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W. Coleman Nevils

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The Reverend
W. Coleman Nevils
SJ
Photograph of W. Coleman Nevils in academic regalia
Nevils in 1934
12thPresident of the University of Scranton
In office
1942–1947
Preceded byFrank J. O'Hara
Succeeded byJ. Eugene Gallery
39thPresident of Georgetown University
In office
1928–1935
Preceded byCharles W. Lyons
Succeeded byArthur A. O'Leary
Personal details
Born(1878-05-29)May 29, 1878
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,United States
DiedOctober 12, 1955(1955-10-12)(aged 77)
New York City,U.S.
Resting placeJesuit Community Cemetery
Alma mater
Orders
Ordination1911

William Coleman NevilsSJ(May 29, 1878 – October 12, 1955) was an AmericanCatholicpriest andJesuiteducator who became the head of numerous Jesuit institutions throughout thenortheastern United States,includingGeorgetown Universityand theUniversity of Scranton.Born inPhiladelphia,he was educated atSaint Joseph's College,before entering theSociety of Jesus.While studying for thepriesthood,he taught atBoston Collegeand theLoyola School.After receiving his doctorate fromWoodstock College,he held professorships atSt. Andrew-on-Hudsonand theCollege of the Holy Cross,before transferring to Georgetown University, where he became thedeanofGeorgetown College,the academic vice president, and theregentof theSchool of Foreign Service.He then left Georgetown to become the dean of theShadowbrook Jesuit House of Studies.

In 1928, Nevils was made thepresident of Georgetown University.He became active in elite circles inWashington, D.C.,and elevated the prominence of the university in diplomatic and political circles. He also made substantial progress on a highly ambitious plan to transform the campus. After completing severalCollegiate Gothicbuildings, work on the Greater Georgetown plan stalled because of theGreat Depression.In 1935, he left Georgetown and returned toNew York City,where he became the president ofRegis High Schooland the Loyola School, as well aspastorof theChurch of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Though near retirement, Nevils became the first Jesuitpresidentof theUniversity of Scrantonin 1942, after theLasallian Brothersdeparted the school. He led the university through a change in administration, and the decline of enrollment due toWorld War II.During his presidency, the curriculum was improved, andScranton Preparatory Schoolwas founded. After the end of the war, Nevils also saw the school through a surge in enrollment due to theG.I. Bill.

Nevils returned to New York City in 1947, and became the head ofAmericamagazine, and the superior of Campion House, the residence for the Jesuit editors of the publication. He also continued to teach at Regis and Loyola and minister at St. Ignatius Church, until his death in 1955.

Early life[edit]

William Coleman Nevils was born on May 29, 1878, inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,to Andrew P. and Mary Coleman Nevils.[1]He attendedSaint Joseph's Collegein Philadelphia, receiving aBachelor of ArtsandMaster of Arts.He entered theSociety of Jesuson August 14, 1896,[2]and went to teachLatinandAncient GreekatBoston College.[3]In 1903, he transferred to theLoyola SchoolinNew York City,[1]where he also taught Latin and Greek,[3]and would remain until 1908. Nevils then began his higher studies atWoodstock CollegeinMaryland,where he wasordainedapriestin 1911. He completed his priestly training atSt. Andrew-on-Hudson,[1]and received aDoctor of Philosophyinphilosophyfrom Woodstock.[4]

Teaching career[edit]

After receiving his doctorate, Nevils became a professor ofrhetoricat St. Andrew-on-Hudson. He then transferred to theCollege of the Holy Crossas a professor of philosophy. After some time, Nevils became a lecturer insociologyatGeorgetown University,[3]and in 1918, was named thedeanofGeorgetown College.[4]In 1919, he simultaneously became the chancellor (academic vice president) of the university,[5][1]and in 1920, was made theregentof theSchool of Foreign Service.[3]His tenure as dean came to an end in 1922.[6]

After six years, Nevils left Georgetown in 1924 to become the dean of theShadowbrook House of Jesuit StudiesinMassachusetts,where he would remain for four years.[7]In addition to being dean, he taught rhetoric andpedagogyat Shadowbrook. In 1925, he was proposed to become the nextpresident of Boston College,but it as decided that someone from the Jesuits' New England province would be more suitable.[8]

