Comparing The Jesuit Takeover and World War II
Overview
Our project focuses on the time period of 1941-1943 at the University of Scranton. Throughout these years, the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, replaced the Lasallian Christian Brothers in running the University. At the same time worldwide, the devastation of World War Two was taking place. Both events influenced each other in various ways. The transition between the Christian Brothers’ administration of the University of Scranton to the Jesuit’s administration, despite appearances, was a period of uncertainty, as was World War Two, gripping both Scranton and the larger world. We understand the spectacle of each event, which is why we want to know:
Our project focuses on the time period of 1941-1943 at the University of Scranton. Throughout these years, the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, replaced the Lasallian Christian Brothers in running the University. At the same time worldwide, the devastation of World War Two was taking place. Both events influenced each other in various ways. The transition between the Christian Brothers’ administration of the University of Scranton to the Jesuit’s administration, despite appearances, was a period of uncertainty, as was World War Two, gripping both Scranton and the larger world. We understand the spectacle of each event, which is why we want to know:
How did the period of transition between the Christian Brothers’ administration of the University of Scranton to the Jesuit’s administration, reflect the chaos of World War Two abroad?"
We suspect that while World War Two was uncertain overseas, the future of the University of Scranton was similarly hanging in the balance at home. The Jesuit take-over of the school from the Christian Brothers’ challenged administration to correctly pass the reins off to the new organization. This period of transition mirrored the unpredictability of the worldwide conflict on a smaller scale. This hypothesis requires much research to tell a larger story that is more meaningful to the people of Scranton compared to the school just switching administration during a conflict. There is a lack of records kept about the university’s involvement in World War Two from that time period. The Jesuit takeover of the University of Scranton came while the United States was already involved in the war. Through this time, many records were set aside while the Jesuits rearranged how the school would be ran. Plus, since there was a whole new organization taking over the university, that was the important news compared to the global conflict for the small community. After the Jesuits decided just how to run the school, finally articles and records of student participation in the world war were coming to the surface. It is rather strange that the largest and deadliest war in the history of mankind was taking place and the university barely has any information about how they took part in it, and they did take part in it. This lack of information truly shows the chaos faced by administration because there was more concern over the school’s future than the war.
Our project and findings will be accessed digitally through this website that is specifically focused on our topic concerning the University of Scranton. The uncertainty of World War Two and of the future of the university will be examined and explained. The history of how the Jesuits were able to push through trying times to control the school will also be assessed and the chaos that the whole situation entailed.
Data
Primary sources are vital to our project, and most of ours are the correspondences between the then-Bishop and the Jesuit leaders involved in the takeover of the University of Scranton. As of this writing, our primary sources included: an 11 August 1888 article in the Catholic Record (via James Gormley’s Master Thesis) concerning Bishop William O’Hara officially blessing the University’s first building’s cornerstone; a 3 April 1942 letter written by Zacheus J. Maher, S.J. to several priests detailing the Society’s reluctant yet necessary refusal of the Bishop’s offer of the University of Scranton’s placement under Jesuit administration; a 1942 letter written by Edward C. Phillip, S.J. detailing the reasons why accepting the Bishop’s offer would be beneficial to the Society and refuting several claims standing against acceptance; an 11 May 1942 letter written by James P. Sweeney, S.J. to Bishop William Haffey, D.D., accepting the Bishop’s offer on the Society’s behalf; a newspaper article entitled “3 Instruction Units Set Up At Scranton U.: Sessions This Summer Include Flying and Engineer Training;” a newspaper article entitled “51 University Students Facing Call to Service: Those in Army and Air Corps Reserve Are Expected to Be Summoned in Near Future;” a newspaper article entitled “1,587 University Students Serving in Armed Forces: 22 Alumni Make Supreme Sacrifice; Wounded, Missing, Prisoners Reported Among Casualties;” and a newspaper article entitled “Aid to Britain Is Favored in Poll at U. of S.: 29 Pct. of Students Advocate Isolation; Reject Draft After War.”
The letters are originally from the Jesuit Archives of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, but can be accessed digitally through a PDF provided by Mr. Michael Knies. The Catholic Record article is referenced in Gormley’s thesis, which is available through the University of Scranton’s Digital Archives. The various newspaper articles can be accessed online in the University of Scranton’s Digital Archives, particularly in University of Scranton Newspaper Clippings.
Our secondary sources included, as of this writing, James J. Gormely’s 1962 Master’s Thesis, “History of The University of Scranton, 1888-1942” and Frank X J Homer and Gayle White’s The University of Scranton: A Legacy To Hold, A Future To Build, 1888-2013. Though we only have two secondary source and no tertiary sources, we will most likely be adding more to our Works Cited page as our research progresses. The same is true for our current list of primary sources. For a full list of sources for the completed project, see the About page.
To analyze our primary sources and answer our research question, we will need a firm understanding of World War II and an even better understanding of the local history during that era.
Methods & Tools
Our method of analysis will be employed to determine whether not our sources answer our historical question. We will be looking for sources that explain the events of World War II, describe World War II-era Scranton, describe the University of Scranton during World War II, or detail the factors behind, the
events during, and the immediate effects of the Jesuit takeover of the University.
While we were easily able to define our method of analysis, choosing digital tools to analyze and present our findings was a little more difficult to accomplish. As of now, we will be using Weebly and Timeline JS for our project. Weebly is a web-hosting device that allows users to easily create their own websites. Timeline JS is a timeline creation software created by Night Lab of Northwestern University. Weebly can really be used by an amateur web-designer lacking the tools/skills to write the code necessary to build a website, while Timeline JS has been used by several media companies, such as Time, Le Monde, and CNN, to produce interactive timelines.
