Francis P. Smith
Encyclopedia
Francis P. Smith, C.S.Sp. (1907–1990) was a Roman Catholic priest
and the seventh president of Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh, from 1946 until 1950.
, the son of Matthew Smith and his wife, Elizabeth A. Smith (née Begnal). Smith joined the Holy Ghost Fathers
as a junior seminarian at the age of 13. He made his profession in the order on August 15, 1926.
He obtained a bachelor of arts
degree from Duquesne University in 1930. He was ordained a priest on September 14, 1933 at St. Mary's Seminary in Norwalk, Connecticut
, where he went on to obtain a bachelor of divinity
in 1934. Father Smith taught as a professor at St. Mary's from 1934 until 1937, when he left for The Catholic University of America
. He earned a master of arts
degree from that institution in 1938.
in 1938, but his studies were interrupted when he received an assignment to teach philosophy at Duquesne in 1940. He was named Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1943, and Vice President of the university in 1944.
In 1946, Smith was appointed the seventh President of Duquesne University. He would serve in that position until 1950, when he was appointed coordinator of Spiritan educational activities in the United States.
An obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
noted that Smith's presidency "guided the university through a major post-World War II expansion fed by the influx of veterans studying under the G.I. Bill" and "supervised an expansion of the school's physical plant, improvements in faculty benefits and the founding of WDUQ
, the city's first college radio station".
Smith died in Pittsburgh on June 30, 1990 at the age of 83. Before his death, he resided at the Holy Ghost Animation Center in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park
.
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
and the seventh president of Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
in Pittsburgh, from 1946 until 1950.
Personal background and education
Francis P. Smith was born on March 28, 1907 in Waterbury, ConnecticutWaterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
, the son of Matthew Smith and his wife, Elizabeth A. Smith (née Begnal). Smith joined the Holy Ghost Fathers
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
as a junior seminarian at the age of 13. He made his profession in the order on August 15, 1926.
He obtained a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Duquesne University in 1930. He was ordained a priest on September 14, 1933 at St. Mary's Seminary in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
, where he went on to obtain a bachelor of divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1934. Father Smith taught as a professor at St. Mary's from 1934 until 1937, when he left for The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
. He earned a master of arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from that institution in 1938.
Service to Duquesne University
Smith had begun postgraduate work for a doctorate at Fordham UniversityFordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1938, but his studies were interrupted when he received an assignment to teach philosophy at Duquesne in 1940. He was named Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1943, and Vice President of the university in 1944.
In 1946, Smith was appointed the seventh President of Duquesne University. He would serve in that position until 1950, when he was appointed coordinator of Spiritan educational activities in the United States.
An obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
noted that Smith's presidency "guided the university through a major post-World War II expansion fed by the influx of veterans studying under the G.I. Bill" and "supervised an expansion of the school's physical plant, improvements in faculty benefits and the founding of WDUQ
WDUQ
WDUQ was a public radio jazz and news radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station broadcasted at 90.5 MHz with an ERP of 25kW. WDUQ was a full member station of National Public Radio and was also affiliated with Public Radio International and American Public Media...
, the city's first college radio station".
Smith died in Pittsburgh on June 30, 1990 at the age of 83. Before his death, he resided at the Holy Ghost Animation Center in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Bethel Park is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles southwest of Pittsburgh...
.