Aerial view of campus circa 1940.

A Day in the Life: 1940-1941

Explore a day in the life of students at the College of the Holy Cross from Spring 1940 to Spring 1941.

In Their Shoes

Scroll through the map below to experience a typical day for a Holy Cross student in the 1940s.

1

6:30AM Wake-up

Wheeler Hall: All dormitories came furnished with desks, chairs, lockers, beds, mattresses, pillows, linen and blankets. Students were expected to supply their own rugs, towels and toiletries. A $25 deposit was required for new students to secure a room on campus.

2

7:00AM Mandatory Mass

St. Joseph Chapel: All students had to begin their day with morning Mass at 7:30am, sharp! Lateness was not tolerated and was counted as an absence. In order to attend Mass, students had to be dressed appropriately in a collared shirt, jacket and tie. Attendance records were given to the Dean of Men at the end of each month and any student who did not attend regularly would not have any privileges. In extreme cases, a student would be asked to withdraw from the College.

3

7:30AM Breakfast

Kimball Hall: Meals in Kimball were served family style - having all the food placed in the center of the tables so students could help themselves. Kimball also housed a small coffee shop and the school store, where students could pick up a morning newspaper or magazine.

4

8:30AM Time for Classes

O'Kane Hall: Students were kept busy for the rest of the day, in and out of classes until supper time with a mid-day break for lunch at noon. Featured here is a photo of the chemistry lab, which was located in O’Kane Hall. Rev. Joseph J. Sullivan served as a professor of chemistry during this time, along with three assistant professors and a laboratory assistant.

5

6:00PM Dinner

Kimball Hall: Supper also was served family-style at Kimball dining hall, presented by waiters in white coats.

6

6:30PM Night Prayers

St. Joseph Chapel: Night prayers followed the same regulations as morning prayers. They were required every evening unless students were notified otherwise.

7

7:00PM Study Period

Dinand Library: The Reading Room was one of the most used areas in Dinand Library. Students could utilize reference materials including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and the card catalog in this space.

Special Events

Take a look at some of the special events held during the 1940-1941 school year.

“Oedipus Coloneus”

Greek dramas were a tradition at Holy Cross. In May of 1940, the Classics Department presented a production of “Oedipus Coloneus.”

Four male students are dressed in theater costumes that resemble ancient Greecian robes. The student in the middle is kneeling, holding a wooden staff.

“Oedipus Coloneus”

“Oedipus Coloneus”

The play was thoroughly researched by students to ensure the production was in line with the original Greacian performance as much as possible. The  May 14, 1940 issue  of the student newspaper, The Tomahawk, provides a detailed description of the performance.

Newspaper clipping describing student research in a effort to recreate Greek play.

“Oedipus Coloneus”

The play was held on the lawn of Carlin Hall.

B.J.F. Debating Society

Named after a founder of Holy Cross, The Benedict Joseph Fenwick Debating Society was established in 1846 with the intent to “promote knowledge” and “cultivate eloquence,” according to the organization's early constitution.

Holy Cross Bishop Joseph Fenwick Debating Society Program printed on cream paper with purple cursive lettering.

B.J.F. Debating Society

Membership to the society was limited to Juniors and Seniors and while they competed amongst each other, there were also intercollegiate contests.

Interior of Bishop Joseph Fenwick Debating Society Program printed on cream paper with purple lettering.

B.F.J. Debating Society

During this time, one of the society’s activities was to host a Radio Debate division, which aired weekly. Topics ranged from ‘Aid to Britain’ to medical care concerns. The group received positive feedback from their broadcast listeners through postcards and letters.

Varsity Debate program. Holy Cross versus Fordham University.

B.F.J. Debating Society

The B.J.F Society participated in more debates in the 1940-1941 academic year than ever before since its founding! The Debate Room, pictured here, is located on the second floor of Dinand Library and demonstrates the school's dedication to the organization.

1941 Junior Prom

Hosted at the Bancroft Hotel, the 1941 Junior Prom took place on Friday, May 2nd with 200 couples in attendance.

Front page of the Tomahawk student newspaper with the headline "Promenaders anxiously await highlight of season"

1941 Junior Prom

Music was performed by Jerry Wald and his band. The female guests were given gold and pearl lockets displaying the Holy Cross seal.

View of dancers at the Junior Prom. Big band saxaphone players are on the left, a female singer is in the middle of the image, and a crowd of dancers is on the right. Everyone is dressed in formal attire.

"Promhawk" 1941

The “Promhawk” was a special newsletter written to celebrate the annual social event. It contained short stories, photographs of the Prom Committee, and a list of attendees.

Teal cover of the "Promhawk" issue featuring profile sketches of a man in a top hat and a woman.

Miss Holy Cross of 1940

Inside the Promhawk featured a letter from the previous year's Miss Holy Cross. Scroll to the next slide to see what she had to say!

"Promhawk" 1941

Graduation

On June 11, 1941, the commencement ceremony took place on Commencement Porch at Fenwick Hall.

View from behind the podium looking out onto the crowd from commencement porch at Fenwick Hall. Ionic columns on either side of the speaker at the podium.

Graduation

266 students graduated and William J. Richardson delivered the valedictory speech.

View of front cover of 1941 commencement program. Printed on creame paper with black font.

Graduation

Governor Leverett H. Saltonstall gave the commencement speech as he had for the previous two years. The baccalaureate sermon was delivered by Rev. Monsignor Bernand J. Dolan.

View of 1941 commencement program listing the order of exercises.

The Administration

Flip through slides to meet members of the administration, including the President and the Dean of Studies.

Joseph R. N. Maxwell, S.J.

Maxwell was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on November 7, 1899. After attending Holy Cross for a year, he joined the Jesuit order on September 8, 1919 and was ordained in 1932. He served as Dean of Studies at Boston College before becoming president of Holy Cross in 1939 and held this position until 1945. Afterwards, he was president of Boston College. He died while on tour in Europe on September 18, 1971.

President Maxwell sits at a desk facing the camera with documents and a pen resting on the desk in front of him.

Joseph D. Fitzgerald, S.J.

Fitzgerald was born on March 9, 1889. After graduating from Boston College High School in 1918, he entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained in 1931. He taught at Boston College before accepting the position of Dean of Studies at Holy Cross in 1938 and held this position for ten years. Afterwards, he served as prefect of studies for the New England Province of the Society of Jesus. He died on September 23, 1974.

Reverend Fitzgerald sits holding a book open on the desk, facing the camera.

John F. Reed, S.J.

Reed served as Dean of Men from 1931 to 1945. Born in Charlestown, MA, he attended Boston College High School before enrolling at Holy Cross. After a short time, he decided to join the Society of Jesus in 1914. Before returning to Holy Cross, he spent many years contributing to mission work in Boston. He died in January 1957 and is buried at the Jesuit cemetery on campus. After his death, President Donaghy remarked "he was a great priest, a great Jesuit, and a great Holy Cross man."

Black and white portrait of Reverend Reed.

In a spring issue of the student newspaper, the Tomahawk, students reviewed the academic year:

"Do you remember [...] That first siege of homesickness after your first few weeks in school? (And don't try to tell us that you were too "tough" to let a little homesickness get you down). You used to lie awake at night assuring yourself that there was plenty of truth to the old adage that "there's no place like home.”’

"Do you remember [...] When you jumped out of a warm bed on a cold winter morning at 7:15 and tried to make chapel before the doors closed? You went down the stairs three at a time only to find that you were too late.”

~ Paul Collins '42 and Connor Flynn '42, 30 April 1940

Holy Cross produced the following promotional video in the 1940s and it served as the inspiration for this exhibit. It may be viewed in full below.