President's Office. Rev. William Jeanmarie, SSE, 1919-1931 | Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections

In July 1919, Fr. Total moved to Swanton and Fr. Salmon, citing too many responsibilities elsewhere, resigned his position as President of Saint Michael’s Insitute and President of the Board of Trustees of Saint Michael’s College.  He recommended that Fr. William Jeanmarie become President, and the Board concurred.  Fr. Jeanmarie, a native of Swanton Vermont, was one of the first Americans to become a member of the Society.  He was at Saint Michael’s at its founding and spent only a few years away from the College before returning in 1912. During Jeanmarie’s term, the College underwent a period of growth.  In 1920, he began to raise funds for a new building on campus, and in 1923 New Hall, later named Jeanmarie Hall, opened.  He also oversaw the purchase of Prével Hall, and the Seguin property, which included St Joseph’s and Senior Halls along with farm property.  The College ended the high school program during his tenure and gained its first accreditations (by the New York State of Regents, Catholic University, and Montreal University.)  Jeanmarie was also quite successful in maintaining the College and providing leadership for the local house while the Society of Saint Edmund itself dissolved and then petitioned the Vatican for restoration.  Following his 12 years as President, he returned to Swanton in 1931, where he remained until his death.