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Guide to the Father William Shipley papers
USDA_2008_01
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Title:
Father William Shipley papers
Date (inclusive): 1958-2003
Collection number: USDA_2008_01
Creator: Shipley, William
Extent:
11 boxes (10.25 linear feet)
Abstract:
Father William Shipley taught in the Philosophy Department at the University of San Diego for 45 years. His papers document
the merger of the College for Women and College for Men particularly as it affected the Philosophy Departments. Additionally,
Shipley's papers include meeting minutes, notes and memoranda from the various committees on which Shipley served as well
as records from the Immaculate Heart Seminary and the St. Francis Seminary.
Languages:
English
Father William L. Shipley attended the Immaculate Heart Seminary in San Diego from 1948 to 1954. He then earned his Ph.L in
1957 and Ph.D in 1958 from the Angelicum University in Rome, Italy. In the fall of 1958, Shipley began teaching in the College
for Men Philosophy Department. He became Professor of Philosophy in 1964, a role which he held until his retirement in 2003.
In 1960, he became the chairman of the Philosophy Department, which he held until the College for Women and College for Men
merged into the University of San Diego. Shipley was preeminent in constructing how the newly combined Philosophy department
would function. The department was slow to merge because of the difference in teaching philosophies between Shipley and the
College for Women philosophy department chairman, Dr. Richard George. Dr. George believed student should be taught only the
perennial philosophy of Aristotle and Aquinas. Father Shipley felt the program should have a historical survey of philosophers
and allow students to learn diverse philosophical systems. Shipley was ultimately voted in as the chairman of the newly merged
philosophy department in April 1970. While discussion of the role of the Philosophy department continued, Shipley's view were
more readily incorporated. During his 45 year tenure at USD, Shipley taught 342 courses and 9273 students.
In addition to Shipley's professorship and chairmanship, he served on 46 campus committees. Among these were: Academic Council
(1961-1964), Academic Standards Committee (1962-1967), Budget Committee (1966-1967), Faculty Association (1966-1971), Curriculum
Committee (1961-1969), Faculty Status Committee (1968-1972), Presidential Search Committee (1970-1971, Chair), Faculty Senate
(1972-1973, Chair), and University Senate (1976-1996). Shipley continues to be recognized at USD a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy.
The Father William Shipley papers consist of the records William Shipley gathered while he was a member of the Philosophy
Department faculty. The majority of these records consist of meeting minutes, meeting notes, and memoranda for the various
committees on which Shipley served, as well as for the Philosophy department. These records document the challenges faced
in the Philosophy Department due to the merger of the College for Women and College for Men. These records also reflect changes
in University curriculum, policies, and goals throughout the 1960s to the 1990s. Shipley took thorough notes of the meetings
which he attended, documenting discussions, decisions, and his views. These notes are included alongside the more formalized
minutes of the meetings.
Also included in these records are clippings of news articles pertaining to the University of San Diego and its development.
Materials Shipley gathered during his tenure as a counselor for the St. Francis Seminary are also included. Among these materials
are information about the Immaculate Heart Seminary and notice of its closure in 1968.
The William Shipley papers are arranged into five series:
Series II is further organized into five sub-series: A. Academic and Administrative Committees; B. College of Arts and Sciences;
C. Curriculum Committees; D. Faculty Committees; and E. University Senate.
Access Information
The majority of these records are open for research. Box 9, containing Father Shipley's Philosophy Department records are
restricted.
[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Father William Shipley papers, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special
Collections.
This collection was processed by Tessie Camina in 2008. Additional processing was conducted by Ashley Toutain in 2017.
Exact original order of these records is unknown. From examination of the records during secondary processing, overarching
themes came out in the records that reflected a possible original order. It is from this that the current series and organization
were derived. It seemed clear that the majority of the boxes of records were organized in a clear manner: namely the various
committee records and the philosophy records. Some materials appear to likely have been arranged in alphabetical with no clear
topical order. This perceived organization is reflected in the current organization of these records.
Records for the Philosophy Department are available in the University Archives. Also, Bulletins, Catalogs, and the 1966-1967
yearbook for the Immaculate Heart Seminary and the St. Francis Seminary are available in the University Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Shipley, William L.
Hughes, Author E.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
University of San Diego
University of San Diego. College for Men
St. Francis Seminary
Immaculate Heart Seminary
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Diego (Calif.)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
philosophy