Boston College lived in the mind of Father John McElroy, S.J., for 20 years before its official founding. Fr. McElroy, of the Maryland Province, wrote to the Bishop of Boston in 1843 urging that a Jesuit high school and college be established in the city to serve its Irish immigrant citizenry.
Nothing happened at the time. But Boston's public schools were increasingly hostile to that blossoming Catholic population. Fr. McElroy's vision began to take on urgency—and his transfer to Boston in 1847 gave him the opportunity to bring it to life.
Fr. McElroy overcame numerous obstacles in realizing his dream, including the anti-Catholic climate of the times and a persistent shortage of funds. Not until July 19, 1863, was he able to write: "On last Thursday was finally concluded the conveyance of all property in my name ... to the Trustees of Boston College. Deo Gratias! I am indeed now a poor man, as a religious ought to be."