Fr. Wynn's Scrapbook
Our Heritage, Our Responsibility: Fundraising 1940s Style
Father William J. Wynne, O.S.A., college librarian from 1947 until 1958, kept a scrapbook of local newspaper articles that document the intensive efforts to raise funds to expand the college from its modest start with a single classroom building, Guild Hall. Beginning with Archbishop Cushing’s appearance before 1000 volunteer workers at an Interfaith Rally on April 1, 1949, Father McQuade’s radio address later in the month to a giant open-air rally at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence on May 8th that drew over 3000 faithful from 119 local parishes, the college’s first capital campaign was launched. Themes such as “Merrimack College is Our College” “Our Heritage, Our Responsibility” and “Dedicated to Education … Democratic Principles” resonated with the local population. By late summer, the fund-raising goal of one million dollars had been surpassed. Individuals, families, small businesses, industries and benefactors contributed $1,190,000. This total represented 29,000 individual gifts. In today’s dollars, that sum would equal $10,635,450.00.
Read MoreFather William J. Wynne, O.S.A., college librarian from 1947 until 1958, kept a scrapbook of local newspaper articles that document the intensive efforts to raise funds to expand the college from its modest start with a single classroom building, Guild Hall. Beginning with Archbishop Cushing’s appearance before 1000 volunteer workers at an Interfaith Rally on April 1, 1949, Father McQuade’s radio address later in the month to a giant open-air rally at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence on May 8th that drew over 3000 faithful from 119 local parishes, the college’s first capital campaign was launched. Themes such as “Merrimack College is Our College” “Our Heritage, Our Responsibility” and “Dedicated to Education … Democratic Principles” resonated with the local population. By late summer, the fund-raising goal of one million dollars had been surpassed. Individuals, families, small businesses, industries and benefactors contributed $1,190,000. This total represented 29,000 individual gifts. In today’s dollars, that sum would equal $10,635,450.00.
