Presidents of the College of the Holy Cross:
Rev. James J. Carlin, S.J.
Twentieth President of Holy Cross
1918 - 1924
James Carlin was born in Peabody, Massachusetts, on April 14, 1872. His early education was in Peabody's public schools. He entered Boston College in 1889 and three years later left to join the Society of Jesus on August 14, 1892.
He made his classical studies at Frederick, MD and taught English and French for five years at Georgetown College. He was ordained a priest on June 27, 1907 by John Cardinal Farley.
Rev. Carlin taught Philosophy at Holy Cross from 1910 to 1912 when he was made Assistant to the Provincial of the Maryland-New York Province. In 1918 he was named President of Holy Cross. During his presidency he inaugurated in Alumni drive for funds that resulted in the dormitory that bears his name in the Memorial Chapel of St. Joseph. The chapel is a memorial to all Holy Cross students who died in World War I.
In 1925 he was appointed Rector and President of the Ateneo College in Manila, Philippine Mission. On a return trip from Rome to Manila he was stricken aboard ship with apoplexy. When the ship docked at Los Angeles he was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital where he died on October 1, 1930. His body was transferred to Worcester and is buried in the College Cemetery.