Our History

��Ӱҵ’s story begins with the determination of Bishop Richard Gilmour, Bishop of Cleveland from 1872 to 1891, who envisioned a Catholic college to serve the growing city. To bring that vision to life, he enlisted Father Henry Behrens, Jesuit Superior of the Buffalo Mission, who in turn sent Father John B. Neustich to Cleveland under the cover of a parish visit. Neustich’s true mission was to quietly purchase land on the city’s West Side to house Cleveland’s first Catholic college. Bishop Gilmour insisted that no publicity be made until the school was ready to open—an unusual approach that emphasized thoughtful planning over fanfare.

On September 6, 1886, St. Ignatius College opened its doors with 76 students and five Jesuit faculty members. Tuition was $40 per year, and the curriculum included Latin, English, arithmetic, Christian doctrine, and German. Among the first class was Thomas Grasselli, son of industrialist Caesar Grasselli, whose family would become long-standing benefactors. Within two years, a more permanent structure was built under Father Neustich’s leadership, launching a period of steady growth.

In 1890, the college was officially incorporated and granted the authority to confer degrees. Over the next decades, new programs, student organizations, and athletic teams—including a popular football program—added dimension to campus life.

The 1920s brought major change. Planning began to relocate to Cleveland’s East Side, and for a brief period in 1923, the college was renamed Cleveland University. Later that year, it adopted the name ��Ӱҵ, honoring Bishop ��Ӱҵ, the first Catholic bishop in the United States. A successful fundraising campaign secured over $2.5 million from both Catholic and non-Catholic donors, and in 1931, construction began on a new 45-acre campus in University Heights.

The Great Depression halted progress, but construction resumed in 1935. On October 7, classes officially began at the new site with 456 students. The beautiful Grasselli Clock Tower marked a new chapter in the university’s life. While the college had long served men, women were increasingly present through summer, evening, and graduate programs. The first laywomen graduated in 1936.

During World War II, ��Ӱҵ hosted the U.S. Navy V-12 program, temporarily converting campus facilities for military use. After the war, academic offerings expanded with the creation of the School of Business, Economics, and Government and a new Evening College to serve veteran

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Our History

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