Loyola Marymount University

What if I told you that this hilltop campus, Loyola Marymount University, was once a collection of bungalows in Highland Park? Loyola Marymount University’s journey began far from this picturesque location. It started as St. Vincent’s College for Boys in 1865, the first institution of higher learning in Southern California. Classes initially took place in the Lugo Adobe near Olvera Street, before moving to a stone building on 7th Street. The college later moved to a grander campus near Grand Avenue and Washington Boulevard, complete with a chapel and traditional brick-and-ivy buildings. In 1911, the Vincentians departed, and the Jesuits took over, renaming it Los Angeles College and relocating it to those Highland Park bungalows. Graduate studies, including a law school which was the second in LA to admit Jewish students, began in 1920. Finally, in 1930, the undergraduate division found its permanent home here, becoming Loyola University of Los Angeles. But the story doesn’t end there. In 1973, Loyola University merged with Marymount College, creating the Loyola Marymount University we see today. Marymount College had its own fascinating history. Starting as an elementary school for young women in 1923, it eventually evolved into Marymount Junior College in Westwood before moving to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1960. The merging of these two institutions combined the Jesuit and Marymount educational traditions, shaping LMU’s distinct character. During World War II, Loyola University remained open thanks to a deal struck with the US Army to host an officer training program. Later, President Whelan demonstrated his commitment to social justice by criticizing the internment of Japanese Americans. This commitment to justice continued into the civil rights era, with LMU playing a role in the changing landscape of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University isn’t just a campus; it’s a testament to perseverance, adaptation, and the enduring power of education.