Women's Council History
Our History
The Bellarmine Women's Council was formed in
1963 at the invitation of Msgr. Alfred F. Horrigan, the first President
of Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University).
In the invitation, Msgr. Horrigan noted that the college
must be prepared to provide leadership for the quality of civic,
cultural and professional life which Louisville would have in the next
generation. He also observed that Bellarmine, which at the time was a
men's college, needed sustained contact with women who were leaders in
educational and cultural affairs of the community. He felt that a
women's council would meet this need and serve as a liaison between the
college and the community it served.
Seventy-five women became charter members of the Council
on April 23, 1963, with the first formal meeting on October 8, 1963.
Purposes of the Council were a) to serve as a liaison between the
college and the community; b) to advise and assist the college in
promotion of its program of cultural activities; c) to advise and assist
the college in developing the programs and resources of its library;
and d) in general, to advise and assist the college in its various
activities as requested by the President of the College.