Nursing student Mary Kay Swift ’65 CON prepares for her first day of clinical experience at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital. Although the uniform has changed over the years, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University continues to produce dedicated, caring nurses that changes the lives of those they serve.

This photo is available in Falvey’s Digital Library, part of the life in the 1960s exhibit.

We may not be able to be in the stands this basketball season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show our Wildcat Pride and cheer on our team! This week’s TBT takes us back to a photo inside the Villanova Field House in the 1970s during a basketball game. This photograph comes from the University Archives and can be found in Villanova’s digital collection.

Jenna Newman is a graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library and a graduate student in the Communication Department.

With more snow forecasted for today, it’s only fitting that our TBT include another snowy campus picture. This picture can be found in Falvey’s digital library and shows the exterior of St. Thomas of Villanova church with snow leading up to the church. This photo was taken in 1960, although the snowy scene looks a lot like the snowy scenes we’ve seen on campus today!

Jenna Newman is a graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library and a graduate student in the Communication Department.

“I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He’ll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again”

—”Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” by David Bowie and Bing Crosby

For those who want to reflect on how to bring peace to earth, consider reading Pope John XXIII’s encyclical letter in Falvey’s Memorial Library’s holdings.

The spirit of the Villanova Wildcats is strong in all that we do – whether it’s dominating in the sports realm, succeeding academically, or “proving them wrong” by wearing our masks on- and off-campus. Above you can see a picture depicting the 1958 football schedule along with two pictures of Wildcats. Although Will D. Cat’s look may have evolved over the years, ultimately the ability of Wildcats to successfully survive and adapt is the spirit the Villanova community embodies. 

Here are a couple of fun throwback facts about the Villanova Wildcats:

1. Villanova’s Wildcat most closely resembles the bobcat, which is found in the Southwest part of the United States.
2. In 1930, 1945, 1947, and 1949 Villanova acquired a wildcat that was kept in a cage on campus at the Fieldhouse and traveled to both home and away games.
3. For a short period during the late 1970s and early 1980s the word “cat” was added to the name of the individual sports: “Trackcats”, “Watercats”, and “Polocats.”

To read and see more about the evolution of the Wildcats, visit the digital library exhibit Wildcats Past & Present: Moments from the History of Sports at Villanova.

Jenna Newman is a graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library and a graduate student in the Communication Department. Current mood: Rocking my Villanova mask around campus.

…The sky turns crystal blue
after rainfall and low clouds,
a speedway for homecoming birds.

Lakes, Donna. “Easter Sunrise.” Appalachian Heritage, vol. 23 no. 2, 1995, p. 10-10. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/aph.1995.0102.

Photo of Villanova Chapel.

Joanne Quinn is Director of Communication and Marketing for Falvey Memorial Library.

I’m Daniella Snyder, a second-year graduate student at Villanova University, and your ‘Cat in Falvey Library’s Stacks. I’ll be posting about academics– from research to study habits and everything in between– and how Falvey Library can play a large role in your success here on campus!

For the 2019-2020 academic year, the One Book Committee selected I Will Always Write Back, co-authored by Villanova alumnus, Martin Ganda ’07 CLAS. The goal of the One Book Villanova program is to find a common subject that will unite us in good conversation about a culturally rich topic from which we draw great insight.

Thursday, Sept. 19, Ganda will return to campus to deliver his One Book Lecture as part of the St. Thomas of Villanova Celebration. The lecture will start at 6:00 p.m. in the Villanova Room (Connelly Center). Dozens of copies of Ganda’s book are still available for loan from Falvey.

Before the lecture, join Martin Ganda for a book signing in the Falvey Library Speakers’ Corner at 4:30 p.m.

Following the festivities on Thursday, we look forward to seeing you at programs that will continue our conversation around themes raised in our One Book. For example, you could participate in “The Campus Pen Pal Program:” Grab a copy of a postcard (in Falvey, the Student Life office, or Dougherty Hall) and answer some questions about yourself. In return, take a completed postcard to learn more about a fellow Villanovan and make contact with them, just like Caitlin and Martin did in I Will Always Write Back.

In 1984, Villanova Football made its triumphant return to campus.

A constant at the University since 1894, football was not played at Villanova for three seasons, until alumni and students rallied to revive the Wildcat gridders. The effort even included a benefit at the Philadelphia Academy of Music with legendary comedian Bob Hope!

During this first season, football cheerleaders tossed this palm-size football (now in the University Archives) to the home crowd. The team played at the Division III level and featured a shortened five-game schedule, going undefeated. New Head Coach Andy Talley would helm the team for 230 wins over 37 seasons and send many players to the NFL, including Philadelphia Eagles great Brian Westbrook.

Shawn Proctor, MFA, Communications and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Memorial Library, says his favorite Villanova football player is Matt Szczur (pronounced “Caesar”) who led the team to a national championship in 2009.

The Marist Mindset List was released this month detailing what has always and never been true for the class of 2023. This week, the Curious ‘Cat asked Falvey Memorial Library staff,

“What’s most surprising?”

Rob LeBlanc, First Year Experience Librarian:

“I still use my iPhone to make calls. Also, neither YouTube or Wikipedia are acceptable academic resources.”

Caroline Sipio, Access and Collections Coordinator:

“I still picture Alex Trebek with a mustache.”

Gina Duffy, Communication and Marketing Program Manager:

“I like that a majority of students will be renting their textbooks.”

Kallie Stahl, Communication and Marketing Specialist:

“I still use my iPod, which is apparently nostalgic.”

Kallie Stahl MA ’17 is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. 

On this day 45 years ago, Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the U.S., after the Richard Nixon resigned.

In November 1976, The Villanovan covered President Ford’s visit to Villanova University and delivered remarks to students including, “In the last two years, the United States of America has made an incredible comeback, and we are not through it yet….I have done my best to put this nation back on even keel, to chart a steady course for our country’s future.”

Read his complete remarks on the Ford Library Museum website.

Shawn Proctor, MFA, is communications and marketing program manager at Falvey Memorial Library.