Joseph Hanselman

Joseph Francis Hanselman (October 28, 1856 – January 16, 1923) was an American Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus. In the academic world, he served as the president of the College of the Holy Cross and rector of Woodstock College. He also was the superior of the Maryland-New York Province of the Jesuits and as the American assistant to the Jesuit Superior General in Rome.

The Very Reverend Joseph F. Hanselman
14th President of the College of the Holy Cross
In office 1901–1906
Preceded by	John F. Lehy
Succeeded by	Thomas E. Murphy
Personal details
Born	(1856-10-28)October 28, 1856 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	January 16, 1923(1923-01-16) (aged 66)
Alma mater	St. Francis Xavier College Woodstock College
Orders
Ordination	1892

Biography

Joseph Francis Hanselman[1] was born in the Williamsburg neighborhood of the city of Brooklyn, New York (then independent of New York City)[2] on October 28, 1856.[3] He was born to Margaret and Henry Hanselman and had eight siblings. Of his six brothers, five became priests; both of his sisters became nuns. His brothers were James, John Thomas, George, Michael, and his sisters assumed the religious names of Vincent and Thomasina.[3]

He attended Saint Vincent College in Pennsylvania before completing his education at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City, where he graduated in 1877. Following his secular education, Hanselman entered the Grand Séminaire de Montréal. However, soon thereafter, he instead decided to enter the Jesuit Order at West Park, New York in 1878. After some time teaching at St. Peter's College in Jersey City, he completed his formation Woodstock College and was ordained a priest in 1892.[4]

Hanselman was made the dean of studies and discipline at the College of the Holy Cross in 1893, where he remained until being appointed the president of the college in 1901. As president, he was responsible for overseeing the construction of Alumni Hall.[4]

He became the provincial superior of the Maryland-New York Province of the Society of Jesus in 1906. He remained in this position until becoming the rector of Woodstock College in 1918. In 1918, Hanselman was elevated to the position of American assistant-general to the Jesuit Superior General; he was the second person to hold this office. Unlike his predecessor, Thomas J. Gannon, S.J., Hanselman initially remained in the United States while holding the position, rather than move to Rome, due to the fighting of World War I.[5] He held this post until his death on January 16, 1923.[4] He was succeeded as the American assistant by Anthony Maas, S.J.[6]

References

1. Herringshaw, Thomas William, ed. (1914). American Blue-Book of Biography: Prominent Americans of 1914. Chicago: American Publishers Association. p. 569. OCLC 38664945. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018 – via Google Books.
2. Spellen, Suzanne (September 3, 2015). "Walkabout: "The Great Mistake" — How Brooklyn Lost Its Independence, Part 2". Brownstoner. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
3. "Recent Deaths". The Sacred Heart Review. 33 (14): 210. April 1, 1905. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018 – via Boston College Libraries.
4. "Rev. Joseph Hanselman, S.J." College of the Holy Cross. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
5. "Fr. Hanselman Head of American Jesuits". Los Angeles Evening Herald. XLIII (258). August 29, 1918. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
6. Bender, Arthur C. A Brief History of the New York Province (PDF). p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2018.

Academic offices
Preceded by John F. Lehy, S.J.	14th President of the College of the Holy Cross 1901–1906	Succeeded by Thomas E. Murphy, S.J.
Preceded by Anthony Maas, S.J.	Rector of Woodstock College 1912–1918	Succeeded by William Clark, S.J.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by —	Provincial superior of the Jesuit Maryland-New York Province 1906–1912	Succeeded by —
Preceded by Thomas J. Gannon, S.J.	2nd American assistant to the Jesuit Superior General 1918–1923	Succeeded by Anthony Maas, S.J.