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Archdiocese of Chicago Archives & Records Center Page 1 Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Personal Papers Classification History Records - Finding Aid Owner Location George Mundelein Begin Date 1/1/1902 End Date 12/31/1939 Processor(s) Binder, Matthew; Satzik, Julie Date Created 2/13/2012 at 4:48 PM Accession Number 199005803 Number of Boxes 28 Security Unrestricted Access, Archives Copyright Notice No restrictions Collection Language(s) English; Italian; Latin Biographical/Administrative History George William Mundelein was born to parents Francis and Mary Mundelein in New York, on July 2, 1872. From his earliest years, Mundelein was educated by religious orders. Between school and a devoutly Catholic family, the Church made a distinct impression on the young man. He excelled in his studies at St. Nicholas’ Parochial School and was able to enroll at De La Salle Academy in New York. Upon completion of his degree, he was offered a commission to Annapolis but turned it down in favor of a higher calling. Mundelein’s dedication to study and commitment to the Church attracted the attention of prominent members of the Brooklyn clergy like Bishop McDonnell. With his support, Mundelein earned a chance to study at St. Vincent’s Archabbey outside of Beatty, Pennsylvania. By 1892, he was enrolled at the Urban College of Propaganda in Rome, Italy. After the requisite three years at the North American College, Mundelein was still one year younger than the canonical age for ordination. Bishop McDonnell again intervened and secured a dispensation for Mundelein’s early ordination to the priesthood. The dispensation was only granted because Mundelein had already proved his dedication to the Church through diligent study and active involvement in the college. Ordained by Bishop McDonnell in 1895, Mundelein then served a Lithuanian church in Williamsburg before being appointed rector of the Cathedral Chapel Queen of All Saints. At the young age of 26, he became Chancellor of Diocese of Brooklyn. Mundelein earned a series of accolades and appointments as a result of his deft mediation of the diocese’ many parishes and ethnic groups and his continued dedication to Church values. In 1903, he became censor of the Liturgical Academy. In 1906, he became the Right Reverend Monsignor Mundelein and a domestic prelate to the Pope’s household. In 1907, he became a member of the ancient academy of Arcadia. In 1908, he was granted the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the College of Propaganda. On February 21, 1909, he was installed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn by Bishop McDonnell at the age of 37. 1915 was a year of momentous change for Mundelein as he was appointed Archbishop of Chicago and succeeded Archbishop Quigley. Focusing his early work on education and youth projects, Mundelein instituted school boards, boys and girls clubs, and Knights of Columbus sponsored delinquent youth programs. Moving on to charities, higher education, and religious education, Mundelein inspired positive change in the organization of the Catholic Church in Chicago. He was able to navigate the political and business environments of Chicago with his winning attitude and demonstrated commitment to hard work. His personal relationships with many of the notable families of the Midwest also secured him a measure of influence in these arenas. These skills only increased his ability to financially provide for the archdiocese through fundraising and savvy budgeting. Further demonstrating his commitment to education and religious life, Mundelein built a seminary in Libertyville—the town would soon change its name to Mundelein in his honor—that would become specially recognized by Rome. The seminary was granted the special privilege to grant outstanding students Doctorates of Sacred Theology. In 1934, 29 years after his ordination to the priesthood, George Mundelein was elevated to Cardinal. The ceremony took place in Rome in early May of 1924. Upon his return to Chicago, the city overwhelmed him with congratulatory celebrations and gifts. The new Cardinal almost immediately set plans in motion for an international Eucharistic Congress to be hosted in Chicago, and, in the summer of 1926, those plans became reality. Thousands of Catholics gathered to participate in the ceremonies and the congress’s success did much for Cardinal Mundelein’s reputation. In 1928, he selected Father Bernard Sheil as his auxiliary bishop, and together they continued to Page 2 establish organizations and projects that supported youth and social justice in the city. He continued to speak out against injustice both locally and internationally—including against Hitler and his policies—and in support of those doing good works—like Mother Cabrini. On October 2, 1939, George Cardinal Mundelein died at the age of 67 leaving a legacy in the Catholic Church and the city of Chicago. For more information, see Our American Princes: The Story of Seventeen American Cardinals by Francis Beauchesne Thornton (New York: GP Putnam & Sons, 1963.) Provenance The Mundelein Personal Papers collection was housed in the archives at Mundelein Seminary under the care of archivist Madaj until it was moved to the new archives facilities. Accruals Separations Scope & Content This collection is housed in 28 boxes (14 legal sized document boxes and 14 oversized flat boxes). Materials span the years 1902 to 1939, but focus primarily from the years 1911 to 1939. Documents include both official and personal correspondence, chancery business reports and financial papers, prayers and poems, speeches and writings, newspaper articles, honors and awards, audio recordings, scrapbooks, and various artifacts. Series Description I. Correspondence A. Personal Correspondence -- Boxes 1-3, OSB 2 B. Official Correspondence -- Boxes 3-6 C. Pastoral Letters -- Box 6 D. Chancery Mailings -- Box 6 II. Chancery Business A. Reports -- Boxes 6-7 B. Financial Papers -- Box 7, OSB 2 C. Papers -- Box 7 III. Personal Business A. Collections -- Boxes 7-8 B. Financial Papers -- Box 8 C. Papers -- Box 8 D. Prayers -- Box 8 E. Poems -- Box 8 F. Drawings -- Box 8 IV. Speeches and Writings -- Boxes 8-9 V. News Articles & Press Releases -- Box 9 VI. Printed Material -- Boxes 9-10, OSB 2-3 VII. Honors and Awards A. Installation as Archbishop of Chicago -- Boxes 10, OSB 2, 4 B. Elevation to Cardinal -- Boxes 11, OSB 4-7 C. Order of Isabel the Catholic -- Box 11 VIII. Major Events A. International Eucharistic Congress of 1926 -- Box 11 B. Motion Picture Industry -- Boxes 11-12 C. 25th Jubilee of Mundelein's Ordination -- Boxes 12-13, OSB 2, 8 D. Interregnum File -- Box 13 IX. Photographs -- Boxes 13, OSB 7 X. Motion Pictures -- Box 13 Page 3 XI. Audio Recordings -- Box 14 XII. Scrapbooks -- Boxes 13, OSB 4, 9-12 XIII. Artifacts -- Boxes OSB 13-14 Contacts Mundelein, George (Cardinal) (Client) Box List Box Record Number EXEC/C0720/77 Classification Executive Records - CBC Personal Papers Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 1/1/1902 End Date 12/29/1936 DB Box Number 43811.01 Box Record Number EXEC/C0720/78 Classification Executive Records - CBC Personal Papers Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 4/22/1937 End Date 4/23/1969 DB Box Number 43811.02 Box Record Number EXEC/C0620/240 Classification Executive Records - CBC Correspondence: General Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 1/1/1905 End Date 3/3/1928 DB Box Number 43811.03 Box Record Number EXEC/C0620/241 Classification Executive Records - CBC Correspondence: General Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 11/28/1934 End Date 7/27/1939 DB Box Number 43811.05 Box Record Number EXEC/C0620/242 Classification Executive Records - CBC Correspondence: General Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 3/4/1928 End Date 11/21/1934 DB Box Number 43811.04 Box Record Number EXEC/C0520/71 Classification Executive Records - CBC Administrative Files Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 5/1/1916 End Date 12/31/1934 DB Box Number 43811.06 Box Record Number EXEC/C0520/72 Classification Executive Records - CBC Administrative Files Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 1/1/1898 End Date 10/23/1939 DB Box Number 43811.07 Box Record Number EXEC/C0520/73 Classification Executive Records - CBC Administrative Files Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 11/2/1911 End Date 9/30/1939 DB Box Number 43811.08 Box Record Number EXEC/C0720/79 Classification Executive Records - CBC Personal Papers Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 2/21/1885 End Date 1/31/1982 DB Box Number 43811.09 Box Record Number ADMN/P7000/87 Classification Administrative Records - Printed Material: Various Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 1/1/1915 End Date 10/31/1939 DB Box Number 43812.04 Box Record Number EXEC/C0720/80 Classification Executive Records - CBC Personal Papers Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 3/1/1924 End Date 6/6/1934 DB Box Number 43812.05 Page 4 Box Record Number EXEC/C0720/81 Classification Executive Records - CBC Personal Papers Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 9/6/1933 End Date 11/30/1934 DB Box Number 43812.06 Box Record Number EXEC/C0720/82 Classification Executive Records - CBC Personal Papers Title (Free Text Part) George Cardinal Mundelein Begin Date 1/1/1920 End Date 2/7/1940 DB Box Number 43812.07 Box Record Number EXEC/C0620/243 Classification Executive