Biographical Note:  Raphael N. Hamilton was born on November 5, 1892 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Hamilton attended Creighton University, achieving his bachelor of arts degree in 1913.  He entered the Society of Jesus in 1913 and was ordained a priest in 1926.  Father Hamilton, S.J. went to graduate school at St. Louis University, attaining his master's and doctoral degrees in history in 1919 and 1932 respectively.  He held several positions at Marquette University; assistant professor, 1930, associate professor, 1932-1957, chair of the history department, 1932-1956, dean of the graduate school, 1940-1944, founder and head of university archives, 1961-1973, and professor emeritus, 1964.  Father Hamilton, S.J. was an accomplished author and expert on the early activities of the French in North America, particularly the life of Jacques Marquette, S.J.  In addition, he served the role of university historian, publishing The Story of Marquette University:  An Object Lesson in the Development of Catholic Higher Education in 1953.  Father Hamilton, S.J. died April 19, 1980 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Restrictions:  Access to these records is unrestricted. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of these records. Consult an archivist for further information.

Scope and Content:   This collection consists of Father Hamilton's, S.J. correspondence and publications.   His seminal works are his dissertation, A Cartography of the Missouri Valley:  To the Establishment of "La Compagnie d' Occident," 1717, 1932; The Story of Marquette University:  An Object Lesson in the Development of Catholic Higher Education, 1953; Great Men of Michigan:  Father Marquette, 1970; Marquette's Explorations:  The Narratives Reexamined, 1970.  Also included are several short articles and speeches, both published and unpublished.  Concluding the collection is a pair of illustrated, unpublished monographs penned by C.W. Hamilton; The Lives of English Cardinals, [n.d.] and Vacation Days in England, 1912.

Link to Inventory