Collection on the Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M.

Rev. John T. Richardson, C.M. has served numerous administrative and faculty roles at DePaul University, beginning in 1954. Fr. Richardson, born 1923, came to DePaul to serve as dean of the Graduate School in 1954. He had previously taught theology and served as dean of students at Kendrick Seminary, St. Louis, after his 1949 ordination. Fr. Richardson began teaching jurisprudence at the DePaul College of Law in 1955, and in 1960 moved from dean of the Graduate School to become the university's executive vice-president. He assumed the presidency in 1981, succeeding Rev. John R. Cortelyou, C.M. In addition to his administrative duties, he served on the university's Board of Trustees beginning in 1954.

Fr. Richardson oversaw a period of dramatic growth at DePaul during his presidency, including expansion to the former Goldblatt building in the Loop, the Campaign for DePaul fundraising and expansion effort, and the Cornerstone Campaign that involved the foundation of the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. He retired from the presidency in 1992 and assumed the title of chancellor, continuing to advise the Board of Trustees and the next university president, Rev. John P. Minogue, C.M.

From 1997 to 2010, he took a leave of absence from duties at DePaul to teach at Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri, Kenya. In 2011 he published his memoirs, The Playful Hand of God. In 2015 he published Readings in Catholic Social Teaching, a collection of papal teachings and documents he originally had used as part of instruction curriculum at Christ the King Seminary.