History St. Mary's University

The Philosophy Faculty of St. Mary's University

Below are scenes from the teaching of Philosophy at St. Mary's University.

Founded as St. Mary's Institute, the school opened on Aug. 25, 1852, with a faculty of five and an enrollment of twelve boys. In 1921, all college classes were transferred from downtown to the St. Louis College campus (pictured above). In 1923, St. Louis College became St. Mary's College with an enrollment of twelve in the freshman class. Grade school and high school students remained at the downtown school, which adopted the name St. Mary's Academy. The new St. Mary's College gained senior college status and in 1927 the first class of bachelor's degree candidates graduated from the newly renamed St. Mary's University.

1927

In 1927, the first class of bachelor's degree candidates graduated from the newly renamed St. Mary's University.

The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 27, 1927 Page: 1 of 4.

1929

Rev. Alfred H. Rabe, S.M., Professor of Philosophy and President

1933

Rev. Walter F. Golatka, S.M., Professor of Philosophy

Rev. Sidney Metzger, Instructor of Philosophy

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 10, 1938 Page: 2 of 8.

The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 7, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 21, 1938 Page: 6 of 6.

1940

1941 - 1947 Rev. Stanley J. Kusman, S.M. Becomes Army Chaplain

The Rev. Stanley J. Kusman, S.M. received the Silver Star for his bravery under fire in the Battle of Monte Cassino (Italy, 1944).

1948

Rev. Stanley J. Kusman, S.M., Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Rev. William R. Lamm, S.M., Associate Professor of Philosophy

Rev. Alfred H. Rabe, S.M., Professor of Philosophy

1949

1951

1952

“The Rev. Walter Buehler, head of St. Mary’s philosophy department, will be the principal speaker…”

“Leo M. Donohue, associate professor of philosophy… the easy-natured philosopher joined the University faculty in 1947 to teach English… his English background (he received his B.A. and M.A. in English from Toronto University in Canada in 1928 and 1930, respectively)… he learned in philosophy (Ph.L., Catholic University of America, 1940)… his [previous] post as head of the philosophy department at the University of Alberta…”

1952

1953

1954

1955

1957

Rev. Charles Dreisoerner, S.M., Assistant Professor

1958

Graduation 1958

1959

1961

1964

1969

September 16, 1969

1970

1970, The Philosophy Faculty

17 September 1970, "The Rattler," page 07.

AY 1970-1971, "The Diamondback Yearbook," page 52.

Graduation Procession in front of St. Louis Hall

Rev. Ade Windisch, S.M.

Rev. Conrad Kaczkowski, S.M.

Rev. Charles Blasen, S.M.

1972

"The Diamondback," Yearbook of St. Mary's University, 1972, Page: 107.

1975

Rev. Charles M. Blasen, S.M. is Chairman of the Philosophy Department: "Philosophy Offers New Course"

1978

1980

1981

1983

Rev. Conrad Kaczkowski, S.M.

Rev. Charles M. Blasen, S.M.

Bro. John Totten, S.M.

1985

"The Diamondback," Yearbook of St. Mary's University, 1985, Page: 33.

1986

1987

Rev. John Moder, S.M.

Sr. Bernadette O'Connor

Graduation in May 1987

1988

Rev. Franz Schorp, S.M. (left) and Rev. Charles M. Blasen, S.M. (right)

1990

1994

Rev. William Ellos, S.J., Ph.D.

Miguel Bedolla, M.D., Ph.D, M.P.H.

2001

Annual Totten Philosophy Prize

Bro. John R. Totten, S.M. (left) and Andrew Hill, former student

2011

2013

2014

Bro. Totten, S.M., in retirement, celebrates 80 years of professed vows as a Marianist.

2016

Department of Philosophy's Last Lecture Series
"How Entertainment, Efficiency, and Numbers Are Killing Us"

featuring

Robert Skipper, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Ethics Bowl, Director, Center for Professional Ethics, President of Faculty Senate,
St. Mary's University

February 9, 2016

The St. Mary's University chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the national honors society for philosophy invites the St. Mary's community and all interested parties to join us in honoring Professor Robert Skipper.

Professor Skipper will deliver a "Last Lecture" style presentation. The Philosophy Last Lecture Series honors a scholar with the opportunity to deliver a talk premised on the notion that "if this talk were your last ever lecture, what would you have to say?"