Document Type
Finding Aid
Collection Date
1931-1982
Finding Aid Date
9-30-2015
Identifier
MS MahanCW
Description
All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy.
Charles W. Mahan was born in Roxbury, MA on March 3, 1899 to Francis A. and Mary (Cunningham) Mahan. He was educated at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, MA. He briefly studied at Boston College before entering into the Society of Jesus on January 22, 1919 at St. Andrew-on-the-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY where he also spent his juniorate from 1921 until 1922. He studied Philosophy at Woodstock College, earning his A.B. in 1924 and his A.M. in 1925. He then spent his regency teaching in the Philippines from 1925 until 1928. In 1928, he returned to New England, studying Theology at Weston College until 1932 and was also ordained at Weston College in 1931. After his ordination, he taught Spanish at St.Georges College, Kingston, Jamaica and served as editor of the Catholic Opinion. In 1934, he completed his tertianship in Belgium. His next assignment was teaching English, Mathematics, Religion, and Economics at Baghdad College in Iraq in 1935. In 1957, he left for a year sabbatical at St. Francis Xavier Chapel in Boston, MA, but returned to Baghdad in 1958. During his 35 years in Iraq, he also was prefect at the boarder’s residence at the college. In 1969, shortly before the Iraqi government expelled all foreign missionaries, he became ill and returned to the United States. He lived at Campion Center until his death on May 22, 1982.
The collection consists of sermons, homilies, retreat notes, Baghdad College tests/examinations, diplomas, and a play Ziyaret Il Kulliyye. There is also a scrapbook and one-2.5 inch box of photographs of Baghdad College and Iraq.
Recommended Citation
New England Jesuit Province Archives; New England Province of the Society of Jesus; and Mahan, Charles W. SJ, "Charles W. Mahan, SJ Papers" (2015). Finding Aids, Special Collections. 14.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/findaid_nen_spcoll/14