History of the University

"See to it, my children, that you never abandon this place. If you are driven out from one side, go back in at the other. For this place is truly holy, and is the dwelling place of God."

            -- St. Francis of Assisi

1865 - Mother Alfred Moes founds the Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, the first Franciscan congregation of women religious in the state of Illinois.

1881 - The Motherhouse is built at the intersection of Taylor St. and Plank Rd. (now US Rte. 30/Plainfield Rd.) in Joliet.

1889 - The Chapel is built adjacent to the Motherhouse.

1912 - A wing is added to the Motherhouse along Taylor St. to serve as the classroom and auditorium building for a school.

1915 - St. Francis Academy opens in the Taylor wing as an all girls high school.

1920 - The Congregation receives a charter to open "The New College" for the education of its own members.

1922 - Tower Hall is built at the intersection of Taylor St. and Wilcox St. forming a quadrangle with the chapel and Taylor wing. SFA is moved to Tower Hall. The college now occupies all of the Taylor wing.

1925 - The college's doors open to women outside the congregation. The New College becomes Assisi Junior College. Sister Alcantara Held is the first Dean.

1926 - Mother M. Thomasine Fryewska becomes the first President. The teacher certification program begins.

1930 - A senior University curriculum is introduced and the school is renamed the College of St. Francis.

1935 - The first nursing students arrive on campus.

1938 - Sister M. Angelica Guyette becomes President. A children's theatre program is established.

1945 - The first speech clinic is established.

1946 - An existing home at 312 Bridge St. and another across the street at 315 Bridge St. serve as the first dormitories. Sitting 1 1/2 blocks off campus, they are known as Marian Hall and Angela Hall, respectively.

1947 - The Sehring "Castle" at 310 Bridge St. also becomes housing space for the college.

1952 - The Sehring Mansion building ceases to function as a dormitory.

1953 - Sister M. Elvira Bredel becomes President. The first off-campus courses (in Medical Technology) are offered.

1954 - A south wing is added to Tower Hall to serve as a convent, extending the building almost to the Taylor wing of the Motherhouse. The Marian Hall building at 312 Bridge St. ceases to function as a dormitory.

1956 - St Francis Academy high school moves to a new location on Larkin Ave. The College of St. Francis now occupies all of the Taylor wing and Tower Hall. The Angela Hall building at 315 Bridge St. ceases to function as a dormitory.

1957 - The Caritas Ball is established as the, "most exquisite black-tie event in the history of Will County."

1959 - St. Albert Hall is built as an academic science building. It now defines the west edge of the quad. The first adult evening and Saturday classes are offered.

1962 - Sister M. Anita Marie Jochem becomes President. CSF is incorporated as a separate legal entity from the Congregation.

1963 - First courses leading to a Master's degree (in Theology) are offered.

1966 - Marian Hall, on Taylor St. across from Tower South, is completed. While three homes on Bridge St. as well as portions of the Motherhouse and Tower South have been used to house novitiates and resident students, Marian is the first dedicated dormitory on campus.

1967 - The current library building is constructed across Taylor St. from the Motherhouse.

1968 - Merger talks begin with Lewis College in Romeoville, Illinois.

1969 - Dr. Francis J. Kerins becomes the fifth President and the first layperson to hold the post. With the removal of the library to the new building, the Taylor wing is no longer used as an academic building.

1971 - Coeducational classes are first offered. A high degree of cooperation exists between Lewis and St. Francis.

1972 - The first off-campus classes leading to a degree are offered. The yearbook refers to the "north campus" (Lewis) and the "south campus" (St. Francis), but the merger does not materialize.

1974 - Dr. John C. Orr becomes President. He will serve for 21 years, longer than any other President to date.

1978 - The first Professor Emeritus installation ceremony is held. Seventeen Franciscan Sisters are honored.

1980 - The first courses leading to the Master's of Science degree (in Health Sciences Administration) are offered.

1986 - The Recreation Center building is dedicated, bounding the west side of the quad all the way to Douglas St.

1993 - Construction is completed on the Moser Performing Arts Center between St. Albert Hall and Tower Hall.

1995 - Dr. James A. Doppke becomes President.

1997 - The College of St. Francis acquires the St. Joseph College of Nursing. The Board of Trustees votes to move to university status effective January 1.

1998 - The College of St. Francis becomes the University of St. Francis.

2002 - Dr. Michael Vinciguerra becomes the current President.

2004 - USF and the Franciscan Sisters reach agreement on the purchase of the Motherhouse building by the University. The Taylor St. wing is to be restored to use as an academic building.