Bygone DePaul is a series highlighting DePaul’s campus and how it has changed through the years.
Father Peter Byrne became the first president of DePaul University (at the time known as St. Vincent’s College) five months after the College opened, on January 2nd, 1899. He served as president until 1909. Born in Ireland in 1846, Byrne immigrated to the United States at age 16. His health was not good, and he was ordained in 1866 at the early age of 20 so that “he might enjoy a few years of priesthood.” Fr. Byrne confounded everyone by living until the age of 86.
Father Byrne had big dreams for what he wanted to accomplish during his presidency, and his tenure saw many changes. In 1899, the College consisted of one building called St. Vincent’s College. Byrne began ambitious building projects as the original St. Vincent’s College building became obsolete quickly. The building was razed in 1906 in order to build what is now Byrne Hall. By the time Fr. Byrne retired, St. Vincent’s College had been renamed and re-chartered as DePaul University, and the campus consisted of four buildings (St. Vincent’s Church, the College Theater, the Lyceum, and the Administration Building). Student enrollment had risen from 70 in the first year to 200, and tuition from $40 to $60. Father Byrne’s presidency laid the seeds for the university into which DePaul has grown.
Contact DePaul’s University Archives for more information.
Rev. Peter Byrne was the brother of my great, great, grandfather, Lawrence Byrne. Born to Margaret Brennan and Thomas Byrne in the Parish of Leighton, County Carlow-Ireland. So I guess that makes Rev Byrne my great, great, uncle.