Sacramento County
Biographies
CHRISTIAN
BROTHERS COLLEGE
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE--As schools go, even American schools, the Christian Brothers College is still a comparatively young institution. But it is a tremendous institution, great, growing, intensely alive, abreast of the times, and striving ever after new growth and new power. In 1876, while Sacramento was still in the archdiocese of San Francisco, the Brothers came to this city. It was due to the active zeal of the Rev. Father Patrick Scanlan that the present site was acquired in the vicinity of the Cathedral. The need of an educational establishment, wherein Catholic young men could receive instruction in their religion as well as in the affairs of men, was very noticeable in Sacramento. On July 16, 1876, the new college building was dedicated by the Most Reverend Archbishop Alemany and was considered one of the best buildings in the state at that time; the following day the college was opened to receive students and when the school work began there were 200 pupils enrolled. Steadily the work of the Brothers has advanced and today it is one of the foremost institutions of learning in the capital city. For many years the college bore the name of the Sacramento Institute; later it was changed to Christian Brothers College.
The success of the Christian Brothers College has been greatly due to its capable presidents and faculties. It would have been impossible for any one man to bring this college to the prestige that it deservedly and undoubtedly enjoys. The property on which the college stands has so increased in value that a new and beautiful establishment consisting of three buildings is contemplated; this will accommodate twelve Brothers and fifty boarders and about 350 day students. The physical as well as the intellectual and moral education of the students will receive the best attention, for the school rooms and dormitories will be modern in every respect; the site will include a large campus with all things necessary for the outdoor training of the students; and indoor physical training will not be neglected.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 928. Historic
Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.