St. Edward's University - History

History

St. Edward's University was founded by the Rev. Edward Sorin, CSC, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who also founded the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Father Sorin established the institution on farmland south of Austin in 1878 and named it St. Edward's Academy in honor of his patron saint, Edward the Confessor and King. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross.

In 1885, the president, the Rev. P.J. Franciscus, strengthened the prestige of the academy by securing a charter, changing its name to St. Edward's College, assembling a faculty, and increasing enrollment. Subsequently, St. Edward's began to grow, and the first school newspaper, the organization of baseball and football teams, and approval to erect an administration building all followed. Well-known architect Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston, Texas was commissioned to design the college's Main Building. The structure was built four-stories tall in the Gothic Revival style and was constructed with local white limestone.

In the spring of 1903, a mysterious fire destroyed the majority of Main Building, but it was rebuilt by the fall. In 1922, Main Building sustained damage from a tornado that caused significant damage all over the campus. Main Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

In 1925, St. Edward's received its university charter. Most of the personnel at the time were Holy Cross priests and brothers. Women arrived at St. Edward's in 1966 as students for Maryhill College, a coordinate institution. By 1970, Maryhill was absorbed and St. Edward's became co-educational.

By 1971, the university carried bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. Also added were the College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP (1972); a professionally oriented Theater Arts curriculum (1972); an innovative degree program for adults called New College (1974); and Freshman Studies (1975).

In 1984, Patricia Hayes became the second layperson to lead St. Edward's University. In 1990, enrollment reached 3,000 for the first time. This decade also ushered in a revised undergraduate curriculum, and capital and technological improvements.

In 1999, George E. Martin became the 23rd president of St. Edward's University.

St. Edward's has maintained a balanced operating budget — currently more than $115 million — and the university's endowment stands at more than $41 million. Total university assets exceed $249 million. Fundraising has grown each year as well, and 83% of faculty and staff contributed to the annual fund last year — more than triple the giving levels of benchmark universities.