George Taylor was an 1897 graduate of Saint Mary's College (the original name of Belmont Abbey College). The summer after his graduation, he entered the monastery as Vincent. in 1924, Vincent G. Taylor succeeded Abbot Leo Haid (1885-1924) as the monastery's second Abbot and third college president.
Taylor "brought the College into the modern age. In 1928 the school was reorganized to have only a preparatory academy, junior college, and seminary. To strengthen the institution further, he affiliated the College with The Catholic University of America (1930), created a modern research library (1939), employed laymen on the faculty (1929), nurtured inter-collegiate athletics, and sent monks to earn advanced degrees, until in 1952 Belmont Abbey College was restored to Senior College status." (Blessing the Years to Come, page 32)
Abbot Taylor was succeeded by Abbot Walter Coggin (1956-1970).
About the collection
In 1952, Abbot Taylor made a record of a Christmas address. Side 1 (0:00 to 5:16) is his address, bookended by the music of Father Kenneth Geyer, OSB. Side 2 (5:18 to 10:38) consists of updates about the college, including: the announcement of the transition from a 2 to 4 year college, renovations of the Science Building, and a call for support for further updates.
The record was digitized in 2018 by Erik Dix of the Notre Dame University Archives.
1897
Blessing the Years to Come, page 7
1897
Blessing the Years to Come, page 67
1937
Spire Yearbook
1938
Spire Yearbook
1939
Spire Yearbook
1941
Spire Yearbook
1948
Spire Yearbook
1952
Spire Yearbook