<div class="description">
<dl><dd>This satirical publication was established in secret by students of St. John's College, with some assistance from administrative staff (Jesuit priests) of St. John's College. The enterprise was opposed by college president John Larkin, SJ. Nonetheless, Larkin tolerated the Goosequill but strictly forbid it from being printed or circulated outside the college. After the graduation of the founding editorial staff (Hassard, Francis, and McMahon) in May 1855, editorial responsibilities were handed over to P.A. Hargous, Henry Smith, and Thomas A. O'Connor, but publication ceased. Attempts at establishing a successor publication included the titles Sem, The collegian, The critic, and The spy, but all were relatively short-lived. The first stable student publication finally appeared in 1882 with the Fordham College monthly</dd>
<dd>"Edited by Ham"--title page of volume 1; editors subsequently established as John R. G.Hassard, Arthur Francis, and Martin T. McMahon, all St. John's College class of 1855--see Taafe, A history of St. John's College, Fordham, NY (New York : The Catholic Publication Society, 1891), page 143</dd>
<dd>"The Goose-Quill is published every second week by Ham, Esq."--no.1 page 1</dd>
<dd>Vol. 1 no. 5 issued with subtitle: "Christmas number."</dd>
<dd>Vol. 1 no. 5 and vol. 1 no. 13 issued at irregular interval</dd>
<dd>Followed in 1856 by The critic, a similar manuscript student publication issued in secret to avoid censorship</dd>
<dd>Satirical and literary manuscript student publication, including essays, fiction, poems, and parodies</dd>
<dd>Vol. 1 no. 14; title from masthead</dd>
<dd>Vol. 1 no. 14</dd>
<dd>Binding: 14 issues bound in brown leather, gold-tooled and blind-stamped</dd>
<dd>"Early Fordham publication"--stamped on cover</dd></dl><br>Subjects: St. John's College (Bronx, New York, N.Y.); Student publications; College student newspapers and periodicals; College student newspapers and periodicals; Student publications; Students</div>
<div class="fn value">
<dl><dd>Hassard, John R. G. (John Rose Greene), 1836-1888, editor</dd>
<dd>Francis, Arthur, -approximately 1855, editor</dd>
<dd>McMahon, Martin Thomas, 1838-1906, editor</dd>
<dd>St. John's College (Bronx, New York, N.Y.)</dd></dl></div>
Internet Archive identifier