Traditions and Symbols

The Charter

Saint Peter's College received its charter by an act approved by the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly on April 3, 1872. A handwritten folio dated Autumn 1878, the first year the College held classes, contains the oldest extant copy of the Act of Incorporation. The folio contains a handwritten list of student enrolled during the first forty years.

By accepting this document at the Inauguration ceremony, Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia accepts the public trust to educate and grant degrees in the name of the State of New Jersey to students who today have taken the place of those first classes in one of New Jersey's oldest Catholic colleges.

The Mace

The College mace, a silver rendering of the peacock, is carried in all formal academic processions before the professorial body of the College. By accepting the mace, Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia signifies his solidarity with his colleagues from the faculty in the mission of teaching.

The Medallion and Seal

Saint Peter's College Seal The medallion is presented to the new President of Saint Peter's College by the Board of Trustees. By accepting the medallion, Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia accepts the Board's charge to execute the duties of the President of the College.

The medallion is engraved with the College seal and Presidential ribbon. The seal pictures a peacock with its plumage spread. The peacock, chosen as the College symbol in 1930, represents the pre-revolutionary war name of Jersey City: Pavonia - Land of the Peacock. It also demonstrates the reopened College's commitment to continue In Perpetuum, as in ancient mythology when the peacock committed itself to the flames of a funeral pyre and was reborn with greater strength and beauty. The College seal also pictures two crossed keys representing its Patron, Saint Peter. At the top of the seal are a cross, three nails, and the first three letters of the sacred name of Jesus in Greek, IHS, all surrounded by a crown of thorns; this is the official emblem of the Society of Jesus and designates the College as a Jesuit institution of learning. The encircling inscription in the seal is the Latin equivalent of Saint Peter's College, Jersey City, founded 1872.

History of Presidency

22	Eugene J. Cornacchia	May 10, 2007
21	James N. Loughran, S. J.	July 1, 1995
20	Daniel A. Degnan, S. J.	July 1, 1990
19	L. Edward Glynn, S. J.	July 1, 1978
18	Victor R. Yanitelli, S. J.	September 8, 1965
17	Leo P. McLaughlin, S. J.	June 13, 1965
16	Edward F. Clark, S. J.	June 16, 1960
15	James J, Shanahan, S. J.	December 3, 1949
14	Vincent J. Hart, S. J.	August 15, 1943
13	Denis J. Comey, S. J.	June 21, 1937
12	Joseph S. Dinneen, S. J.	August 15, 1931
11	Joseph P. O'Reilly, S. J.	September 30,1925
10	Thomas F. Graham, S. J.	July 7, 1921
9	James F. McDermott, S. J.	April 15, 1915
8	Joseph A. Mulry, S. J.	October 10, 1911
7	Edward J. McGrath, S. J.	January 21, 1907
6	John W. Fox, S. J.	July 14, 1902
5	Joseph Zwinge, S. J.	August 26, 1900
4	John Harpes, S. J.	October 22, 1891
3	Peter Cassidy, S. J.	July 1, 1888
2	John McQuaid, S. J.	July 31, 1874
1	Victor Beaudevin, S. J.	April 3, 1872