The 1940s
1942
Bishop Charles F. Buddy invites Mother Rosalie Hill to open a college for women adjacent to his proposed men's college in San Diego. Mother Hill accepts, but plans for the colleges are delayed by World War II. Sacred Heart sisters begin to gather books for the eventual library and furnishings for the chapel.
1945
Mother general of the Society of the Sacred Heart cables from Rome final approval of the new college for women and transfer of the society's Western Province headquarters from San Francisco to San Diego. Mother general approves $25,000 to finance moving a group of sisters from San Francisco to San Diego.
Mother Hill and six members of her order arrive in San Diego to supervise the planning and construction of the new college. Mother Hill returns to San Francisco while the remaining Sacred Heart sisters take residence at the Convent of St. Madeleine Sophie in Old Town.
Site is selected: a mesa overlooking San Diego Harbor, Old Town and the location of the first Mass held in California. Bishop Buddy gives Mother Hill 22 acres; later increases it to 65 acres.
Mother Hill selects Spanish Renaissance architecture as the style for the buildings. She and Mother Suzanne de Leon begin planning the college buildings using illustrated books from Spain and stacks of quadrille paper.
1946
Mother Hill, superior vicar of the society's Western province, moves into the Old Town convent when the transfer of the province headquarters is finalized.
Sacred Heart sisters suggest the name "Alcalá Park" for the campus to honor the university's - and the city's - namesake, San Diego de Alcalá. Bishop Buddy agrees. San Diego is also the patron saint of the San Diego diocese.
1947
Bishop Buddy launches a $2.5 million capital campaign, The University Foundation Fund, to raise money for the development of the university, and for other charitable efforts within the diocese. Bishop announces that the two colleges will be open to students of all faiths.
1948
Ceremonial groundbreaking is held.
Frank L. Hope is contracted to be the architect.
The local Knights of Columbus pledge financial support for the university library.
A committee of diocesan priests organize The Priests' University Chapel Fund to build a church at Alcalá Park.
1949
The State of California grants charters for the San Diego College for Women and San Diego University, comprising the College for Men and School of Law (later known as the University of San Diego).
Society of the Sacred Heart approves plans, grants $4 million to build the College for Women.
Bulldozers begin leveling the mesa for construction.