Connolly, Brendan C. (Brendan Cyril)

Brendan Cyril Connolly, SJ was born in Boston, MA on February 10, 1913 to Daniel Connolly and Mary E. Keane. Connolly was a graduate of Boston College, entered the Jesuit novitiate at Shadowbrook in 1931, and was ordained into the priesthood in 1943. Connolly was the first Jesuit priest to hold a doctorate in library science and received his degrees from Catholic University (B.S. in 1946) and the University of Chicago (Ph.D. in 1955). Connolly served as a librarian and professor of theology at Weston College from 1951-1959, before becoming the Boston College Director of Libraries following the retirement and death of Terence Connolly, SJ in 1959. During his tenure as director, Connolly helped accumulate a Thomas Merton collection for Boston College, which includes drawings by Merton, photographic images, and correspondence. Connolly led the Libraries and continued the development of the Merton collection until 1974. Connolly died on April 21, 1974 in Boston, MA. At commencement Boston College issues the Brendan Connolly Award, in Connolly's honor, to senior students who love books and respect learning, as did Connolly.