Georgetown University[edit]

Portrait of W. Coleman Nevils
Nevils in academic regalia in 1933

On August 27, 1928, Nevils was elected thepresident of Georgetown Universityby theuniversity's board of directors.[9]His inauguration in late October was attended by representatives of 93 American and foreign universities, 26learned societies,and members of thediplomatic corps,forming the largest gathering of educators ever held at a Catholic college in the United States. This was the first time the installation of a new president of the university was marked by a formal inauguration.[10]During the ceremony, Nevils was awarded aDoctor of Divinity.[5]

Nevils' presidency was characterized by an unprecedented level of engagement with communities outside of the university. One of his priorities was establishing Georgetown as a presence in the political and diplomatic circles ofWashington, D.C.He revived the board of regents as a body focused on fundraising, and appointed alumni, as well as business leaders without any connection to Georgetown. He frequently hosted on-campus receptions for various dignitaries and attended diplomatic events in the city. He also became a fourth degree member of theKnights of Columbus,and a member of theCosmos Club.These overtures were effective in raising the prominence of Georgetown in Washington's elite circles.[11]

During the course of his presidency, Nevils reformed the curriculum of Georgetown College. He recruited several prominent faculty and increased the number of those with doctorates.[12]He also abolished an abbreviated two-yearpre-medicalprogram, requiring students intending to go tomedical schoolto complete the standard four-year undergraduate curriculum.[13]Clinical research at the medical school improved under the direction of increasingly prominent clinical faculty. Nevils also raised the stature of thedental department.[14]Throughout his presidency, Nevils aimed to increase the percentage of the faculty who were Catholic.[15]

In 1934, Nevils' second term as president was coming to an end, and a group of faculty and alumni petitioned theJesuit Superior Generalto allow Nevils to remain, given the economic turmoil and his proven ability as president.[16]The superior general agreed to allow Nevils to remain for one additional year. In that time, Nevils identifiedArthur A. O'Learyas his desired successor. After receiving approval inRome,O'Leary succeeded Nevils as president in 1935.[15]At the time he resigned, he was the longest-serving president in the university's history, by a margin of six years.[17]In addition to his duties as president, Nevils served as a member of thePresident's Organization for Unemployment Relief,theUnited States Naval Academy's board of visitors, and the National Committee on Inter-American Intellectual Cooperation.[1]

Greater Georgetown plan[edit]

Entrance to Copley Hall
Copley Hall was the first building of the Greater Georgetown plan completed.

One of Nevils' first acts as president was reviving the "Greater Georgetown" plan, which had been devised in the early 1920s, but abandoned by his predecessor,Charles W. Lyons,and for which Nevils had been the primary fundraiser. This plan called for a major expansion of the university's facilities and a consolidation of its schools. The first component of this plan began on January 3, 1929, with the groundbreaking of a new home forGeorgetown's School of Medicine.The Medical-Dental Building opened on the northwest corner of the campus in May of the following year. The most ambitious portion of the Greater Georgetown plan was the creation of a newCollegiate Gothicquadrangle, designed by the Philadelphia architectEmile G. Perrot,which would be enclosed byHealy Halland three new buildings. These buildings would house a dormitory, classrooms, and science facilities, and would cost $2.5 million,[9]equivalent to $44.4 million in 2023.[18]While the original Greater Georgetown plan envisioned the quadrangle being named for thealumnusandSupreme CourtChief JusticeEdward Douglass White,Nevils instead changed the name to theAndrew WhiteMemorial Quadrangle, after the early Jesuit missionary to the United States.[9]