We chose these digital tools for very specific reasons. Weebly is just a simple means of presenting our finished project. Timeline JS is the best tool for answering our research question because we are telling a linear narrative. There isn’t a specific theory we are trying to prove. We are merely compiling information that hasn’t been used to construct a more in-depth narrative of the Jesuit takeover of the University of Scranton. Moreover, we are attempting to illustrate the small-scale impact of World War II on the University of Scranton. Timeline JS will allow us to layout out these important global events and, at the same time, show their small-scale effects in chronological order.
Our project and findings will be accessed digitally through this website that is specifically focused on our topic concerning the University of Scranton. The uncertainty of World War Two and of the future of the university will be examined and explained. The history of how the Jesuits were able to push through trying times to control the school will also be assessed and the chaos that the whole situation entailed.
Data
Primary sources are vital to our project, and most of ours are the correspondences between the then-Bishop and the Jesuit leaders involved in the takeover of the University of Scranton. As of this writing, our primary sources included: an 11 August 1888 article in the Catholic Record (via James Gormley’s Master Thesis) concerning Bishop William O’Hara officially blessing the University’s first building’s cornerstone; a 3 April 1942 letter written by Zacheus J. Maher, S.J. to several priests detailing the Society’s reluctant yet necessary refusal of the Bishop’s offer of the University of Scranton’s placement under Jesuit administration; a 1942 letter written by Edward C. Phillip, S.J. detailing the reasons why accepting the Bishop’s offer would be beneficial to the Society and refuting several claims standing against acceptance; an 11 May 1942 letter written by James P. Sweeney, S.J. to Bishop William Haffey, D.D., accepting the Bishop’s offer on the Society’s behalf; a newspaper article entitled “3 Instruction Units Set Up At Scranton U.: Sessions This Summer Include Flying and Engineer Training;” a newspaper article entitled “51 University Students Facing Call to Service: Those in Army and Air Corps Reserve Are Expected to Be Summoned in Near Future;” a newspaper article entitled “1,587 University Students Serving in Armed Forces: 22 Alumni Make Supreme Sacrifice; Wounded, Missing, Prisoners Reported Among Casualties;” and a newspaper article entitled “Aid to Britain Is Favored in Poll at U. of S.: 29 Pct. of Students Advocate Isolation; Reject Draft After War.”
The letters are originally from the Jesuit Archives of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, but can be accessed digitally through a PDF provided by Mr. Michael Knies. The Catholic Record article is referenced in Gormley’s thesis, which is available through the University of Scranton’s Digital Archives. The various newspaper articles can be accessed online in the University of Scranton’s Digital Archives, particularly in University of Scranton Newspaper Clippings.
Our secondary sources included, as of this writing, James J. Gormely’s 1962 Master’s Thesis, “History of The University of Scranton, 1888-1942” and Frank X J Homer and Gayle White’s The University of Scranton: A Legacy To Hold, A Future To Build, 1888-2013. Though we only have two secondary source and no tertiary sources, we will most likely be adding more to our Works Cited page as our research progresses. The same is true for our current list of primary sources. For a full list of sources for the completed project, see the About page.
To analyze our primary sources and answer our research question, we will need a firm understanding of World War II and an even better understanding of the local history during that era.
Methods & Tools
Our method of analysis will be employed to determine whether not our sources answer our historical question. We will be looking for sources that explain the events of World War II, describe World War II-era Scranton, describe the University of Scranton during World War II, or detail the factors behind, the
events during, and the immediate effects of the Jesuit takeover of the University.
While we were easily able to define our method of analysis, choosing digital tools to analyze and present our findings was a little more difficult to accomplish. As of now, we will be using Weebly and Timeline JS for our project. Weebly is a web-hosting device that allows users to easily create their own websites. Timeline JS is a timeline creation software created by Night Lab of Northwestern University. Weebly can really be used by an amateur web-designer lacking the tools/skills to write the code necessary to build a website, while Timeline JS has been used by several media companies, such as Time, Le Monde, and CNN, to produce interactive timelines.
We chose these digital tools for very specific reasons. Weebly is just a simple means of presenting our finished project. Timeline JS is the best tool for answering our research question because we are telling a linear narrative. There isn’t a specific theory we are trying to prove. We are merely compiling information that hasn’t been used to construct a more in-depth narrative of the Jesuit takeover of the University of Scranton. Moreover, we are attempting to illustrate the small-scale impact of World War II on the University of Scranton. Timeline JS will allow us to layout out these important global events and, at the same time, show their small-scale effects in chronological order.
The Timeline shows important dates during the Jesuit transition and World War Two. These dates are compared side by side to see how the unknown future of a university and world hung in the balance.
The World War II section provides information on how the war impacted the students at the University of Scranton and a summary of the war between 1941 and 43. This section compliments the time period of the Jesuit transition to show what was happening around the world while the University switched administrations.
The section on the University of Scranton gives background information about the school that helps readers understand the impact of the Jesuits. The Jesuit takeover from the Christian Brothers is reflected on to be compared to the uncertainty of World War Two.
The World War II section provides information on how the war impacted the students at the University of Scranton and a summary of the war between 1941 and 43. This section compliments the time period of the Jesuit transition to show what was happening around the world while the University switched administrations.
The section on the University of Scranton gives background information about the school that helps readers understand the impact of the Jesuits. The Jesuit takeover from the Christian Brothers is reflected on to be compared to the uncertainty of World War Two.