" came to Georgetown with J. Robert Conroy in 1921. This highly decorated war dog served as Georgetown’s mascot until old age forced him to retire in 1924. After his death, "Stubby's" remains were preserved by the Smithsonian and are still on display at the National Museum of American History.

a black and white photograph of Butch, the great dane mascot, poses next to the cannons at the front of Healy Hall

"Butch", Georgetown Mascot from 1943-1950

"Butch", a Great Dane, was originally the mascot for the men in the Army Specialized Training Program at Georgetown. He was adopted by the College after his owner, Captain Andrew D. Gruber, was sent overseas. "Butch" quickly became a hit on campus and was known to be a sociable dog who attended a wide variety of campus events.

a black and white photograph of Mitzi the dog, the observatory mascot

“Mitzi”, Observatory Mascot from 1946-1949

a black and white photograph of Duchess the dog, East Campus Mascot

"Duchess", East Campus Mascot from 1948-1960

a photograph of Hoya the fourth, dog mascot, posing with four Georgetown cheerleaders and a trophy

"Hoya IV" pictured with the Georgetown Cheerleaders, Ye Domesday Booke, 1955

a black and white photograph of Jack the first, an English Bulldog

"Jack I", 1962-1967

In 1951 football at Georgetown was suspended and the tradition of a live mascot gradually came to an end. A decade later, a student run group called the Georgetown Mascot Committee went on a campaign to bring back a live mascot and raised enough money to buy an English Bulldog, which was officially adopted as the mascot of Georgetown. "Jack" arrived on campus in the fall of 1962. The students wanted to name the new dog "Hoya" but he refused to answer to anything else but "Jack."

a typewritten page describing Georgetown Mascot Committee expenses for Jack, the dog mascot.

Georgetown Mascot Committee expenses for "Jack", 1963

Caring for the new "Jack" fell solely on the Mascot Committee and the student body. This flyer was distributed by the Mascot Committee in 1963 in an attempt to raise money to feed and take care of “Jack.”

Read a transcript of the full text of Georgetown Mascot Committee expenses.

Student Lloyd Williams poses in the Jack mascot costume while holding the head of the costume in his hands

Lloyd Williams (C'1984), Georgetown's Mascot, 1981-1984

In 1977 Georgetown got a new "Jack" in the form of a student in a dog costume, a tradition which continues today. Here, Lloyd Williams poses in the "Jack" costume.

Jack the bulldog sits on the lap of Jack, the human mascot in costume, on a park bench

"Jack" and "Jack" pose together, 1999

Jack and University Librarian Artemis Kirk

Georgetown’s current “Jack” poses with University Librarian Artemis Kirk at the Club Lau party in Lauinger Library, 2007