National Catholic Education Association

An inventory of The Records of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) at The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives

Historical Note

The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) is the nation's oldest and largest Catholic educational organization. It began with a vision of Catholic educational unity embodied by Thomas J. Conaty, Rector of The Catholic University of America (1896-1903) and Bishop of Monterrey-Los Angeles (1903-1915). He presided over its formation in 1904 as the Catholic Educational Association (CEA) from the merger of the Educational Conference of Seminary Faculties (founded 1898), the Association of Catholic Colleges (founded 1899), and the Parish School Conference (founded 1902). The term 'National' was added in 1927. It was first based in Columbus, Ohio, until 1929, then at 1312 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC, the home of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC), from 1928 to 1951. Thereafter, it was in the offices of the American Council of Education (ACE) near the NCWC, 1951 to 1967, then at the new ACE location at 1 Dupont Circle from 1967 to 1983, an finally at the James Place condominium in Georgetown. The chief executive officer was known as the Secretary General from 1904 to 1954, Executive Director from 1954 to 1969, and President since then.

Although Conaty provided the initial vision, the implementation was carried out by Reverend, later Bishop, Francis Howard, who served as the first Secretary General until 1929, then as the largely ceremonial President to 1936, and finally as Chairman of the Advisory Board from 1936 until his death in 1944. He was born in Columbus in 1867, attended seminaries in New York state and Columbus, was ordained in 1891, and stationed in Holy Trinity Parish in Jackson, Ohio, until 1895. He studied at Columbia University in New York for three years and spent a year in Rome before serving as Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Columbus from 1905 until 1923 when he was appointed Bishop of Covington, Kentucky. As the leader of the CEA, he sought to maintain individual freedom while addressing prominent issues regarding the length and nature of elementary school curriculum, standardization of Catholic colleges, and the role of the nation's hierarchy in fostering Catholic educational unity.

In 1929 Howard's successor, Monsignor George Johnson, moved NCEA from Columbus, Ohio, to Washington, D.C., where he also served as Director of the Education Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC). Before his death in 1944, Johnson effected increased cooperation with both Catholic and non-Catholic educational organizations and promoted the integration of progressive and scientific methods of education with more traditional Catholic pedagogy. Johnson's successor, Monsignor Frederick Hochwalt, presided over robust growth in membership as well as enlarging the staff of NCEA and changing its location from the NCWC to the offices of the American Council on Education. Hochwalt's departure in 1966 severed the formal relationship between NCWC and NCEA. The Reverends C. Albert Koob and John F. Meyer, Hochwalt's successors at NCEA, confronted the challenges of Vatican II which fomented reevaluations of Catholic policy and practices. Koob and Meyer presided over significant changes in NCEA department structures: The departments of Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools, Special Education, and College and University departments remained unchanged; the Major and Minor Seminary Departments merged; the School Superintendents Department was renamed the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE); and the departments of Religious Education and Boards of Education were created.

The NCEA continues to provide leadership and professional services to Catholic educators and students of Catholic education on the national, state, diocesan, and local levels. The organization represents Catholic educational interests in dealing with other professional bodies and produces numerous publications, including the association's official journal, Momentum, to provide information regarding current and future issues and research. The NCEA constantly evaluates changing patterns and trends in Catholic education and cooperates with the federal government in collecting educational statistics. The structure and activities of the NCEA have evolved over time. For instance, The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) is no longer a Department of the NCEA, but is a separate entity that collaborates with NCEA. Current NCEA administrative sections include departments such as Elementary, Secondary, Seminary, Special Education, and Chief Administrators. In addition, the NCEA has established both a National Center for Justice and Peace Education, which promotes Catholic teachings on social justice, and a Fund for New Initiatives in Catholic Education, which sponsors programs focusing on important Catholic education issues.

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Scope and Contents

The processed records of the NCEA are divided into eleven series. The first five series include the administrative records, primarily correspondence and subject files, of the first five administrators: Bishop Francis Howard (1904-1929), Monsignor George Johnson (1929-1944), Monsignor Frederick Hochwalt (1944-1966), Father C. Albert Koob (1966-1974), and Monsignor John F. Meyer (1974-1986). The Howard, Johnson, Hochwalt, and Koob files have been indexed to the folder level and included in this finding aid. The sixth series is the complicated files of the former College and University Section, later renamed the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), followed by several small series with materials of the annual convention, the Seminary Department, the National Association of the Board of Education (NABE), International Catholic Education, and general publications. Overall, this is an important assemblage of records that document the early history as well as select aspects of the more recent history.

