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The Condon Case

While it remains one of the better documented cases in St. Edward’s history, the financial case of Edward J. Condon, although extreme, is not unique in that it was very telling of the difficult era that spanned from the ‘20s into the ‘30s. It appears that Condon wanted nothing more than for his two sons, Robert and Jimmy, to complete their St. Edward’s education scot-free. In fact, Mr. Condon failed to report to his children on their financial debts to the university. In a long string of correspondence, spanning from 1926 to 1948, Condon, a real estate salesman down on his deals, exchanged letters with then-President Burke and other University officials regarding his debts.  The following gallery, equipped with explicatory captions, outlines the Condon experience.

This was not the typical experience of the St. Edward's man--possibly an explanation as to why President Burke could personally avert so much attention to the settlement of the case. Interestingly enough, the correspondence spanned past his presidential period, which ended in 1931. It is clear, though, that relief from his administrative sentence did not inhibit his ability to care for and handle situations on behalf of the university.

On the other hand, the Condons were not alone in their struggles. Many families sent partial payment and letters to explain the late payment. The Great Depression began to really affect St. Edward's as soon as students began to struggle to pay tuition. No tuition meant no revenue to keep the university running.