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    Fr. Charles was born in the small Italian village of Nazzano, a suburb of Rome, on May 5, 1831. After being ordained in 1854 he served the secretary of his Province in Rome. In 1868 he was sent as a Visitor General to the Custody of the Immaculate Conception, to investigate the problems reported with elected provincial officials during the latter part of Fr. Pamfilo's term as Custos. He succeeded in this difficult task and was chosen to take Fr. Pamfilo's place as Custos of the province in 1868.  In the fall of 1874, Fr. Charles took over the administration of the college and seminary and during his term St. Bonaventure received its memorable charter as an institution of higher learning from the Regents of the State of New York.    

    In 1880, Fr. Charles was authorized to establish the Commissariat  of the Holy Land in the United States.  He was appointed first director, or commissary, of this organization which raised funds for the support of shrines in the charge of the Franciscans in the Holy Land. He established the headquarters at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, New York City. Years later they were moved to Washington, their present location. For sixteen years he guided this institution and organized its first pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1889.  He died in Italy, where he had gone to restore his health, in 1896, at the age of seventy-five.  

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Biographical Information:

NAME: VISSANI, CHARLES V. DA (FR )(OSF)

OTHER NAMES AND SPELLINGS: NONE

DATE OF BIRTH: 1831-05-13

PLACE OF BIRTH: NAZZANO, ITALY 

RECEPTION INTO ORDER: 1846-05-06

ORDINATION DATE: 1854-09-23

WHERE ORDAINED: ROME

SERVED AT SBU:1874-1877

SERVED/PRES.: 1874-1877

SERVED ELSEWHERE: SEC TO THE PROVINCIAL-FATHER GIACINTO DA POGGIO MIRTETO\ CUSTOS PROVINCIAL 1868-71,1874-77,1880-83\ 1880 1ST COMMISSARY OF THE HOLY LAND IN THE U.S.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: RECEIVED CHARTER ON MARCH 1,1875 DECLARING SBU INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN NEW YORK STATE\ DURING PRESIDENCY 1ST COLLEGE DEGREE AWARDED TO WILLIAM KENNEY OF HYDE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA (BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE).

DEATH DATE :1896-09-27

BURIAL PLACE: ITALY

BUILDINGS NAMED AFTER: NONE

BUILDINGS COMPLETED WHILE PRES.: BUILDING COMPLETED 1875-DEVELOPED 2 SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS-SB COLLEGE AND SB SEMINARY

BUILDINGS DEDICATED: NONE

LOCATION OF PHOTOS: ARCHIVES\FOUNDERS ROOM

Bibliography:

Angelo,  Mark V., OFM. The History of St. Bonaventure University. St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute, 1961. 

Hammon, Walter,  OFM. The First Bonaventure Men. Paterson, NJ: St. Anthony Guild Press, 1958. 

St. Bonaventure University Archives Presidents Files