Draft:Jere Sullivan

Jere Sullivan

ADOLESCENCE

Jere Sullivan, son of Patrick H. and Catherine Sullivan was a prominent attorney, as well as a Madison County native. Sullivan was a graduate of Central University (now known as Centre College) at 18, before going to the University of Richmond to receive his law degree. He would continue to practice law throughout the city of Richmond.

NORMAL SCHOOLS

While on the board of regents, Sullivan was the primary author of a house bill in Kentucky, to open more Normal Schools throughout the state for educators. Opening more of these schools was useful for educators because of the accessibility of more schools.

BOARD OF REGENTS

Sullivan was one of the first members of Madison County that became a part of the board of regents at Eastern Kentucky University. He was on this board from June of 1906 to April of 1930. During his time on the board, Jere Sullivan’s focus on the board was to oversee the making of tools for students available for all students.

Sullivan was a part of Eastern’s board of regents and was passionate about the opening of Normal Schools throughout the state of Kentucky. Normal Schools are educational facilities that were created to properly teach educators about the norms of curriculum. passion for the opening of Normal Schools, Eastern Normal as well as Western Normal, located in Bowling Green.

SULLIVAN HALL

Jere Sullivan’s mentorship to make Eastern Kentucky University what it is today, did not go unnoticed. His hard work was rewarded with the university naming one of their residence halls after him. Sullivan Hall is in central campus, on University Drive, walking distance from various buildings on campus, such as the dining hall, John Crabbe Library, and Powell.  

Sullivan Hall is a residence hall that was historically used as a hospital in the Civil War, for the wounded soldiers to go to during the Battle of Richmond, in 1862. It is believed by previous and past that this residence hall is haunted. During the Battle of Richmond, it is speculated that one of the nurses in this infirmary passed, students have reported on several occasions that they feel an eerie feeling throughout the building. Sullivan Hall is a co-ed dormitory on Eastern’s campus that houses 161 men and women. This hall was traditionally used to be home to honors students, nontraditional students, graduate students, as well as nursing majors. The campus infirmary was in the basement of this residence hall, which has now been moved to the Rowlette Building.

DEATH

Sullivan passed away on September 12, 1931, at his home on West Main Street in downtown Richmond, Kentucky. After his death, Sullivan’s body was laid to rest in the Administration Building, allowing for those who wanted to do so, to go pay their respects to him. Sullivan had worked for the university for twenty years before his death. Sullivan’s main concern while working for the university on the board of regents was making sure that Eastern was also a home for all the students and putting his heart and soul into the university.

References

1. Sullivan Hall. Omeka RSS. (n.d.). https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/exhibits/show/ekux100/ekux100-locations/sullivan-hall  

1. “Eastern Board of Regents,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/33290.

1. “Correspondence with Jere Sullivan,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/86698.

1. “William Wallace from J.A. Sullivan,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/26430.

1. “Sullivan Hall, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Kentucky.” Placeography,www.placeography.net/Sullivan_Hall,_Eastern_Kentucky_University,_521_Lancaster_Avenue,_Richmond,_Kentucky. Accessed 9 Apr. 2024.  

1. “Student Organizations Sullivan House Council,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/61941.

1. Holly, Jenny and Jackie Couture on behalf of Eastern Kentucky University. "Sullivan Hall." Clio: Your Guide to History. October 12, 2018. Accessed April 9, 2024. https://www.theclio.com/entry/63815

1. McGaughey, S.J., “Sullivan Hall,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/30501.

1. Eastern Kentucky State Normal School, “Joint Board of Regents Minutes,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/89006.

1. “1997 Madison's Heritage Articles,” Digital Collections, accessed April 9, 2024, https://digitalcollections.eku.edu/items/show/86613.