Michael Brendan McCloskey was born in Paterson, New Jersey on September 1, 1910, attended schools locally until 1926, when he entered the preparatory seminary of the Franciscan Order, being received into the Order on August 25, 1932. After studying philosophy and theology, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1939. His first appointment was as instmctor at Siena College in Londonville, New York, from 1940 to 1943, when he was sent to Catholic University in Washington to study for the doctorate in Latin American History (1943-1947). Together with the late Fr. Roderick Wheeler, O.F.M., he was one of the charter members of the Academy of American Franciscan History, founded in April, 1944 in Washington, D.C. as a research institute for the study of Franciscan and Church history of the Americas. Upon completing his course work for the doctorate in 1947, he returned to Siena College, where, with the exception of one year (1950-51) at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York, he spent the ensuing years until 1968, receiving his doctorate in 1952. In 1968 he returned to the Academy of American Franciscan History where he helped edit The Americas until February, 1970, when he was given the task of writing the history of Holy Name Franciscan Province. He died suddenly at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C. on March 5, 1970.
His publications include The Formative Years of the Missionary College of Santa Cruz of Querétaro, 1683-1733 (Washington, 1954); “The United States and the Brazilian Naval Revolt, 1893-1894,” The Americas, II (Jan. 1946), 296-321; and “Fray Isidro Félix de Espinosa, Companion and Biographer of Margil,” The Americas, VII (Jan. 1951), 283-295.
Fr. Michael was first and foremost a teacher, in the fields of colonial Mexico, Inter-American Relations, and the Caribbean since 1890. During the pioneer years at young Siena College he was always ready to substitute for absent professors in any branch of history, or philosophy, and often did so. He was a faithful member of the American Historical Association, the American Catholic Historical Association, and the New York State History Society, seldom missing the annual meetings. He will be remembered by his many students, friends, and colleagues.
