Excerpt:
The founding of the Jacques Maritain Center in 1957 consolidated the great French Catholic philosopher's association with the University of Notre Dame. For some years previously, Maritain had been coming to Notre Dame to lecture and stay for short periods of time. Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, the president of the University, friend and admirer of Maritain, wanted to make the relationship permanent. The Center was founded to ensure that the thought and spirit of Jacques Maritain would remain at Notre Dame long after those present on the happy occasion of its founding were gone.