Biography of 	Blenk,  Rev. James H. Orleans Parish, Louisiana 
Submitted by 	Mike Miller November 1997

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    Rev. James Hubert Blenk, president of Jefferson college, and one of
the prominent educators of Louisiana, is a gentleman in whom are
strikingly exemplified those characteristics and principles which
conduce to the occupation of positions demanding the display of great
mental abilities.  He was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 6, 1856, and
in 1866 he accompanied his parents to America and located with them in
New Orleans.  Father Blenk received every advantage for a liberal
education, and his first collegiate training was received in Baltimore,
Md.  Later he attended Jefferson college, St. James parish, La, and in
1877 crossed the ocean to Europe to further his studies there.  He
pursued the study of philosophy in the house of studies of the Society
of Mary, at Belley, near Lyons, France, and subsequently became a novice
in the Order of Mary at the last-named place.  From there he went to
Dublin and entered deeply into the study of natural philosophy and
higher mathematics in the Catholic University of Dublin.  In this city
he also commenced his theology, and at the conclusion of a course in
which he highly distinguished himself, he was ordained priest at
Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.  Returning to the United States he
became a professor in Jefferson college (St. Mary's), and since that
time has devoted all his efforts to educational work in this well-known
institution, having occupied every important chair in the college.  That
he has labored faithfully in his calling is demonstrated in the fact
that he was recently made president of the institution in which he has
so zealously and assiduously toiled.  In the management of its affairs
he displays an executive power and ability as an instructor and
disciplinarian which place him in the front rank of educators.  His
well-rounded character and generous, kindly disposition have won the
respect and confidence of his associates and the love and reverence of
his students.
 
 From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp.
297-298. 
Submitted by Mike Miller