University of St. Thomas

Dr. Joseph Connors Papers
RS 07/10/12

Biographical Sketch:

Joseph B. Connors was born December 2, 1914 in Ashland, Wisconsin but was raised in Minnesota. He graduated with a BA from the College of St. Thomas in 1937 and then taught at the St. Thomas Military Academy until 1942. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 – 1946. Upon his return to civilian life, Connors continued graduate study in English at the University of Minnesota (MA 1947, Ph.D. 1962) and taught as a Professor of English at the College of St. Thomas from 1947 – 1955. In 1955, he became an Associate Editor at the Catholic Digest. He continued in that position until 1962, when he returned to CST to serve as the Assistant Director of Development during the College’s Ever Press Forward campaign. In 1964, Connors returned to the English faculty of the College, teaching his specialty of 18th and 19th Century English Literature until his official retirement in 1982. Connors then concentrated on writing the history of the first one hundred years of College of St. Thomas, Journey Toward Fulfillment. Connors was recognized by the College of St. Thomas as the Professor of the Year in 1974 and as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1986.

Scope and Content:

The collection contains drafts and research materials used in the writing of the college history, Journey Toward Fulfillment, materials used in course taught by Connors at the College of St. Thomas, and correspondence. Photographs from this collection are filled in the University Archives photograph collections.

Restrictions:

Materials from the Research Files may not be quoted or reproduced without the permission of the Archives in which the originated.

Processed: May 2000

INVENTORY:

Box/Folder

Series I. College History

1/1 – 1/9 Journey Toward Fulfillment, Outline and Holograph Drafts, nd

1/10 – 1/15 Journey Toward Fulfillment, Typescript Draft with Additions and Corrections, nd.

1/16 – 1/17 Accreditation in the 1920’s and 1930’s (Research File)

1/18 Alumni Reminiscences

1/18a Athletics – 1920’s (Research File)

1/19 Byrne, James – Notes

1/20 Chapel – Notes

1/21 College Farm – Notes

1/22 Deeds (Research File)

1/23 Doll, John and the Foley Theater

1/24 Early Textbooks – Notes

1/25 Finances during the Holy Cross Administration (Research File)

1/25a Finn, William (Research File)

1/25b Ford Foundation Campaign (Research File)

1/26 Founding of St. Thomas Seminary (Research File)

1/26b Hill, James J. (Research File)

1/27 Holy Cross Fathers at CST (Research File)

1/28 Holy Cross Order – Separation from CST (Research File)

1/29 Interview with Roland Moynagh BA’26, LLB’27

1/30 Interview with John Cullinan BA’06

1/31 McSweeney, Edward (Research File)

1/32 Minutes of the CSC Local Council, 1928 – 1932 (Research File)

1/33 Moynihan, Humphrey (Research File)

1/34 Moynihan, James (Research File)

1/35 Murphy, Msgr. Terrence – Enrollment (Research File)

1/36 Murphy, Msgr. Terrence – Financial Information (Research File)

1/37 Murphy, Msgr. Terrence – Interview Notes

1/38 Nazareth Hall – Notes

1/39 Nineteenth Century Minnesota Colleges – Notes

1/40 O’Gorman, Thomas (Research File)

1/41 Refugee Professors – Notes

2/1 St. Thomas Military Program (Research File)

2/2 Schumacher, Matthew – Correspondence (Research File)

2/3 Schumacher, Matthew (Research File)

2/4 Sisters of St. Joseph (Research File)

2/5 Sketch of the Life of the Most Reverend James John Keene, by St. Mary Rosinda

2/6 St. Thomas Military Academy – Report of Inspection

2/7 Correspondence re: Journey Toward Fulfillment, nd, 1985 – 1989

2/8 Reviews of Journey Toward Fulfillment

Series II.  Course Materials

2/9 The Art of Biography

2/10 Eighteenth Century Literature

2/11 English 101, 102, and 103

2/12 The English Novel

2/13 Literary London

2/14 The Romantic Movement

2/15 Seventeenth Century Literature from Donne to Dryden

2/16 Victorian Age

Series III. Other

2/17 Commencement Address and Responses, 1974

2/18 Correspondence and Kudos from Students, Colleagues and Others, nd, 1974 – 1977

2/18a Correspondence – Slusser, Herb 1966, 1968, 1973

2/19 Ever Press Forward Campaign – Publication, Drafts, Correspondence, 1963 – 1964

2/20 Tributes on the Retirement of Dr. Connors, 1982

Series IV.  Audio Cassettes

2/21 Interview of Msgr. Terrence Murphy by Joseph Connors, August 22, 1983 (3 cassettes)

2/22 Interview of Msgr. Terrence Murphy by Joseph Connors, August 23, 1983 (2 cassettes)

2/23 Interview of Msgr. Terrence Murphy by Joseph Connors, September 3, 1985 (2 cassettes)

2/24 Interview of Msgr. Terrence Murphy by Joseph Connors, September 13, 1985 (2 cassettes)