Duquesne Dukes
Private - Catholic
Founded 1878
Pittsburgh, PA
Undergraduates: 5,751
Postgraduates: 4,433
Northeast Conference
Colors: Blue and Red
Rooney Stadium (4,500)
2008 Record: 3-7, 2-5
Early history
The Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost was founded on 1 October 1878 by Fr. Joseph Strub and the Holy Ghost Fathers, who had been expelled from Germany during Bismarck's Kulturkampf six years earlier.[6] When the college was founded, it had six faculty members and 40 students.[7] The college obtained its state charter in 1882.[6] Students attended classes in a rented space above a bakery on Wylie Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. Duquesne established itself at its current location on the Bluff and built the original five-story red brick "Old Main" in 1885. At the time, it was the highest point on the Pittsburgh skyline.[7]
On 27 May 1911, the College became the first Catholic institution of higher learning in Pennsylvania to become a university. It was subsequently renamed "Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost," after Ange Duquesne de Menneville, Marquis du Quesne, the French governor of New France who first brought Catholic observances to the Pittsburgh area. In 1914, the graduate school was established.[6]
Notable Alumni:
John Clayton (1976)[2] - NFL writer and reporter for ESPN
Chip Ganassi[21] - Former professional racecar driver and current professional race team owner
Art Rooney[2] - Pittsburgh Steelers founder and former owner
Dan Rooney[2] - Pittsburgh Steelers president and chairman
Bud Shuster - Pennsylvania Congressman (1972 to 2001)
cord: 3-7, 2-5