Construction on the first component of the quadrangle, the dormitory namedCopley Hall,began in 1930.[9]Soon after announcing the project, Nevils was able to quickly raise funds for its construction, despite the beginning of theGreat Depression.With funds already secured, the depression actually worked in favor of the university, as it drove down the cost of construction, and the project was finished under budget. Copley Hall, named for the Jesuit missionary,Thomas Copley,officially opened on February 16, 1931, and housed 221 students, achapel,and a reading lounge. Fundraising for the second building, which would containchemistrylaboratories, classrooms, and administrative offices was more difficult,[19]but construction was able to begin in June 1932. The building was namedWhite-Gravenor Hall,after Andrew White andJohn Gravenor,two Jesuit missionaries. Rising four stories, its facade was composed ofgranitequarried from northern Maryland and gray stone repurposed from a recently dismantled bridge spanningRock Creek.The building was completed in November 1933, and housed 20 classrooms, and several laboratories and large lecture halls. Nevils drew praise for being able to open two grand buildings in the midst of a depression without taking on any debt.[20]

White-Graveor under construction
White-Gravenor at Georgetown University
White-Gravenor Hall during and after construction

Despite desiring to continue with the ambitious plan to transform the campus, Nevils' intention to complete the Great Georgetown plan was eventually thwarted by the Great Depression.[21]Among his plans that did not come to fruition were the enclosure of the quadrangle with a fourth building, the construction of a new home for theGeorgetown University Hospitalnext to the Medical-Dental Building, the conversion of the existing hospital building at 35th and N Streets into a dormitory for professional student, and the construction of a 4,000-seat gymnasium on 37th Street between O and N Streets. He also sought to relocate the School of Foreign Service andLaw Schoolto the main campus.[22]When Georgetown received word that PresidentFranklin Rooseveltwas about toclose the banksin 1933, it withdrew $200,000 fromRiggs Bankand kept it in the rooms ofEdmund A. Walshand the university'streasurer.[23]While the number of undergraduate students dropped significantly between 1928 and 1933, the professional schools saw a slight increase.[24]

Return to teaching[edit]

After leaving Georgetown University, Nevils returned to New York City in 1935. There, he became thepastorof theChurch of St. Ignatius Loyola,[7]and the president of bothRegis High Schooland the Loyola School. He held all of these positions simultaneously for five years.[25][26]For a time, he was also the pastor ofSt. Aloysius Church.[27]He then returned to Washington in 1940, where while living atGeorgetown Preparatory School,he wrote a book about the history of theJesuits in the United States,in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the order.[17]At the same time, he was made the archivist of Georgetown University and the director of its libraries.[27]While in Washington, Nevils lectured on sacred eloquence at Woodstock College,[17]and developed a reputation as a talented and sought-afterpreacher.[27]

University of Scranton[edit]

In 1942, theBishop of Scranton,William Hafey,invited the Society of Jesus to take over the administration and ownership of theUniversity of Scranton,which until then had been run by theLasallian Brothers,[28]who found themselves unable to supply a sufficient number of brothers to staff the school.[29]The Jesuits accepted, and Hafey announced the change to the public on June 12; three days later, the Lasallian Brothers left Scranton.[30]In the interim of the Brothers' departure and the Jesuits' full arrival, the school was run by a layman, Frank O'Hara, as the acting chief executive.[31]The first three Jesuits arrived on June 24, where they found the first classes of the academic year already underway.[30]Nevils arrived on July 7,[32]and was named thepresident of the universityandrectorof its Jesuit community by the Jesuitprovincial superior.[7]His selection as president came as a surprise to some, as he was already nearing retirement age.[27]The school's existing board of directors was dissolved, and a new one composed of only Jesuits was created. Bishop Hafey then conveyed ownership of all the university property to the new board. With the transition complete, the University of Scranton became the 24th Jesuit university in the United States.[31]

St. Thomas College and St. Peter's Cathedral
Old Main building (center) housed the entire university's academic facilities.

While the university's situation was uncertain, with a large portion of the student body beingdraftedto fight inWorld War II,the university's enrollment remained substantial during the early years of the war.[33]An accelerated three-year curriculum was in place, which had been implemented in the aftermath of theattack on Pearl Harbor.[31]With the number of students eventually reduced, the university's sole academic building, Old Main, accommodated all of its classrooms and administrative offices.[7]To offset some of the declining enrollment, the university created an aviation program that trained cadets for theArmy Air Corpsand theNavy.[34]

