Title: Robert Mullins Papers, 1926-1936, 1982

ID: OGLMC249

Primary Creator: Mullins, Roberts (1913-2004)

Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet

Subjects: Religion - Catholic Church, University of North Dakota - Faculty

Languages: English

Robert Mullins was born December 5, 1913. He attended Providence College in Rhode Island from 1931 to 1932 before transferring to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from Marquette with an A.B. in Philosophy and a minor in Latin in 1940. Between his studies at Marquette, he also attended St. Albert’s College in Oakland, California, for five years. He was ordained as a Catholic priest at St. Matthew’s Church in Milwaukee on September 29, 1945. That same year, he took an appointment as priest of the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center in Grand Forks, which included a position teaching religion at UND.

While in Grand Forks, he finished work on his M.A. in Philosophy from Marquette in 1949. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1972, associate professor in 1976, and professor in 1980. He also served as priest at St. Michael’s Parish in Grand Forks, and St. Jude’s in Thompson, North Dakota. He was chaplain at St. Michael’s Hospital and the Grand Forks Air Force Base. He retired from UND and his church appointments in 1984.

Mullins was much revered as an instructor of philosophy and religious studies. He was fluent in at least six languages and could read texts in three ancient languages. His students often kept in contact with him years after they had graduated. Former student Julie Imgrund referred to Mullins as her “spiritual grandfather” in a Grand Forks Herald article following his death. “He would always be available to people, far and wide, who would come to him for help,” she said. He offered “guidance with such intelligence, humor and humility.”

Mullins died March 4, 2004, in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Religion - Catholic Church
University of North Dakota - Faculty

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional materials were transferred in May 2005 from the Sister Ellen Murphy Papers, OGLMC 512; 2005-2720

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Method: Donation; the original acquisition records are unavailable

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Robert Mullins Papers. OGLMC 249, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in June 2014.