From Nobili to Now: 168 Years of SCU Presidents

With Grand Reunion and the inauguration of Father O’Brien, Santa Clara’s 29th President, upon us, we at Archives & Special Collections would like to invite the Santa Clara community to reflect upon the great legacy left by our 28 past presidents.

Click through the timeline below to learn more about each one of Santa Clara’s past presidents:

Throughout the years, these leaders ushered our school bravely into the future while still honoring its Jesuit tradition. These changes affected the academic requirements of a Santa Clara education and aspects of campus and student life. Our presidents also successfully guided the campus through times of financial hardship.

Santa Clara has always been dedicated to providing a world-class education with an emphasis on Jesuit values. Father Villiger, president from 1861 to 1865, erected a three-story Science Building to provide lecture halls and laboratories. The emphasis on assaying and chemical analyses were justified in the influence the gold rush had on California. The increased publicity and investment in science laboratories were pivotal factors contributing to the growth of the school during the Civil War years. During the 1863 to 1864 session, more than two hundred students enrolled, which was twice the amount ten years prior. President Morrissey instituted a number of changes–applicants to the college had to pass entrance exams and complete high school to be accepted. There was an increase in professional courses, and the Bachelor of Science was reintroduced. The College of Engineering was also established during this time period, and an Institute of Law in 1912. Because of these academic improvements, Father Morrissey felt that Santa Clara could now rightfully call itself a university. The change was celebrated at the 1912 commencement ceremony.

Under President Maher, the law course was temporarily expanded into a four-year program, the pre-med program was reestablished, and the strict classical requisites, which were diminished under previous administrations, were reintroduced into the Bachelor of Arts course. Maher strongly believed that Catholic education was completely different from secular education, and this was reflected in his administrative choices. During World War II, President Walsh changed academics at the school dramatically; he introduced a new accelerated program, which consisted of two 16-week semesters and a 12-week summer session. This accelerated program allowed students to complete as much of their education as possible before being drafted. Later, President Hauck would lead the charge toward accreditation. The Law school had been approved by the American Bar Association since 1937, and the Engineering Council for Professional Development had accredited the College of Engineering. In 1952, the university requested a visit from the Western College Association; the College of Arts and Sciences received accreditation in 1953. The School of Business was approved in the same year by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business. Graduate studies returned to Santa Clara, and the Jesuit Educational Association permitted the creation of Chemistry, English, and History graduate programs. The Santa Clara Plan, unveiled in 1964 under President Donohoe, consisted of three eleven-week academic terms, with students allowed to take up to four classes. The purpose of this plan was to allow students to concentrate deeply on their subjects. By 1968, students were only required to take three courses in Philosophy; this requirement, once deemed necessary in a Santa Clara education, ended. By 1970, students were only required to take three courses in Religious Studies in order to meet graduation requirements.

The presidents of Santa Clara also made great changes to the physical face of the campus. This started with Father Nobili. Unfortunately, In February 1856, as Nobili inspected the construction of the college’s first new building, a brick chapel, he stepped on a nail and contracted tetanus. After suffering from lockjaw for two days, he died on May 1. Under President Congiato, the brick chapel was completed, and construction of a new study hall begun. A popular addition was a swimming pool, which was scooped out of the old mission orchard in 1856. In order to attract more donor attention to the school, President Villiger led the construction of an impressively massive new faculty residence and office building which read “Santa Clara College” on its facade in gold letters. Passengers on the new railroad remarked at the school with astonishment, many unaware ‘such an establishment existed in this country.’ This new attention to the school would prove immensely powerful in raising its recognition. In 1868, President Varsi drew plans for the Ship, a large structure that would house a 3000-seat theater and 130-bed dormitory. It was called the Ship because of the eighty imposing beams that held the structure up. These beams were to ensure the theatre was structurally sound, which was a point of emphasis after earthquakes damaged the campus and frightened those who lived there in the 1850s and 1860s. In 1877, under President Brunengo, a new commercial building was constructed, with classrooms on the first floor and simulations of businesses on the second, such as a post office, express office, and bank. In 1885, President Kenna led the first major restoration of the mission church.

Big changes happened during the time of President Morrissey. In March of 1911, after a long debate on the merits of moving the college to either Mountain View or Los Angeles, the decision was made to keep the current campus open and retain the on-campus boarding program. Part of Alviso street was closed, so campus was no longer split in half. Father Morrissey created an ambitious master plan that included the construction of twelve new campus buildings. In 1911, construction on an Administrative Building, now known as St. Joseph’s Hall, began. This building would also house the Jesuit faculty displaced by the 1909 fire. Senior Hall, now O’Connor Hall, was erected on the California Hotel site. Changes occurred in the everyday lives of students as well–new dormitories offered private rooms instead of study halls and the buildings featured running water with modern toilets. The high wall that surrounded the college campus was razed, and students were now allowed to go home for Thanksgiving and Easter. Campus changes also included changes in who was allowed to attend classes at Santa Clara. In 1947, President Gianera announced that women could enroll in night classes at the business college; in 1961, President Donohoe extended that invitation to include undergraduate studies as well.

Many of these men also successfully steered Santa Clara through financial hardships and prevented the closure of the university in the midst of depression and war. During the Great Depression, student enrollment at Santa Clara dropped nearly 20%. In order to keep the university solvent during this trying time, President Lyons reduced faculty salaries and dropped the intercollegiate baseball program. He also denied the province’s request to use the university as security for a $50,000 loan; he said it was his duty to protect the interests of the university and its students. As one of his last acts in office, President Donohoe also announced that Santa Clara University would legally separate from the Jesuit community. He hoped this move would provide the university with better opportunities to take advantage of Federal aid money and also relieve the Jesuit community of the financial burdens placed on them by the school.

What did they all have in common, aside from holding the office of president? They all cared deeply about the Santa Clara community.

In addition to the above information, here are some interesting pieces of presidential trivia:

President Locatelli, Santa Clara’s 27th president, holds the record for the longest tenure, with 20 years of service. He served as President from 1988 to 2008.
President Congiato, Santa Clara’s second president, had the shortest tenure at just one year. He served as president from 1856 to 1857.
President Donohoe, who served from 1958 to 1968, was the first SCU president to hold a doctoral degree. He received it from St. Louis University.
President Hauck, Santa Clara’s 23rd president, was the first to have studied at a secular institution–in his case, Yale.
Presidents Pinasco and Kenna were the only presidents to serve two terms.
President Kenna was Santa Clara’s first American-born president; he was born in Mississippi and traveled to California with his parents in 1849.

Interested in learning more about the history of Santa Clara University? We highly recommend the following resources: