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Volume 4 Number 3 deeply personal talk, graced with October 1991 reminiscences about her beginnings in the intellectual life and the unfolding of her scholarly career as she grew to know the CONFERENCE NEWS subjects whose biographer she became, most notably, and The second conference on the history of Louis William V. DuBourg. Annabelle, women religious will convene June 28 to we will miss you. · July 1, 1992, at Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York. Anyone desiring to Elizabeth Jean DeMuth, RSM, former present a paper at the Conference, the archivist for the Sisters of Mercy in St. theme of which is "Women Religious and Louis and a member of the HWR the Social Fabric;" should send a one-page Conference from its inception, died abstract, accompanied by a brief vita, by November 14, 1990. Elizabeth was a January 10, 1992, to the newsletter regular correspondent with a keen interest address. Further details are given on the in the history of women's congregations. · Call for Papers, a copy of which will She, also, will be sorely missed. ·· reach you with this edition of News and Notes. Mary Ewens, OP, has agreed to PUBLICATIONS, TALKS chair the Program Committee which wm be screening proposals. The screening The history of health care in Canada is process is scheduled to conclude in being illuminated by accounts concerning February, following which newsletter a trio of hospitals in the province of subscribers and all other inquirers can Ontario: TO SERVE WITJi HONOR by expect to receive a Conference program Peggy Savage is a history of St. . and registration information. Hospital, Hamilton, from 1890 to 1990; the Peterborough St. Joseph Hospital is Our subscriber list for News and Notes commemorated in a centenary account by has just topped 400. New subscribers, and Margaret McDonald, CSJ; and a history perhaps some who joined after February, of St. 's Hospital, Toronto is 1988, may be interested in obtaining a forthcoming, by Irene McDonald, CSJ, to complete set of back issues. If so, please mark that hospital's centenary. Further send your request, along with $5.00 to information on these publications can be cover costs, to the Editor. obtained from Mary Jane Trimble, CSJ, · 3377 Bayview Ave., Willowdale, Ont. MEMBER NEWS Canada M2M 3S4.

We were shocked and saddened to learn of THE TRANSFORMATION OF the death of Annabelle Melville on May AMERICAN CATHOLIC SISTERS by 17. Heart-related problems caused her Lora Ann Quinonez, CDP and Mary sudden death. Annabelle's address at the Daniel Turner, SNDdeN, is scheduled for first conference on the history of women publication December, 1991, by Temple religious held in St. Paul in 1989 on University Press. The book, which uses "Writing the Biography of a " the archival holdings of the Leadership alternately inspired, challenged, and Conference of Women Religious and oral amused us. It was at once a scholarly and history as major sources, discusses the change process in U.S. religious communities (apostolic) of women. HISTORY OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS PAGE 1 SISTERS OF MERCY; SPIRITUALITY "MOTHER AUSTIN CARROLL AND IN AMERICA (1843-1900) by Kathleen MERCY WORKS ACROSS THE Hea1y, RSM, is a collection of writings · SOUTH" a paper delivered by Mary derived chiefly from the archives of Hermenia Muldrey, RSM, at the American Sisters of Mercy throughout the U.S. Catholic Historical Association's Spring, representative of the development of their 1991 meeting, traces the establishement of spirituality during the second half of the schools for blacks in the 1860's through ·: nineteenth century. Copies may be the end of the century by the Sisters of obtained by writing the author at 3333 Mercy. Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. WORK JN PROGRESS This publication coincides with the culmination of a ten-year process whereby Ten Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters 25 regional communities of Sisters of from Monroe, Michigan, have now Mercy united as one institute (Jilly, 1991), formed a "Claiming Our Roots" task force forming one of the largest religious to explore their history (stre HWR News congregations in the world. The 7 ,400 and Notes 4:2, p.3). Following a year's Mercy Sisters from 29 countries and 45 of work defining their purpose, refining the 50 states were linked in a ceremony in assumptions, and selecting topics, and Buffalo, NY during which 3,000- women with the help of a weekend consultation representing the various communities with Margaret (Peg) Thompson, the group signed a document as co-founders of the is now inviting other IHMs to join them i Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The writing a series of essays. It is hoped that congregation's founder, Catherine the topical essays will enhance rather than McAuley, established the first House of replace a comprehensive history; topics Mercy in 1828 in Dublin. By the early include the foundation period; personal twentieth century individual congregations relationships and friendships; education or units flourished throughout the United and ministry; leadership, governance and States; the limited resources of some units power; the congregation as an economic led them to unite as the Sisters of Mercy entity; spirituality; health; community of the Union while others remained socialization processes; and the arts. The independent. In 1965 the Federation of the plan is to produce a volume in time for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas formed · the Monroe IHM 1995 sesquicentennial. to share ideas and offer mutual support on a regular basis. From this, through Maxine Seller (SUNY Buffalo) is editing a intensive work over the past decade, there reference work for Greenwood Press emerged a common constitution for the entitled WOMEN EDUCATORS IN THE newly formed institute. UNITED STATES: A BIOGRAPHICAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR HANDBOOK. Seller is looking for by Rita Margaret Chambers, OP, is the scholars to contribute short biographies of story of the ten-year struggle of the immigrant and ethnic women educators CaldweJI Dominicans to build senior who had an impact on American education citizen housing and the experiences of the in the nineteenth or twentieth centuries. housing's initial years of occupancy. For Authors of biographies of Asian more information, contact Irene Marie American, Mexican Amerfcan, and Puerto Richards, OP, Mt. St. Dominic", 1 Rican educators and of Catholic and Ryerson Ave., Caldwell, NJ 07006. Jewish educators, as well as suggestions for subjects in these areas are especia11y welcome and can be sent to the editor at the Department of Educational Organization, Admin., and Policy, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260.

HISTORY OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS PAGE 2 . /

Jossey-Bass will be publishing an should communicate with the HWR News ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WOMEN AT and Notes editor. WORK. The section containing entries on Catholic women religious is still being BOOK REVIEW developed; other sections include Protestant religious women, women in CREATING A FUTURE FOR Jaw, women in medicine, etc. Further RELIGIOUS LIFE: A Sociological information can be obtained from Beth Perspective, by Patricia Wittberg, SC Penn, College, Thomas (New York: Paulist Press, 1991). 185 More Parkway, Crestview Hills, KY pages. 41017. Sister Patricia Wittberg, concerned about The process recently initiated declining membership in religious for Mother , congregations, has taken from sociology founder of the Congregation of the Oblate the rich analytic literature about the social Sisters of Providence, can be expected to structure of communities, associations and generate biographical studies. An bureaucracies, three classic forms of group immigrant from to in the structure, and applied it systematically to early 1800's, Lange sensed the need for the study of intra- and inter- group education of the children of fellow interaction in religious congregations of immigrants. Being a Black woman in a Catholic women. On the basis of her slave state where to educate slaves was findings, she has then made predictions against the law did not deter her. By 1829 about which type congregation may· she had formed the first congregation of overcome the current crisis of membership African-American women religious in the decline and look forward to a viable history of the Roman , for future. the purpose of educating Black children. Further information on Mother Lange and Anyone interested in understanding group the canonization process can be obtained structure will find her treatment of from the Congregation of The Oblate intentional communities, of associations Sisters of Providence at 701 Gun Road, characterized by weak ties, and of , MD 21227. bureaucracies organized for efficiency and effectiveness, worthwhile and informative. Members of the faculty at the Institute of Her analysis of the three group models Notre Dame, Baltimore, the earliest comes to life as scaffolding beneath the permanent foundation of the School Sisters cherished customs and experimental new of Notre Dame in North America (1847), modes of living adopted or drifted into are planning to write a history of this during the period of renewal since the institution, today an inner city high school Council. It is, as she claims, pure for girls. The target date for publication is sociological analysis, and it is well done. 1997, the sesquicentennial year. When it comes to the question of social One of our members, Jo Ann McNamara, structure, however, these models alone are suggests that as members develop papers not helpful unless a group is doing nothing and panels for submission to the various about renewal of its commitment to the professional association program mission of the Church as expressed in its committees, they consider submission teachings about social justice, love and under the auspices of the History of peace. This needs some explanation. Women Religious Conference. When Social structure consists of the rules and associations accept panels organized by a regulations adopted over the years to carry learned society (like the Haskins Society) out the mission as understood by the they give credit in the program. This members. Groups begin with no struc­ simple device could give us more presence ture, just good will, and then, as so well in the profession. If interested, you described in this book, develop forms of

HISTORY OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS PAGE 3 interaction that in time become sacralized Facilitated by the railroad system which in themselves, often to the point of radiated out from Chicago this obscuring the very reason for being of the -congregation achieved an unusual congregation. Some rules are adopted to dispersion throughout the United States keep the charism in place; others, to under a central government. Persons implement it through ministries, and still interested in more information about the others to manage effectiv~I_y the whole BVMs and their coming centenary events growing system. Sometimes these should contact Jane McDonald, BVM, · pragmatic norms become so sacred we Mount Carmel BVM Center, 1100 Carmel forget our reason for being. When the Drive, Dubuque, IA 52004. · recommitment to being for mission occurs, that is, if it does, then the process of The Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale, restructuring, inspired by the Pennsylvania are just bringing to a close a recommitment to the mission of the year-long celebration of the 125th anni­ Church, plays a major role in the reform versary of their foundation in the United of the organization. States. For more information contact M. Thomasita Heller, OSF, Archivist, St. In our day, given our knowledge of social Francis Convent, Mt. Alvernia, Millvale structures, it would indeed be unwise P.O., Pittsburgh, PA 15209. simply to tinker with the norms and expect that the values we would live for, die for 1993 BERKSHIRE CONFERENCE ON and pass on to the next generation will THE HISTORY OF WOMEN: Call for appear or reappear on their own. Reading Papers this book will help in understanding the function of the forms the institutions have · The 9th Berkshire Conference on the taken. But, beyond such an understanding, History of Women, "Transformations: commitment in faith to the mission of the Women, Gender, Power," will be held on Church continues to be required of June 11-13, 1993 at Vassar College in congregational members in order to inspire Poughkeepsie, NY, USA. The Program the newly growing ethnic populations of Committee welcomes proposals addressing the world to "come and see" how the relations between feminist history and members are living that broader Church s~cial and political practice and papers mission according to the charism of any taking an interdisciplinary or comparative given . approach crossing national, cultural, racial, or ethnic Jines. The Conference Marie Augusta Neal encourages international participation and SND de Namur perspectives. Emmanuel College, Boston We prefer submissions of proposals for ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITS complete panels (to include a maximum of two papers, one commentator, and a The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed moderator) or roundtables. Individual Mary, Mount Carmel, Dubuque, papers will also be considered. The Iowa are celebrating the centennial of their Program Committee may rearrange panels; motherhouse with a series of tours of their submissions of a proposal will be taken as Heritage Rooms and an historical event agreement with this proviso. each month from September, 1991 through July, 1992. The roots of the BVMs are in Dublin in 1829; they immigrated to Philadelphia where they lived from 1833 to 1843 when they traveled to Dubuque, eventually establishing a motherhouse at the present Mount Carmel site on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

HISTORY OF WOHEN RELIGIOUS PAGE 4 I

Please submit proposals in triplicate by February 1, 1992, and include: panel title, title and one-page abstract of each paper (or roundtabJe theme); and one-page vita for each participant, including current address and telephone number. Enclose a ~.tamped self-addressed pos"tcard for return on receipt of packet.

Send proposals on U.S. topics to: Elaine Abelson, New School for Social Research, Eugene Lang College, 65 West 11th Street, New York, NY 10011; on other than U.S. topics to: Margaret Hunt, Amherst College, 2254, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000; comparative U.S/ non-U.S. topics may be sent to either Program Committee Co-Chair. Please direct all correspondence to "Attn: Berkshire Conference".

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Please have copy for the February issue to the editor by January 1, 1992.

THE HWR NEWSLETTER

Published by the Conference on History of Women Religious, 12001 Chalan Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049. ISSN: 1054- 545X

Annual Subscription: $5.00 Editor: Karen M. Kennelly, CSJ

Ad hoc Conference Committee: Kaye Ashe, OP; Barbara Brumleve, SSND; Mary Ewens, OP; JoAnn ._ McNamara; Mary J. Oates, CSJ; Judy Sutera, OSB; Peg Thompson; Kitty Sklar; Barbara Welter

HISTORY OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS PAGE 5 CONFERENCE ON WOMEN .. RELIGIOUS AND THE SOCIAL FABRIC June 28 ... July 1, 1992

The llistory of Women Religious Network is sponsoring a Conference on Women Religious and the Social Fabric at Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York, Sunday, June 28 through Wednesday morning, July 1, 1991.

Plenary and concurrent sessions are planned to allow time for participants to share particular research interests as \veil as to explore and plan together regarding desirable future directions in this field.

CALL FOR PAPERS A limited number of papers illustrative of contemporary research and use of sources unique to the field will be accepted for presentation at the two concurrent sessions; shorter papers describing research in progress will also be accepted for presentation at panel and magnet group sessions.

Persons desiring the next circular with program and registration infonnation should send their name and address to the Conference address as given below.

Persons who wish to present papers of either type should send their proposal in the form of a one-page abstract, accompanied by a one-page vitp., by January 10, 1992, to the same address:

CONFERENCE ON WOMEN RELIGIOUS AND THE SOCIAL FABRIC 12001 Chalan Road Los Angeles, CA 90049

PLEASE POST

HISTORY OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS PAGE 6