University dedicates plaque in front of Corby
By JASON McFARLEY
News Editor
Notre Dame formally dedicated Wednesday a plaque that clarifies or corrects information inscribed on a 1911 statue of former University President Father William Corby.
The statue and plaque commemorate Corby's service in the Civil War, where he was a chaplain for the Irish Brigade of the Union Army.
The statue, popularly referred to as "Fair Catch Corby" because Corby stands with one arm raised, actually depicts the man giving General Absolution during the Battle of Gettysburg.
The plaque located directly in front of the statue on the Corby Hall lawn was the project of Lou Reps and several University administrators.
"The old plaque underneath the statue made no mention of to whom he gave General Absolution," said Reps, of Merrillville, Ind., "and it was wrong that he gave it before the battle. It was a three-day battle. He gave it on the second day."
Reps, an admitted history buff who gives campus tours, considered creating a plaque for several years.
Notre Dame officials, including University Executive Vice President Father Timothy Scully and Corby Hall Religious Superior Father Bill Seetch liked the idea.
The Committee on Campus Environment signed off on the project.
"The University was in favor of making the information about Father Corby more up to date," Seetch said Wednesday.
Although the plaque was dedicated Tuesday, it has stood in front of the hall since early July.
"I see people stop by all the time to see it," Seetch said.
Corby served two terms as University president, from 1866 to 1872 and 1877 to 1882.
The Corby statue is a replica of a bronze sculpture of the priest dedicated in 1910 on the Gettysburg, Pa., battlefield.
"Gettysburg's individual statues are of generals, except President Lincoln, Chaplain Corby and a civilian," according to the inscription on the new plaque.
Contact Jason McFarley at
mcfarley.1@nd.edu
All News Stories for Thursday, September 27, 2001