The school's finances were also stabilized by requiring the payment of partial tuition upfront, which had previously often gone unpaid.[35]With the Lasallian Brothers' former residence being inadequate to accommodate the number new Jesuits, Nevils decided to convert elaborate Scranton family mansion, which had been recently donated to the bishop, into the Jesuit residence.[7]Shortly after renovating the old Thomson Hospital, known as the annex, it suffered a fire on December 23, 1943, which nearly destroyed the building.[31]

The curriculum of the University of Scranton was improved to more closely align with theRatio Studiorum,which placed a heavier emphasis on philosophy andlogic.[31]Nevils sought to establish good relations with the community, frequently speaking before local civic and religious associations. Facing requests from the bishop and local parents to create a high school for educating their younger children, Nevils establishedScranton Preparatory Schoolin 1944.[7]It was housed in the annex, which was reconstructed after the fire.[31]

With the end of the war in 1945, and the passage of theG.I. Bill,the university saw a wave of applicants. As enrollment increased dramatically, the University of Scranton soon outgrew its facilities. To accommodate this surge in enrollment, Nevils began leasing space in downtownScranton,and holding day, twilight, and evening classes. Construction on three new, simple buildings began in 1946, and were completed the following year.[31]Nevils' term as president came to an end in 1947, and he was succeeded byJ. Eugene Gallery.[31]While in Scranton, he also served as a member of the boards of directors of theInternational Textbook Company,International Correspondence Schools,the International Education Publishing Company, and the International Schools Company of Latin America.[3]

Later life[edit]

Campion House in New York City
Campion House, the then-headquarters ofAmericain New York City

After stepping down as president of Scranton, Nevils returned to New York City.[7]There, he became the head of the Jesuit magazineAmerica,and the president of its publisher, America Press.[3]He also became the father superior of Campion House, the residence for the Jesuit editors of the magazine. In 1953,[36]he returned to the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola as the spiritual director of the Jesuit community, where he would remain until his death.[7]He also continued to teach at Regis High School and the Loyola School.[1]

In February 1955, he became ill withcoronary thrombosis.His health worsened in October, and he died on October 12, 1955, atSt. Vincent's Hospitalin New York City.[36]Afuneralservice was held at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, and was attended by approximately 100 Jesuits. His body was returned to Georgetown University, where it was buried in theJesuit Community Cemetery.[37]

Throughout his life, Nevils had been honored by the governments ofYugoslavia,Chile, Romania,Czechoslovakia,France, andJerusalem,[1]and was admitted to theOrder of the Crown of Italyin 1933.[38]He also receivedhonorary doctoratesfromLoyola University of Los Angelesand Saint Joseph's College.[1]In 1957, Georgetown University created the Nevils Building, formed by connecting several former hospital buildings.[39]In 1965, Nevils Hall, a student residence, was opened at the University of Scranton.[7]

Works[edit]

  • Nevils, W. Coleman (1935).Miniatures of Georgetown, 1634 to 1934: Tercentennial Causeries.Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.OCLC84940818.
  • Dwight, Walter (1947). Nevils, W. Coleman (ed.).The Saving Sense.New York: Declan X. McMullen.OCLC990640.
  • Nevils, W. Coleman (1953).A Moulder of Men: John H. O'Rourke, A Memoir.New York: Apostleship of Prayer.OCLC977658123.

