Virgil Clarence Blum was an American Jesuit and professor of political science at Marquette University.
13 Facts About Virgil Blum
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Virgil Clarence Blum was born on March 27,1913, in Defiance, Iowa, one of twelve children of John and Elizabeth Blum.
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Virgil Blum entered the Society of Jesus in 1934 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1947.
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In 1938 Blum received a bachelor's degree in Latin and English from St Stanislaus Seminary at Florissant, Missouri.
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Virgil Blum returned to Saint Louis University in 1950 for doctoral studies, earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree in political science and US history in 1954.
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Virgil Blum served as chairman of the political science department from 1962 to 1974.
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Virgil Blum advocated for parental choice in education through school vouchers for students in private schools.
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In 1961 Virgil Blum helped to found the Wisconsin chapter of Citizens for Educational Freedom, and he was active in the national organization, serving on its board of directors and executive committee and, for a time, as its national executive director.
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Virgil Blum traveled the United States giving talks to civil and religious groups, and he often contributed editorials to newspapers throughout the country.
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In 1973 Virgil Blum founded the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and served as its president until 1989.
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In 1989 Virgil Blum was diagnosed with cancer, and he died on April 5,1990, in his room at Marquette University's Jesuit Residence.
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The collection contains a variety of audiovisual materials, including some sound recordings of Virgil Blum's speaking engagements and video recordings of his television appearances.
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Virgil Blum was a voluminous correspondent, and letters are the most abundant type of document in the collection.