The first series covers the administration of the first Secretary General, Bishop Francis Howard, which was headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. There are two sub-series, with the first being Bishop Howard's general subject files, boxes 1-3, organized alphabetically, and containing correspondence with noteworthy associates such as Rev. James Burns (1903-1924), Msgr. Phillip R. McDevitt (1904-1917), Msgr. Francis T. Moran (1906-1929), Rev. Dennis J. O'Connell (1903-1907), Bishop Thomas J. Shahan (1907-1929), Rev. Joseph F. Smith (1903-1913), and Brother John A. Waldron (1906-1922). The second subseries, Box 3, contains photocopies concerning the CEA from the Vatican Secret Archives, Archive of the Nunciature (formerly Apostolic Delegation)in the United States of America, designated USA 105/1 and 105/2, and covering the years 1907 to 1920. These materials were duplicated at the request of Msgr. Robert Wister, NCEA member and historian, after a 1993 research visit to Rome and donated to CUA in 1996. A folder level listing is included for this series.

The second series contains a small selection of alphabetical subject files, boxes 3-4, from the administration of Msgr. George Johnson, the second Secretary General. He took over from Howard in 1929 and transferred the national office to Washington, DC, where he concurrently served as Director of the Education Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC). This small series has items ranging from 1924 to 1947 but focused on the years 1929 to 1944. A folder level listing is included for this series.

The third series has the more expansive alphabetical subject files, boxes 4-20, from the administration of Msgr. Frederick Hochwalt, who, like his predecessor Msgr. Johnson, served as both Secretary General (this title changed to Executive Director in 1954) of NCEA and Director of the NCWC Education Department. Dated materials span 1937 to 1974 but focus on his service dates of 1944 to 1966. Notable among these files are those associated with the American Council on Education (ACE), the Apostolic Delegation (1945-1968), Federal Aid to Education, the Superintendents' Department, the United Nations Educational, Social, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO), and the United States Office of Education. A folder level listing is included for this series.

The fourth series has substantial material, boxes 20-43, primarily dating between 1967 and 1974, of the administration of Father C. Albert Koob. He was the fourth chief executive officer, beginning his term in 1966 with the title of Executive Director but changing it to President in 1969. This administration also began with severing the duties of director of the NCWC Education Department. This series, due to its size and complexity, has been divided into four sub-series. The first is Chronological Files (1969-1974), with the second being Subject Files, A-Z, 1962(1967-1974)1975, with note being taken of those on Community Schools (1969-1971), Council for Private American Education (1969-1974), Planning Catholic Education for the Future Workshops (1970-1971), the 1967 Symposium on Catholic Education, and the United States Office of Education (Department of Health, Education, Welfare)(1966-1974). The third sub-series is Father Koob's Speeches and Articles (1962-1972) and the fourth is Calendars (1966-1974). A folder level listing is included for this series.

The fifth series has material, boxes 44-53, primarily dating from 1968 to 1981, of the administration of Msgr. John F. Meyer. He served as Associate Secretary of the Department of Superintendents (1968-1974), Associate Secretary and Acting NCEA President (1972-1974) after Father Koob suffered a serious accident, and finally as the fifth chief executive officer, with the title of President (1974-1986). This series does not yet include files from the later years (1981-1986) of his administration (See Addendum) but is diverse enough to be divided into three sub-series. The first is Chronological Files (1973-1981), with the second being the Subject Files, A-Z, 1907(1973-1981)1981, with note being taken of those on the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (1971-1983), Council for American Private Enterprise (CAPE)(1974-1980), National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Education (1975-1980), and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC) Department of Education (1974-1983). The third sub-series is Personal Correspondence (1968-1980).

The sixth series has records, boxes 54-74, of the College and University Department/Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), spanning 1905 to 1989, and separated into five sub-series. The first is the descriptive but oddly titled Bindered Materials (1905-1975), with mostly printed material bound as follows: Executive Committee Minutes (1905-1975), College Newsletter (1937-1974), NewsNotes (1951-1967), Report on Foreign Students (1950-1965), and Materials sent to Members (1959-1974). The second sub-series is General Administration Files (1949-1981), divided as follows: Subject (A-Z) (1931-1981), Brother Gregory Nugent FSC Secretary (1949-1968), and the mixed Chronological and Subject (A-Z) (1949-1968). The third is Meetings, Budgets, Committees, Etc. (1970-1979); the fourth is Dr. Leonard, Cain ACCU Papers (1960-1982); and the fifth is the restricted Congregation of Catholic Education at the Vatican Correspondence and Related Materials (1969-1989). Some of the files of note within this overall series are correspondence with the American Council on Education (ACE)(1956-1978), the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)(1970-1977), the Center for Constitutional Studies (1977-1979) and the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) (1969-1972).