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^abcdefgh"Rev. W.C. Nevils, Educator, Was 77".The New York Times.October 13, 1955. p. 31.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via ProQuest.
  2. ^Catalogus Provinciæ Marylandiæ Neo-Eboracensis Societatis Jesu1908,p. 76
  3. ^abcdef"Dr. Nevils to Head Magazine Ameerica".The New York Times.August 24, 1947. p. 6.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via ProQuest.
  4. ^ab"Jesuits Take Full Charge of University: Brothers' Departure Terminates Services of Five Decades Stay".The Aquinas.June 26, 1942. pp. 1, 4.Archivedfrom the original on January 17, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 17,2017– via University of Scranton Archives & Helen Gallagher McHugh Special Collections.
  5. ^abCurran 2010,p. 146
  6. ^Curran 2010,p. 398
  7. ^abcdefghiHomer, Frank X.J. (2015)."Short Biographies of the Former Presidents of St. Thomas College and the University of Scranton".University of Scranton Archives & Helen Gallagher McHugh Special Collections.Archivedfrom the original on October 21, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 14,2021.
  8. ^Burke 1976,p. 75
  9. ^abcdCurran 2010,p. 149
  10. ^Curran 2010,p. 145
  11. ^Curran 2010,p. 147
  12. ^Curran 2010,p. 156
  13. ^Curran 2010,pp. 157–158
  14. ^Curran 2010,p. 179
  15. ^abCurran 2010,p. 178
  16. ^Curran 2010,p. 177
  17. ^abc"Dr. W.C. Nevils to Write Book About Jesuits: Former President to Live at Georgetown Preparatory School".The Washington Post.December 29, 1940. p. 10.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via ProQuest.
  18. ^1634–1699:McCusker, J. J.(1997).How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF).American Antiquarian Society.1700–1799:McCusker, J. J.(1992).How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF).American Antiquarian Society.1800–present:Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis."Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–".RetrievedFebruary 29,2024.
  19. ^Curran 2010,p. 150
  20. ^Curran 2010,p. 151
  21. ^Curran 2010,p. 153
  22. ^Curran 2010,p. 152
  23. ^Curran 2010,p. 154
  24. ^Curran 2010,p. 155
  25. ^"Presidents of Regis".Regis High School.Archivedfrom the original on February 26, 2020.RetrievedJuly 27,2020.
  26. ^"Presidents of Loyola School".Loyola School.Archivedfrom the original on December 30, 2018.RetrievedJuly 27,2020.
  27. ^abcd"Rev. Nevils Will be Scranton School's Rector".The Washington Post.June 14, 1942. p. X7.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via ProQuest.
  28. ^Hafey, William F. (June 3, 1942)."Correspondence on the withdrawal of the Christian Brothers".Letter to G. Paul.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2017.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via University of Scranton Archives & Helen Gallagher McHugh Special Collections.
  29. ^Wheeler 1944,p. 115
  30. ^abWheeler 1944,p. 107
  31. ^abcdefghHomer, Frank X.J. (1988)."The Jesuit Years: The War and Beyond".pp. 8–12.Archivedfrom the original on October 25, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 17,2017– via University of Scranton Archives & Helen Gallagher McHugh Special Collections.
  32. ^Wheeler 1944,p. 106
  33. ^Wheeler 1944,p. 116
  34. ^"Two New Flying Courses Start Here; Both Army and Navy Reserves Trained".The Aquinas.Vol. 11, no. 34. July 24, 1942.Archivedfrom the original on July 27, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 22,2017– via University of Scranton Archives & Helen Gallagher McHugh Special Collections.
  35. ^Wheeler 1944,pp. 116–117
  36. ^ab"Rev. W. Coleman Nevils, 77, Leading Catholic Educator".Newsday.October 13, 1955. p. 79.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via ProQuest.
  37. ^"Father Nevils' Rites: 100 Jesuits Attend Service Here for Catholic Educator".The New York Times.October 16, 1955. p. 86.RetrievedJuly 27,2020– via ProQuest.
  38. ^"Nevils and Healy Decorated by Italy: Georgetown U. Educators Rewarded for Fostering Study of Nation".The Washington Post.June 9, 1933. p. 20.RetrievedJuly 28,2020– via ProQuest.
  39. ^"Coleman Nevils Building".Georgetown University Library.July 1983.Archivedfrom the original on July 28, 2020.RetrievedJuly 28,2020.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

Academic offices
Preceded by Dean ofGeorgetown College
1918—1922 		Succeeded by
William T. Tallon
Preceded by
—
 Dean of theShadowbrook House of Jesuit Studies
1924—1928 		Succeeded by
—
Preceded by 39thPresident of Georgetown University
1928—1935 		Succeeded by
Preceded by 7th President ofRegis High School
1935—1940 		Succeeded by
Francis A. McQuade
9th President of theLoyola School
1935—1940
Preceded by
Frank J. O'Hara
 12thPresident of the University of Scranton
1942—1947 		Succeeded by
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Pastor of theChurch of St. Ignatius Loyola
1935—1940 		Succeeded by
Francis A. McQuade
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