Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Founded by Holy Ghost Fathers from Germany in 1878. Incorporated 1882 as Pittsburgh Catholic College. Named Duquesne University in 1911, this Catholic institution has served students of many faiths in liberal arts and professional studies.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Duquesne University began in 1878 when Holy Ghost Fathers from Germany opened a small Catholic school in Pittsburgh. Chartered in 1882 as Pittsburgh Catholic College, it grew into a full university and took the name Duquesne in 1911. From the start it welcomed students of many faiths into both liberal arts and professional training.
Why it matters
Duquesne reflects how immigrant Catholic religious orders built lasting American institutions of higher learning, widening access to education in a booming industrial city.
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Themes & tags
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