Pace, Edward A. (Edward Aloysius), 1861-1938

Edward Aloysius Pace was born on July 3, 1861 in Starke, Florida to George Edward and Margaret (Kelly) Pace. He was the oldest of eight children. While born in Florida, he lived his first four years in Nova Scotia, Canada with his mother and maternal grandfather. After the Civil War, he and his mother returned to Florida. His father was a Methodist, but Pace was raised Catholic. He attended local elementary school in Starke and Duval High School in Jacksonville until 1874. He attended St. Charles College in Ellicott, Maryland, graduating in 1880. He continued his studies at the North American College of Rome. He received his bachelor of sacred theology in 1883 and doctorate of sacred theology in 1886. He was ordained a priest in 1885 in Rome. While studying in Rome, Pace became a protoge of Monsignor Francesco Satolli, the foremost Thomist scholar at the College of Propaganda and future Apostolic delegate to the United States. Pace distinguished himself as a student of Thomistic philosophy and represented the North America College in Rome in a scholastic debate held in the presence of Pope Leo XIII. Following his ordination, the bishop of St. Augustine called Pace back to the become the rector of the Cathedral in St. Augustine, FL in 1886. He continued in that position until 1888. At that time, the first Rector of The Catholic University of America (CUA), Rev. John J. Keane, invited Pace to become the first professor of psychology at the newly established university. Pace needed to complete his education in psychology and returned to Europe in 1888. He studied under Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig and received his doctorate in 1891, writing his dissertation on Herbert Spencer's theory of evolution ("Das Relativitatsprincip in Herbert Spencer's Psychologischer Entweicklunjslehere"). During that time, he also studied biology and psychology at the Universities of Louvain and Paris. Pace became a professor of psychology and philosophy at CUA in 1891, and throughout his long academic career, Pace occupied many roles within the university and beyond. He was dean of the School of Philosophy from 1895-1899, 1906-1914, and from 1934-1935. He taught classes in philosophy and psychology and established the first psychological laboratory at CUA. He became Director of Studies at CUA in 1912, General Secretary in 1918, and Vice-Rector September 23, 1924. Pace's devotion to higher education led to his role as co-founder of Trinity College. He was particularly invested in higher education for women and taught at Catholic Sisters College. Pace was also the dean of the Institute of Pedagogy in New York City. Among the many honors Pace received during his life, he was awarded the Papal Medal Pro Ecelesia et pontifice and was elevated to Monsignor in 1920. Georgetown University decorated Pace with the Camillo Cardinal Mazzella Academy of Philosophy award in 1935. Monsignor Pace died April 26, 1938 at Providence Hospital, Washington, DC.