Xavier University of Louisiana Founded - Timeline Event
Founder
Katharine Drexel
Time Period
1915
Description
In 1915, Mother Katharine Drexel (now Saint Katharine Drexel) and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament founded Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. Drexel was concerned with the lack of Catholic education available to southern blacks, so she founded the coeducational secondary school with the financial support of her father, banker Francis Drexel. By 1925, it established the College of Liberal Arts and Science, with the first degrees awarded three years later. The College of Pharmacy soon followed in 1927.
Xavier University of Louisiana continues to receive recognition for its minority science education. Although its mission focuses on serving black Catholics, the institution is open to all races and religious groups. It remains the only historically black Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States.
Xavier University of Louisiana continues to receive recognition for its minority science education. Although its mission focuses on serving black Catholics, the institution is open to all races and religious groups. It remains the only historically black Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Catholicism (Western Liturgical Family): Other ARDA LinksCatholicism (Western Liturgical Family): Religious Family Tree
Biographies
Drexel, KatharineRelated Dictionary Terms
Catholicism, RomanPhotographs
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Xavier University of Louisiana quad- Flickr- photo by Bart Everson (CC BY 2.0)
Katharine Drexel writing- Wikimedia Commons
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Xavier University of Louisiana administration building- Flickr- photo by anthony turducken (CC BY 2.0)
Xavier University of Louisiana art class- National Archives and Records Administration
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Xavier University of Louisiana Convocation Center- Flickr- photo by Bart Everson (CC BY 2.0)
Book/Journal Source(s)
Glazier, Michael, and Thomas Shelley, 1997. The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press..Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
