Raymond V. Kirk
Encyclopedia
Raymond V. Kirk, C.S.Sp. (1901–1947) was a Roman Catholic priest
and the sixth president of Duquesne University
in Pittsburgh, from 1940 until 1946.
. He attended the Duquesne University Prep School, graduating in 1919. He entered the novitiate
for the Holy Ghost Fathers
the following year, and earned a bachelor's degree
at Duquesne. He was ordained a priest for the Holy Ghost Fathers on August 29, 1925, after which he spent a year in New York City
doing parish work and earning a doctorate
at New York University
. His brother was James P. Kirk, Treasurer of the City of Pittsburgh in the 1940s.
for its state certification. He became the first dean of the Education School in 1929, and served in that position until his appointment as university president in February 1940.
On Kirk's appointment to the presidency of the university, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
remarked that, at the age of 38, Kirk was "among the youngest university presidents in the nation". However, Kirk's six years as president were some of the darkest days of Duquesne University's history as enrollment shrank during the Second World War to nearly catastrophic levels.
In 1942, the administration of the university was seriously considering closing Duquesne. Seventy-one colleges around the country had already closed, but, fortunately for Duquesne, Kirk had a connection that would save the university. His brother, Pittsburgh City Treasurer James P. Kirk, was able to use his political connections to arrange a contract with the Air Force, and Duquesne was selected as a training site for the first group of 350 Air Force officers and cadets. These students—937 men were provided with academic training at Duquesne from 1943 to 1944—were enough to keep Duquesne from closing its doors during the war years.
The enrollment drop made Kirk's job very difficult. The student body in 1940 was numbered at 3,100, and at its lowest during the summer of 1944, even with the Air Force cadets, enrollment dipped to no more than 1,000 students. Kirk was faced with a university debt of $450,000 from his predecessor, Father Jeremiah Callahan
. A reorganization of the Law School
caused dissent, resulting in the dismissal and resignation of several faculty members. The difficulties of leading the university through these struggles adversely affected Kirk's health, and he had to suspend his activities in 1945. He was relieved of the university presidency by Father Francis P. Smith
in June 1946.
Father Kirk died on May 27, 1947 at the Holy Ghost Father's seminary in Ferndale, Connecticut
from a circulatory disease, the direct result of the strain of his office.
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 sixth 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 1940 until 1946.
Personal background
Raymond Kirk was born on May 3, 1901 in Mount Pleasant, PennsylvaniaMount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It stands 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people...
. He attended the Duquesne University Prep School, graduating in 1919. He entered the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
for 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...
the following year, and earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
at Duquesne. He was ordained a priest for the Holy Ghost Fathers on August 29, 1925, after which he spent a year in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
doing parish work and earning a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. His brother was James P. Kirk, Treasurer of the City of Pittsburgh in the 1940s.
Service to Duquesne University
Father Kirk returned to Duquesne University as a teacher in the Prep School in 1927. He quickly distinguished himself as a capable administrator, and was instrumental in preparing the university's School of EducationDuquesne University School of Education
The School of Education is one of the ten constituent colleges that compromise Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1929, the school was organized by Holy Ghost Father and future university president Raymond V. Kirk, who led the school until 1940...
for its state certification. He became the first dean of the Education School in 1929, and served in that position until his appointment as university president in February 1940.
On Kirk's appointment to the presidency of the university, 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:...
remarked that, at the age of 38, Kirk was "among the youngest university presidents in the nation". However, Kirk's six years as president were some of the darkest days of Duquesne University's history as enrollment shrank during the Second World War to nearly catastrophic levels.
In 1942, the administration of the university was seriously considering closing Duquesne. Seventy-one colleges around the country had already closed, but, fortunately for Duquesne, Kirk had a connection that would save the university. His brother, Pittsburgh City Treasurer James P. Kirk, was able to use his political connections to arrange a contract with the Air Force, and Duquesne was selected as a training site for the first group of 350 Air Force officers and cadets. These students—937 men were provided with academic training at Duquesne from 1943 to 1944—were enough to keep Duquesne from closing its doors during the war years.
The enrollment drop made Kirk's job very difficult. The student body in 1940 was numbered at 3,100, and at its lowest during the summer of 1944, even with the Air Force cadets, enrollment dipped to no more than 1,000 students. Kirk was faced with a university debt of $450,000 from his predecessor, Father Jeremiah Callahan
Jeremiah J. Callahan
Jeremiah Joseph Callahan, C.S.Sp. was a Roman Catholic priest and the fifth president of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, from 1931 until 1940.-Personal background:...
. A reorganization of the Law School
Duquesne University School of Law
Duquesne University School of Law is a private Catholic university law school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The School of Law was founded in 1911, and is the only multiple-division law school in western Pennsylvania. Located on the Duquesne University campus, the law school is walking...
caused dissent, resulting in the dismissal and resignation of several faculty members. The difficulties of leading the university through these struggles adversely affected Kirk's health, and he had to suspend his activities in 1945. He was relieved of the university presidency by Father Francis P. Smith
Francis P. Smith
Francis P. Smith, C.S.Sp. was a Roman Catholic priest and the seventh president of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, from 1946 until 1950.-Personal background and education:...
in June 1946.
Father Kirk died on May 27, 1947 at the Holy Ghost Father's seminary in Ferndale, 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...
from a circulatory disease, the direct result of the strain of his office.