Notre Dame in St. Joseph County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Endowed Professorships
Photographed By Sean Flynn
1. Endowed Professorships Marker
Endowed professorships were first established by the Roman emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius in Athens in 176 A.D. The custom was revived at Oxford and Cambridge in 1502 with the creation of endowed professorships in divinity. The use of the term "chairs" to describe these professorships arose from the medieval understanding of "chair" as a seat of authority or dignity.
A relative newcomer to this ancient tradition, the University of Notre Dame is determined to attract the finest minds of the day to its faculty, and has, since the 1960s, endowed professorships of its own. With exemplary and characteristic generosity, the Notre Dame family has embraced this cultivation of academic excellence through the gifts that we recognize here.
The fruits of these benefactions, and Notre Dame's debt to these benefactors, will endure far longer than these granite walls on which their names are gratefully carved.
The university especially appreciates the Fritz and Mary Lee Duda family for their generosity of spirit and commitment to education, having established eight professorships and underwriting this wall of recognition.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 176 CE.
Location. 41° 42.091′ N, 86°
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Endowed Professorships (within shouting distance of this marker); Vetville (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Knute Rockne (about 700 feet away); Clarke Peace Memorial (about 700 feet away); Notre Dame Fieldhouse (about 800 feet away); Dan Devine (approx. 0.2 miles away); University of Notre Dame Band (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edward Sorin (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Notre Dame.
More about this marker. This marker sits about 75 yards away from the Word of Life Mural—known popularly as Touchdown Jesus"—on Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library. An identical historical marker can be found on the northeast corner of the reflecting pool in front of the mural. Notre Dame Stadium, where the Fighting Irish play football,
Photographed By Sean Flynn
2. Endowed Professorships Marker and the Word of Life Mural
"Touchdown Jesus" is in the background; the identical Endowed Professorships Marker is straight behind the marker, at the opposite corner of the reflecting pool.
A marker describing the art behind the Word of Life Mural is about 50 feet east of here.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 16, 2023
3. Endowed Professorships Marker
The marker sits atop a short marble wall with the names of professorships inscribed in the panels. The Word of Life Mural is off camera to the right in this northwest-facing photo.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 16, 2023
4. Word of Life Mural
Known popularly as "Touchdown Jesus" (because it was once easily visible from the stands of Notre Dame Stadium 300 yards south, although renovations to the stadium have obscured it from most seats in the stadium today), the Word of Life Mural is on the south wall of the Hesburgh Library, named after Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., Notre Dame's president from 1952 to 1987. The marker in front describes the mural and the meaning behind the painting. The southwest Endowed Professorship marker is off camera to the right.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 16, 2023
5. Statue to Fr. Edmund Joyce and Fr. Theodore Hesburgh
This statue was dedicated in 2005 in honor of Theodore Hesburgh, the school's president for 35 years, and Edmund Joyce, who was chief financial officer during Hesburgh's presidency. It stands due north of this Endowed Professorships marker. Fr. Hesburgh is the namesake of the library that is behind this statue, which sits due north of the Endowed Professorships marker, beneath the Word of Life Mural ("Touchdown Jesus"). Joyce was the school's chief financial officer during Hesburgh's presidency, and is the namesake of Notre Dame's Joyce Center sports facility. The base of the statue includes a quote from each of the men.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
