Office of the President & Chancellor of Seton Hall University: Thomas G. Fahy records
Scope and Contents
The Office of the President and Chancellor: Thomas Fahy records include materials generated and gathered by Monsignor Fahy during his time as President of Seton Hall University. The bulk of the collection is alphabetized in University Files, which cover a wide range of topics related to University activities. Also included are some personal materials, materials related to specific colleges within the University, and other materials. The collection includes correspondence, reports, budgets, publications, legal documents, and other formats, and relates to faculty, student affairs, government agencies, and the New Jersey Education Consortium, among other topics.
Dates
- 1970-1976
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is not yet processed. Materials may be available to researchers with staff assistance at the Msgr. William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center. Advance appointments are required for the use of archival materials.
Conditions Governing Use
All materials available in this collection (unless otherwise noted) are the property of the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center and Seton Hall University, which reserves the right to limit access to or reproduction of these materials. Reproduction of materials or content is subject to United States copyright restrictions and may be subject to federal or state privacy regulations. Permission to publish exact reproductions must be obtained from the Director of the Archives and Special Collections Center.
Biographical / Historical
Thomas G. Fahy was the fifteenth President of Seton Hall University and oversaw significant physical growth as well as progress in equal access to education for minorities, improved governance, and student affairs during his tenure as president.
Thomas G. Fahy was born July 17 1922 in Jersey City. He attended St. Peter's Preparatory School, then Seton Hall University, graduating with an A.B. in Classics, before attending Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, N.J. He was ordained May 31 1947 and went on to receive his Masters and Doctorate in Classical Philology from Fordham University.
Monsignor Fahy spent his career at Seton Hall, both at the Preparatory School and the University. He became a member of the faculty of Seton Hall Prep in Greek and Latin, and went on to become athletic director from 1949 to 1955. He transitioned to the University in 1955 as an Assistant Professor in Classical Languages and Athletic Director, the latter post held until 1960, when he became the Dean of Men, then Vice President for Instruction 1963-1970. He also became a full Professor.
Monsignor Fahy became President of Seton Hall on October 14 1970. During his term, President Fahy oversaw many significant changes. An advocate for racial equality, he oversaw the founding of the Black Studies Center (later the Center for African American Studies and now a part of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures) in 1970 with a degree-awarding curriculum, as well as the Puerto Rican Institute (now the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute) in 1973. He played a major role in the creation of the University Senate in 1970, and advocated for students' rights and student affairs, overseeing the adoption of a Student Bill of Rights by the University Senate in 1974, the creation of the Student Programming Board to ensure minority representation and programming on campus, and assisted in the efforts to approve a student pub on campus. President Fahy also oversaw physical growth by the University, approving the construction of the Law Center (now Seton Hall Law) in Newark, N.J., and facilities for the Business and Nursing schools, and the conversion of the "Red Barn" on campus into a gallery and classroom space for the Department of Art and Music (now the Arts Center), as well as additional residential space for female students. He also helped establish a day care center in Newark.
In addition to these activities related directly to Seton Hall, Msgr. Fahy was active in other social concerns and was recognized for his work. He supported the efforts of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, acting as a mediator during the United Farm Workers strike in California. He also supported the strike at the Stella Wright Housing Project in Newark in 1970. In 1975 he received the Brotherhood award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in recognition of his work to promote race relations and equal educational opportunity.
In July 1976, President Fahy suffered a heart attack, and spent several months recuperating at the home of his brother in Greensboro, N.C. A few days after his return to Seton Hall to resume his place as President, he died on October 27 1976 of another heart attack in his quarters on campus.
Extent
18.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Thomas G. Fahy was the fifteenth President of Seton Hall University and oversaw significant physical growth as well as progress in equal access to education for minorities, improved governance, and student affairs during his tenure as president. The Office of the President and Chancellor: Thomas Fahy records include materials generated and gathered by Monsignor Fahy during his time as President of Seton Hall University.
Preservica Internal URL
Preservica Public URL
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials were transferred to the Archives and Special Collections Center from the Office of the President and Chancellor of Seton Hall University in date. Terms of accession unknown.
Processing Information
This collection is not yet processed. Finding aid and basic collection description created in 2013 by Erica Garcia and Tracy M. Jackson as part of the Overhaul Project collection survey.
- Title
- Office of the President & Chancellor of Seton Hall University: Thomas G. Fahy records, 1970-1976
- Author
- Tracy M. Jackson
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- TypeCollection
Repository Details
Part of the The Monsignor Field Archives & Special Collection Center Repository
Archives, Walsh Library
400 South Orange Ave
South Orange NJ 07079 US
973-761-9476
archives@shu.edu