Exhibition about Fr. Coughlin on Display at Foley Center

'Fr. Bernard Coughlin, S.J.: President, Priest, Scholar, Civic Leader, Friend'

Gonzaga News Service

SPOKANE, Wash. -- The exhibition titled "Fr. Bernard Coughlin, S.J.: President, Priest, Scholar, Civic Leader, Friend" is on display at Gonzaga University's Foley Center Library through Oct. 31. 

When Fr. Coughlin became president in 1974, Gonzaga was a small, financially struggling school. During his 22 years as president, the University experienced unprecedented growth in finances, campus size, student enrollment, and academic reputation. He went to serve another 20 years as Gonzaga chancellor.

Supervised by Special Collections Librarian Stephanie Plowman, intern Olivia Lada, Class of 2019, created and installed the exhibition, which showcases the multidimensional life of one of Gonzaga's most devoted administrators. The exhibition features more than 100 items, including his presidential medallion, honorary degrees, his publications, awards for chairing the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Community Service award. 

Located in the Cowles Rare Book Library, on the third floor of the Foley Center, the exhibition is free and open to the public. The library is open weekdays: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The exhibition is available online as well. For more information, please contact Stephanie Plowman: 509-313-3847.