President's Office. Rev. James Petty, SSE, 1940-1946 | Saint Michael's College Archives & Special Collections

By Elizabeth B. Scott

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Collection Overview

Title: President's Office. Rev. James Petty, SSE, 1940-1946

ID: SMC 2/007

Extent: 1.5 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The material is not arranged.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Petty subgroup consists of materials from all aspects of Petty’s presidency, including financial materials.

Collection Historical Note

Fr. James Petty, who was born in Portland, Maine and came to Vermont at the age of 16. He attended Saint Anne’s Academy, the Society’s secondary school in Swanton and lived with the community during his time there. He then attended Saint Michael’s. After his ordination, he returned to SMC and held many different positions. He also worked in Swanton and in Putney before returning to Saint Michael’s as president. Soon after Petty began as president, on the eve of World War II, all the men on campus between the ages of 21 and 35 registered for the draft. Students joined the military in huge numbers following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and enrollment went down significantly. In an effort to remain solvent and meet the needs of the students, the College accelerated all courses so that graduation was pushed forward by a few months for the class of 1942 to almost a year for the class of 1944. All students remained in class for the summer. By 1943, both returning and new students were scarce, although again the president and administration attempted to fill the classroom with nurses from Fanny Allen Hospital nursing program. The nurses not only took classes but also lived on campus, although separated from male students by Route 15. Fr. Petty’s term ended in 1946, after he successfully maneuvered the College through the extremely difficult war period and began to prepare for the return of the veterans to campus. One of his last acts as president was to put procedures in motion for the purchase of the surplus army buildings that were to populate campus for the next decades.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1: Presidents Report Sept. 1945
Folder 2: School of Social Welfare
Folder 3: Nicolle, SSE, Rev. Victor
Folder 4: Fanny Allen School of Nursing Graduation 1941
Folder 5: Scholarships, Registrar
Folder 6: Annual Convention of NE Catholic Student Peace Federation Dec. 1944
Folder 7: "The Question-The Answer" Pamphlet, date?
Folder 8: Letter of Support for SMC by purchasing War Bonds 1943
Folder 9: War Price and Rationing Board/F.E. Robinson
Folder 10: News Clipping on SMC from Vineulum of Montreal May 19, 1944
Folder 11: Budget Information Aug. 14, 1946
Folder 12: Finance Public Housing Administration, VT. 43059
Folder 13: Federal Income Tax Exemption Certificate and Supporting Doc. 1946
Folder 14: Swift, John E.
Folder 15: Surplus Property Bulletins, 1945
Folder 16: Acquisition of Surplus Government Property for Education 1946
Folder 17: Surplus Property Agricultural
Folder 18: Surplus Orders, Nov. 1945-April 1946
Folder 19: Profits and Observations
Folder 20: Fathers of St. Edmunds in Centennial Observance at SMC 1943
Folder 21: Annual Financial Statement July 1, 1944
Folder 22: Annual Financial Statement July 1, 1943
Folder 23: Report on Examination June 30, 1944
Folder 24: Report on Examination June 30, 1943
Folder 25: Report on Examination August 4, 1942

Box 2

Folder 1: Report on Examination June 30, 1942
Folder 2: Report on Examination June 30, 1941
Folder 3: Statement of Income and Expenses July 1940-Jan 1941
Folder 4: Accelerated Plan (New Plan of Study) March 7, 1942
Folder 5: Dedication of Flag Pole May 17, 1942
Folder 6: History Exams 1941-42
Folder 7: Comparison between Assists and Liabilities 1937-40
Folder 8: Tentative Plan for Labor School 1940
Folder 9: 20th Year Anniversary Class
Folder 10: Monthly Statement July 1945-Mar. 31, 1946
Folder 11: Monthly Statement July 1, 1944-May 31, 1945
Folder 12: Monthly Statement July 1, 1942-April 30, 1943
Folder 13: Manpower Commission
Folder 14: Bishop and Chancery Office
Folder 15: Alumni 1940-42
Folder 16: Sargent, Mr. H.E., 1942
Folder 17: Correspondence M
Folder 18: Catholic Commission on Intellectual, Cultural Affairs
Folder 19: Carnegie Corporation of New York
Folder 20: Knights of Columbus
Folder 21: Vermont Dept. of Highways 1941-42
Folder 22: Vermont Governor 1941-45
Folder 23: Recommendations 1942-46
Folder 24: Office of Price Admin. Correspondence File #1
Folder 25: Office of Price Admin. File #2
Folder 26: Extension Services/Summer Session 1944

Box 3

Folder 1: George Fracasse
Folder 2: Letters of Congratulations on Election of Presidency
Folder 3: Correspondence Letters, general
Folder 4: American Council on Education/ Correspondence 1942
Folder 5: Austen, Warren R. 1940-45
Folder 6: Accountants Report 1944
Folder 7: Accountants Report 1945
Folder 8: Accountants Report 1945-46
Folder 9: National Catholic Welfare Conference
Folder 10: Association of American Colleges 1940-43
Folder 11: George D. Aiken Correspondence
Folder 12: Christian Social Principals/Philosophy of Social Action by Rev. E.J. Hamel
Folder 13: Vermont Council Higher Education 1944

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[All]