The seventh series has miscellaneous material, boxes 75-77, of the Annual Convention, 1902-1966, containing correspondence, news clippings, forms, and programs and related print material.

The eighth series has files, boxes 77-81, of the Seminary Department, 1958-1979, divided into two sub-series. The first, General Administration Files (1958-1979) has two sets of concurrent alphabetical subject files, dated 1958-1966 and 1967-1977 respectively. The second, has convention files for 1969-1974.

The ninth series has files, box 82, of the National Association of the Board of Education (NABE), 1965-1974, with alphabetical subject files containing correspondence, reports, meeting minutes and related material.

The tenth series has files, boxes 83-85, regarding International Catholic Education, 1947-1980, and divided into two sub-series. The first is the Catholic Inter-American Education Conference (CIEC), 1947-1979, and is composed primarily of alphabetical General Administration and Congresses and Meetings files. The second is the Catholic International Education Office (OIEC), 1951-1978, with the largest parts being Chronological (1969-1978) and General Administration (1951-1976) files.

The eleventh series has publications, box 86 (plus those shelved), that include General Publications (1899-1903,1960-1967); Programs/Reports of the Annual Meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges of the United States (1899-1903); and Directories (1960-1967). Additionally, there is a set of bound volumes, numbered 1 to 50 and dated 1904 to 1953, of the NCEA Bulletin: Report of the Proceedings and Addresses of the Annual Meetings, that were pulled from the unprocessed portion of the collection, and is available for reference in the Archives Reading Room.

Finally, there are the unprocessed records, dated overall from 1913 to 2009, but focused on the period of 1967 and afterwards, from later accessions that have not yet been organized and integrated into the general collection. These boxes, numbered 87 to 514, have additional and generally later dated material to that in the organized series, such as files of presidents Catherine McNamee and Leonard DiFiore, departments such as Elementary and Secondary education, publications such as the NCEA Bulletin and Momentum, budgets and financial statements, studies and surveys, and audio visual tapes and photographs.

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Arrangement

The Records of National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) consists of 11 Series, plus a large Addendum:

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There is a 25 year limit, dating from creation of the document, imposed by NCEA in 1988, requiring permission of the NCEA President. In addition, access to the ACCU subseries Congregation of Catholic Education at the Vatican that also requires permission from the NCEA President. Please direct any requests for access to restricted material to the CUA Archivist or Associate Archivist at archives@mail.lib.cua.edu

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

In 1979, NCEA records were legally transferred to CUA. The first deposits of these materials were made in 1981 and comprised the records of the first three NCEA presidents, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), and the Seminary department. The original contract transferring legal custody of these records to CUA was amended in 1988 to impose a 25 year limit dating from creation of the document, which is similar to a limitation that exists between CUA and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). That same year, records of the fourth NCEA president, C. Albert Koob, plus more ACCU and Seminary Department material, were received and integrated with existing NCEA files. In 1990, these records were sorted, organized, and re-boxed in series order by William J. Shepherd, under the direction of CUA Archivist, Dr. Anthony Zito. That same year, more ACCU publications were received. In 1993, records of the ACCU 's Congregation of Catholic Education at the Vatican were received and these were restricted, with access requiring the permission of the sitting NCEA President. Beginning in 1995, Shepherd, now Acting Archivist, supervised file level indexing for the records of the first three NCEA presidents, covering the period of 1902 through 1966. That same year, photocopies of Vatican records regarding the CEA were received and added to the collection. In 1996, records of the fifth president, Father John F. Meyer, were deposited and integrated, while the records of his predecessor, Father Koob, as well as those of a small series on International Catholic Education, were indexed by student assistant Mary Owen, and in 1997, additional records of the ACCU arrived and were integrated into the existing collection, thus necessitating another revision to the series inventory. Since 1997, additional accessions, some of them quite substantial, especially that of December 2009, constitute a large addendum of unprocessed material.

Processing Information

Initial processing completed in 1990 by William J. Shepherd, with several revisions made 1993-1999. EAD markup by Jordan Patty and Dale Park in 2006-2007, with revisions by William J. Shepherd in 2008-2010. Additional work by Madison Bolls in 2010 and Carter Rawson in 2011.

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Related Material

The papers of Bishop Francis Howard

The records of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)

The records of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) Education Department.

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Index Terms

Persons:

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

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Bibliography

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Detailed Description of the Collection