Xavier University presidential search committees records

Collection

Identifier: XUA-32

Staff Only

Scope and Content

These are records resulting from the activities of the various Xavier University presidential search committees. Included are letters, meeting minutes, handwritten notes and other materials.

Dates

Creation: 1970-2000

Creator

Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Restricted access. Please contact the Xavier University Archives staff.

History of Xavier University presidential search committees

On various occasions between 1970 and 2000 the Board of Trustees established an ad hoc committee to find a new president for Xavier University.

Prior to 1970-71, the president had been appointed by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus in Rome on the recommendation of the Provincial Superior. In 1970-71 that policy changed and the Board of Trustees became responsible for choosing the president.

The 1970-71 search committee was actually asked to find a Provost for Xavier. But this was in fact a presidential search because the Board of Trustees had also decided that the Provost would automatically become the University president in a few years. (See Fortin's To See Great Wonders, page 269.) In January, 1971 the Board of Trustees, acting on the recommendation of the search committee, named Fr. Robert W. Mulligan, S.J., the University Provost. Fr. Mulligan became president on September 8, 1972.

In 1980-81 another search committee was set up to find a successor to Fr. Mulligan. This committee recommended Fr. Charles L. Currie, S.J., who became president in the summer of 1982.

In 1985-86 a search committee was established to find a successor to Fr. Currie. As a result of this search, Fr. Albert DiUlio, S.J., was named president in May, 1986.

In January, 2000, another search committee was created to find a successor to Fr. James Hoff. This search resulted in Fr. Michael Graham, S.J. being named president.

Materials for the search committee which appointed Fr. James Hoff in 1991 are not presently found in the Xavier University Archives.

Biographical / Historical

Prior to 1970-71, the president had been appointed by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus in Rome on the recommendation of the Provincial Superior. In 1970-71 that policy changed and the Board of Trustees became responsible for choosing the president.

The 1970-71 search committee was actually asked to find a Provost for Xavier. But this was in fact a presidential search because the Board of Trustees had also decided that the Provost would automatically become the University president in a few years. (See Fortin's To See Great Wonders, page 269.) In January, 1971 the Board of Trustees, acting on the recommendation of the search committee, named Fr. Robert W. Mulligan, S.J., the University Provost. Fr. Mulligan became president on September 8, 1972.

In 1980-81 another search committee was set up to find a successor to Fr. Mulligan. This committee recommended Fr. Charles L. Currie, S.J., who became president in the summer of 1982.

In 1985-86 a search committee was established to find a successor to Fr. Currie. As a result of this search, Fr. Albert DiUlio, S.J., was named president in May, 1986.

In January, 2000, another search committee was created to find a successor to Fr. James Hoff. This search resulted in Fr. Michael Graham, S.J. being named president.

Materials for the search committee which appointed Fr. James Hoff in 1991 are not presently found in the Xavier University Archives.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Records of various Xavier presidential search committees.

Statement of Arrangement

This collection consists of one series, presidential search commmittee records, in nine folders. Committee materials are arranged chronologically.

Processing Information

This collection was reprocessed into its current arrangement and description as part of a major University Archives reprocessing project that began in 2012-2013. This reprocessing project was largely an effort to disband a record group system, developed in the late 1970s, used to arrange university records. The record group scheme had been established by the first University Archivist, Lee Bennish, SJ, and chiefly organized materials by originating office and organizational structure. After Bennish’s tenure, oversight of the archives changed several times and resulted in a lack of adherence to the record group scheme for new acquisitions. The 2012-2013 processing project also sought to incorporate records for which little acquisition or contextual information existed. The project staff primarily reorganized records into subject-based collections. Occasionally subjects coincided with offices of origin (e.g. Subject, Presidents; Office, Office of the President; Collection, Xavier University President’s Office). This subject-based arrangement makes it difficult to identify or describe the collections by office of origin but administrative project records do indicate transfers and connections between original record groups and 2012-2013 collections. During the project, records were rehoused in archival folders and boxes, and new finding aids were created using the OhioLINK Finding Aid Creation Tool.

As of 2017, University Archives no longer employs the 2012-2013 system of arranging collections by subject.