Contending with Modernity: Catholic Higher Education in the Twentieth Century.

This book reviews the history of American Catholic higher education since 1900, with special attention to institutional and intellectual dimensions. Throughout, an "internalist" perspective is taken which attempts to tell the history of Catholic higher education as it appeared to those who were actors in the story, thus emphasizing the ideological dimensions which motivated Catholic educators. After an introduction which looks at the status of Catholic higher education in 1900, the material is organized chronologically in 14 chapters which discuss: (1) organizational challenges as the century opens; (2) rationalizing the Catholic system; (3) the impact of World War I; (4) Catholic colleges from 1900 to 1930; (5) the intellectual context in the period between the wars; (6) the beginnings of the Catholic renaissance; (7) the Catholic revival at its peak--about 1928; (8) increases in graduate programs by institutions; (9) difficulties during the thirties; (10) World War II and institutional shifts; (11) assimilative tendencies and curricular crosscurrents; (12) the backlash against the Catholic revival; (13) transition to a new era; and (14) the end of an era. (Contains extensive reference notes for each chapter.) (DB)