Boston College. Philomatheia Club
Dates
- Existence: Established 1915 March.
Historical note
Philomatheia Club, Catholic women's auxiliary organization. In 1915 the Advisory Board of Athletics of Boston College proposed the idea of a Catholic women's auxiliary organization. Several prominent women became interested, and under the direction of the Advisory Board formed the society known as the Philomatheia Club in March 1915. The leading figure and first president of the Club was Mary K. Shuman (Mrs. Edwin Arthur Shuman). The organization originally began as an aid to the Boston College Athletic Association, but after its first successful social event, expanded its efforts to the social and academic activities of Boston College. Formal constitutions were adopted in 1916, stating the object of the Club to be threefold: to increase an interest in Catholic education, to foster the scholastic, athletic, and social interests of Boston College, and for the intellectual advancement of Club members. Both the Philomatheia Club and the Junior Philomatheia Club played a prominent role in numerous fundraising efforts for the advancement of Boston College. Although Club officers continued to meet into the 1980s, the Philomatheia Club's influence at Boston College slowly began to decrease after the 1940s. Growing numbers of women were joining the workforce after World War II, and women were increasingly permitted to have new roles at the College, including as students, faculty members, and administrators.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Philomatheia Club records
Collection is open for research.
Francis Xavier letter
Consists of letter written by Francis Xavier to King John III of Portugal from India, referring to Portuguese subjects in the Far East, whom the Saint commends for reward and recognition.
Fragile original; available digitally. Access restricted to the digital version.