The Rev. James Aloysius Burns,
C.S.C. (February 13, 1867; September 9, 1940) was an American
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
and
President of the University of Notre Dame
The president of the University of Notre Dame is the chief administrator of the university. The president is selected by the board of trustees of the university, which has the general power of governance of the institution, and is second only to ...
from 1919 to 1922. He was crucial in transforming Notre Dame into a national research university. He was professor of chemistry at Notre Dame from 1895 to 1900. He was a theorist of education, and wrote numerous books on the topic.
Early life
James Aloysius Burns was born in Michigan City, Indiana February 13, 1867. After attending Notre Dame University, he entered the
Congregation of the Holy Cross in 1888. He was a teacher at Sacred Heart College in Watertown, Wisconsin, and was ordained in 1893. He became a professor at Notre Dame in 1890, and served as rector of
Sorin Hall
Sorin Hall, also known as Sorin College, is the oldest of the 32 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of the 16 male dorms. It is named after Edward Sorin, the founder of Notre Dame. Sorin is located directly nor ...
.
["Burns, reverend James Aloysius", ''The Catholic Encyclopedia and Its Makers'', New York, the Encyclopedia Press, 1917, p. 21]
/ref>
President of the University of Notre Dame
Rev. Burns was Notre Dame's greatest theorist of education, and was pivotal in moving the University towards its academic and scholastic prominence. Immediately after Burns became president, he divided the University into four distinct colleges: Arts and Letters
Arts and Letters (April 1, 1966 – October 16, 1998) was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.
Background
Arts and Letters was a chestnut horse owned and bred by American sportsman and philanthropist Paul Mellon, and train ...
, Science
Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...
, Engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...
, and Law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
. In 1919 he eliminated the prep school to make more room on campus for college students. Focusing on academic matters, added no new buildings to the campus during his tenure, but in his final year set the foundations for a large expansion of the University. He began a campaign to raise $750,000, which, if raised secured $250,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation and $75,000 from the Carnegie foundation. He dramatically upgraded the Law School, and established the University's first endowment and a board of lay advisors to oversee it. In 1922 Burns decided not to serve another term and to devote his time to fund- raising activities. During this endeavor, he raised a decent amount of money, but more importantly was crucial in spreading the name and recognition of the University.
Burns was one of the founders of the Catholic College Conference, and founder and vice-president of the Catholic Education Association. He was a contributor, especially on educational themes, to many Catholic magazines; and to the Catholic Encyclopedia''.[
He died September 9, 1940.]
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Burns, James A.
Presidents of the University of Notre Dame
20th-century American Roman Catholic priests
Congregation of Holy Cross
1867 births
1940 deaths
University of Notre Dame faculty
Contributors to the Catholic Encyclopedia