St. Xavier Commercial School
Encyclopedia
St. Xavier Parish Commercial School, officially The Convent School, was a private
secondary school
in Cincinnati, Ohio
, United States
. Founded in 1904 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
, it remained open until 1960. It was associated with St. Francis Xavier Church
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
. Fr. Francis J. Finn
, S.J.
, served as its first director.
The school was located on Sixth Street downtown, between Sycamore and Main Streets -- most likely at 520 Sycamore St.. It offered "a two-year course of study—primarily for women—in the business arts", including "stenography
, book-keeping
, and typesetting
". Boys from St. Xavier High School also took typing
classes there; once the Commercial School closed, the high school moved to Finneytown
and the parish remained at the downtown location.
Tuition was $
50 a year during the 1950s.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1904 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is the name of a Roman Catholic order of religious sisters, dedicated to providing education to the poor.The order was founded in Amiens in 1803, but the opposition of the local bishop to missions outside his diocese led to the moving of headquarters to then...
, it remained open until 1960. It was associated with St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Francis Xavier Church is located at 607 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. This was the location of the first diocesan cathedral and the center of early Roman Catholic life in Cincinnati. It was dedicated to St. Peter on December 17, 1826. "Christ Church" , the city's first Catholic church...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
. Fr. Francis J. Finn
Francis J. Finn
Father Francis J. Finn, S.J. . wrote a series of 27 popular Catholic novels for young people. The books contain fun stories, likeable characters and themes that remain current in today's world. Each story conveys an important moral precept.-Life:The son of Irish immigrant parents, Francis J....
, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, served as its first director.
The school was located on Sixth Street downtown, between Sycamore and Main Streets -- most likely at 520 Sycamore St.. It offered "a two-year course of study—primarily for women—in the business arts", including "stenography
Shorthand
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed or brevity of writing as compared to a normal method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos and graphē or graphie...
, book-keeping
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions. Transactions include sales, purchases, income, receipts and payments by an individual or organization. Bookkeeping is usually performed by a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping should not be confused with accounting. The accounting process is usually...
, and typesetting
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
". Boys from St. Xavier High School also took typing
Typing
Typing is the process of inputting text into a device, such as a typewriter, cell phone, computer, or a calculator, by pressing keys on a keyboard. It can be distinguished from other means of input, such as the use of pointing devices like the computer mouse, and text input via speech...
classes there; once the Commercial School closed, the high school moved to Finneytown
Finneytown, Ohio
Finneytown is a census-designated place in Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, just north of Cincinnati. The population was 13,492 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Finneytown is located at ....
and the parish remained at the downtown location.
Tuition was $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50 a year during the 1950s.
Notable students
- Mildred Howard (attended 1953) – RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for United States PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, 1992United States presidential election, 1992The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
, 1996United States presidential election, 1996The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...
, 2000United States presidential election, 2000The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, 2004, 2008
History
The following was posted on the "The Catholic Telegraph Photography Project" as a reprint of an article from August 25, 1944:
1944: “St. Xavier's Commercial School for Girls was founded in 1904 by Father Finn, S.J., the famous author of juvenile books for boys. Its progress through the years has kept pace with the various changes in the business world, until today, in its equipment and modern methods, it is one of Cincinnati's foremost business schools. The Rev. Julian A. Garrity, S.J., is the director of St. Xavier's Commercial School for Girls and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur teach in the school.
“Two programs are now available. The new intensive secretarial course is open to high school graduates only. This program is arranged so that the students receive individual instruction and are, therefore, capable of progressing according to their maximum ability. The complete course of study including stenography, typewriting, bookkeeping, business correspondence, secretarial practice, comptometry, dictaphone, and office machines offers an opportunity for each girl to fit herself for a business career.
“The standard course comprises two years of commercial training for girls who have either not begun or who have not completed their high school training. This program consists of religion, business correspondence, word study, shorthand, bookkeeping, typewriting, business law, rapid calculation, secretarial practice, besides comptometry, dictaphone, mimeographing, and other office machines.
“The school's free placement bureau has enjoyed remarkable success in placing its graduates in responsible positions with many of the outstanding business firms in Cincinnati.” (The Catholic Telegraph, August 25, 1944)