In 1947, the decision to open a Jesuit school on the south side of Dublin was taken. The purchase in 1949 of Sandford Lodge and Sandford Hill belonging to the Bewley Estate consisted of 15 acres in Ranelagh, two miles south of Dublin city centre. The college opened on 8 September 1950, with 52 boys registering. The founding Jesuit Superior (and later first Rector) was Fr. Charles O' Conor SJ (The O' Conor Don) (1906-1981) and the first Prefect of Studies was Fr. Bill White SJ (1912-1988).
Archival History ↴
Material deposited from the Provincialate.
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Official Transfer
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Irish Jesuits ↴
The papers of Gonzaga College consist mainly of letters relating to: the foundation of the College (1950); prospectus and rules (1950); annual financial statements and accounts of the school and community (1958-1979); correspondence between the Rectors of Gonzaga College and Irish Jesuit Provincials concerning school and community matters, such as finance, staffing and building (1960-1980); school administration (1970-1988); planning and development (1972-1977); building and renovations (1963-1981); educational affairs such as the teaching of physics, chemistry and religious education (1966-1975). There are only a few early photographs of Gonzaga College (1950-1970).
Appraisal Destruction ↴
All items retained permanently
Accruals ↴
Periodic Accruals
Arrangement ↴
Material was catalogued in 2000, 2004 and 2009.
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
The Irish Jesuit Archives are open only to bona fide researchers. Access by advance appointment. Further details: www.jesuitarchives.ie
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No material may be reproduced without the written permission of the Archivist. Copyright restrictions apply. Photocopying is not available. Digital photography is at the discretion of the Archivist.
Gonzaga College retains its own papers relating to the College. Contact: Gonzaga College, Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Publication Note
The Gonzaga Record (1985 - )
Finlay, Christopher J. “A short history of Gonzaga College, 1950 -2000’. Dublin: Eneclann Ltd, 2000
Bevan, Micheal (edited). “Gonzaga at Sixty: a work in progress”. Dublin: Messenger Publications, 2010.
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Damien Burke
Rules/Conventions
IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottowa: International Council on Archives, 2000. National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and
Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
Irish Guidelines for Indexing Archives. Dublin: Archives and Records Association, Ireland, 2013.
