History: Highlights 1947-1964

1947: The Slavin Era

  • College inaugurates a Marriage Forum Lecture Series.
  • Robert Joseph Slavin, O.P., begins term as the 6th President of Providence College.
  • Effective date of the Draft Resolution spelling out the Retirement Plan for Lay Employees.
  • Science Building (Albertus Magnus Hall) groundbreaking ceremony.
  • PC joins the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

1948

  • Albertus Magnus Hall opening.
  • War Memorial Grotto is dedicated.
  • PC is admitted into the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
  • Students vote to accept the proposed PC Student Congress Constitution.

1949

  • PC radio-WDOM-AM-begins broadcasting from Albertus Magnus Hall.
  • PC becomes the first Catholic men’s college in New England admitted to the College Entrance Examination Board.

1950

  • First Summer School of Theology for Religious Women Commencement.

1951

  • Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit established.

1952

  • College holds its first Military Ball.

1953

  • College holds first U.S. Army commissioning exercises as part of its 35th commencement.

1954

  • President welcomes the first members of Alpha Epsilon Delta, Rhode Island Chapter, the College’s Pre-Medical Honor Society, the first Honor Society based on a field of concentration.

1955

  • Alumni Hall (Gymnasium) Blessing.
  • The Cowl announces the 1st PC recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship for foreign study.
  • College purchases the House of the Good Shepard property.
  • First Homecoming Weekend begins.

1956

  • Gordie Holmes makes a dramatic shot at the buzzer, giving PC an upset win over the University of Notre Dame, 85-83.

1957

  • Freshman and Sophomores are no longer required to enroll in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program courses.
  • College establishes the Liberal Arts Honors Program.

1959

  • Approval of PC’s National Institute of Health Training Grants Program.

1960

  • College confers its first Veritas Medal on Congressman John E. Fogarty.

1961

  • PC wins their first National Invitation Tournament.

1961: The Dore Era

  • Vincent Cyril Dore, O.P., begins his term as the 7th President of Providence College.

1962

  • 1st Ring Dance.

1963

  • PC captures its second National Invitation Tournament trophy.
  • Fans welcome the National Invitation Tournament Champions by lining Route 6 from the state line into Providence, and a crowd of 8,000 cheer the players, coaches and College officials.

1964

  • PC makes its first appearance in an NCAA basketball tournament.
  • The Graduate School opens with 120 students offering courses in History, Education, Religious Education and Guidance, and the Sciences.
  • First President’s Council meeting.
  • North Dormitory (Meagher Hall) opening.