The Good Journey:: 150 Years of History at St. Bonaventure University

Chapter Two: Approaching a New Century (1890–1920)

The Good Journey: 150 Years of History at St. Bonaventure University 26 | The Good Journey: 150 Years of History at St. Bonaventure University 26 | Chapter Two: Approaching a New Century (1890–1920) B y 1890, Allegany, New York, had become an important center for American Catholic education . St. Bonaventure’s College offered high school and college programs along with a postgraduate theology curriculum in its seminary . Allegany also housed St. Elizabeth’s Academy for women, chartered by the Board of Regents as an accredited high school in 1893, where the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany offered girls an opportunity for education beyond grammar school. It was during this time of cultural change that Fr. Joseph Butler, OFM, became president of St. Bonaventure ’s College. Unlike his predecessors, “Father Joe” arrived in Allegany already trained to teach young men. He was the first president of St. Bonaventure’s College to devote his entire adult life and ministry to educate Catholic boys to become leaders of the church, business, law, and medicine. It was during his presidency that campus college life developed its own identity around the church’s teachings, practical coursework, and the playing field. This combination, which, he proclaimed, would educate the whole man and produce Christian gentlemen and American leaders, would be the primary mission of St. Bonaventure’s College. William Butler was born in Galbally, County Tipperary , Ireland, on Aug. 13, 1838, and came to the United States in his early ’20s. After entering the teaching order of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn in 1863, he taught at several elementary schools in Brooklyn, becoming principal of two. His congregation’s apostolate was to teach boys from working families useful trades and to offer a primary education to poor children. The brothers also founded St. Francis Academy, which later became St. Francis College of Brooklyn. Butler became vice president of St. Bonaventure immediately after his ordination in 1880. Six years later, he was elevated to the office of president, a position he would hold for 25 years. A man with presence, Butler seemed to be always among the students as president, when teaching mathematics or moderating clubs. He actively presided over the college until February 1911, when, according to a student publication, he suffered “a complete nervous breakdown.” He died on July 25, A Christmas Sleigh Ride “As it is the custom every Christmas for the Rev. President to take the students who spend vacation at the college, on a sleigh ride, this year was no exception. On the 7th of January, the President gave the order for preparation, and it is needless to say that all responded promptly. In a short time, the procession of sleighs was speeding over the beautiful country roads, in the direction of Salamanca. After visiting the many different points of interest throughout the city they arrived at Graves’ Hotel, where they partook of an elaborate repast. Several after-dinner speeches were made by the senior members of the party, after which the journey home was begun. College songs and ditties were wafted harmoniously over the snow-clad hilltops commingled with the sound of merry sleigh bells as the galloping steeds dashed onward toward St. Bona’s. The following day the students visited the president to extend their thanks for the enjoyable time they had at his expense.” The Laurel, January 1903 Approaching a New Century (1890-1920) 13| Fr. Joseph Butler, OFM, eighth president, 1887-1911. 1911, in St. Francis Hospital in New York City. His remains were returned to the campus he loved, where a funeral Mass preceded his interment in the Friars Plot of St. Bonaventure Cemetery. It was during Butler’s presidency that a clearer picture of the college emerges. In 1892, the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York mandated annual reports on the condition of the college that revealed how few students the college educated: 68 undergraduates in the 1892-93 academic year and 35 seminarians. The report also showed that the college had only granted 46 bachelor’s degrees and five master’s degrees since its inception. These same reports included annual financial statements tracing most of the college’s revenue to tuition and fees for board. Primary expenses were feeding students, maintaining the friar-professors, and paying salaries to non-religious employees of the college. The first report listed 19 faculty members, including the president and administrative staff who taught...