Old Georgetown in Color: Healy

This week in Old Georgetown in Color, GM brings some vibrance to Georgetown University’s nineteenth President, Patrick Francis Healy.

Healy left his mark on the college, overseeing the construction of the massive building that was named after him. But what he later became more well known for was the fact that he was born a slave (the child of his slave owner and his multi-racial slave mother) and thus he was the first African American to earn a Phd., become a jesuit, and serve as president of a predominantly white university.

Healy served as GU president from 1872 – 1883. He lived from 1830 – 1910.

(And the reason GM keeps doing Old Georgetown in Color pieces on GU items is that they have such a rich photographic archive!)