College of the Holy Cross - Archives & Special Collections - Presidents

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Rev.Peter J. Blenkinsop,S.J.

Rev. Edward D. Boone, S.J.

Rev. Robert W. Brady, S.J.

Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J.

Rev. Samuel Cahill, S.J.

Rev. James J. Carlin, S.J.

Rev. Anthony F. Ciampi,S.J.

Rev. James Clark, S.J.

MostRevJosephN.Dinand,S.J.

Rev. Francis J. Dolan, S.J.

Rev.William A.Donaghy,S.J.

Rev. John Early, S.J.

Rev. John M. Fox, S.J.

Rev.JosephF.Hanselman,S.J.

Rev. William J. Healy, S.J.

Rev. John F. Lehy, S.J.

Rev.Joseph RN Maxwell,S.J.

Rev.MichaelC.McFarland,S.J.

Rev. Edward A. McGurk, S.J.

Rev.Thomas F. Mulledy,S.J.

Rev.Thomas E. Murphy, S.J.

Rev. John A. O'Brien, S.J.

Rev.Joseph B. O'Hagan,S.J.

Rev. Michael O'Kane, S.J.

Rev. Gerard Reedy, S.J.

Rev. James Ryder, S.J.

Rev. Raymond J.Swords,S.J.

Frank Vellaccio, Ph.D.

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Archives Home :: Presidents :: Maxwell

Presidents of the College of the Holy Cross:
Rev. Joseph R. N. Maxwell, S.J.

Twentieth President of Holy Cross
1939 - 1945

President Maxwell    Joseph Maxwell was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on November 7, 1899. Educated in Taunton schools, he entered Holy Cross in 1918. After one year he decided to enter the Society of Jesus on September 8, 1919.
   Classical studies at St. Andrew-on-the-Hudson and philosophical studies at Weston College were followed by a teaching period at Holy Cross from 1926 to 1929. Returning to Weston for Theology, he was ordained a priest in 1932.
   In 1935 he was appointed Dean of Studies at Boston College in which office he served until his appointment as President of Holy Cross in 1939. During his presidency Wheeler Hall was dedicated. After the difficult war years, he became Rector of Cranwell Preparatory School, Lenox, MA in 1945. Six years later he was designated President of Boston College serving in that office from 1951 to 1958.
   In 1950 he volunteered for missionary work in Jamaica, W. I. and remained there eleven years as a parish priest. Relieved of missionary duties, he died while on a tour of Europe on September 18, 1971 in Ybbs, Austria. His body was transferred to the United States and is buried at Weston College Cemetery.

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