Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives

05/28/2021

On this Memorial Day weekend, we wanted to share a new acquisition to the archives.

As a young girl, Sister Lois Johnston was chosen to be the sponsor of the WWII tank landing ship LST-280. Sister Lois’ family had a connection to the American Bridge Company in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, which produced thousands of troop landing barges and over 100 tank transport ships for the war.

On September 26, 1943, Miss Lois Johnston christened the USS LST-280. The ship was assigned to the European theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy in June of 1944. On its way back from Normandy to the English Channel, LST-280 was struck by a German torpedo. The ship was later decommissioned and sold to the Philippines in 1947.

Navy ship sponsors served an important symbolic role and they were considered honorary crew members. Sister Lois received photographs of the ship, as well as a scale model, which she donated to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc. in 2001.

This weekend we honor all of those who have served. Rest in Peace, Sister Lois, and thank you for sharing this little bit of military history with us.

04/07/2021

Dr. Henry Lewis of Greensburg and Sister Mary Carol Murphy, R.N. carried out an influenza inoculation program at Assumption Hall, Seton Hill, in 1964. Sister Dominic Wivell was first in line and vaccines were offered to all sisters and lay staff.

We can't help but make the connection to 2021 when more than 190 staff and residents of Caritas Christi were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Thank you to all of our dedicated healthcare staff, past & present!

#Vaccines #Catholicsistersgetvaccinated #Healthcare #COVID19 #FluVaccine

Dr. Henry Lewis of Greensburg and Sister Mary Carol Murphy, R.N. carried out an influenza inoculation program at Assumption Hall, Seton Hill, in 1964. Sister Dominic Wivell was first in line and vaccines were offered to all sisters and lay staff.

We can't help but make the connection to 2021 when more than 190 staff and residents of Caritas Christi were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Thank you to all of our dedicated healthcare staff, past & present!

#Vaccines #Catholicsistersgetvaccinated #Healthcare #COVID19 #FluVaccine

01/16/2021

We are pleased to announce that Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, a publication of the Heinz History Center, has featured an article on Sister Cyril Aaron written by our archivist, Casey Bowser.

"The Walkingest Woman" details Sister Cyril's journey from Dean of Seton Hill College (Seton Hill University) to servant of the poor in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. The article also highlights a unique collection in the archives which showcases black, Catholic life in the Hill from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or from the Heinz History Center shop or online.

10/07/2020

Today is #AskAnArchivist Day! When did the Sisters of Charity go to Korea and why? How do I preserve my grandmother's photographs? What exactly is an archivist?

Submit all of your burning questions to us and we will answer them throughout the day.

09/16/2020

Time Capsule discovered! This morning, the archivists and a few Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill joined representatives and alumni from DePaul School for Hearing and Speech to open a time capsule discovered in the cornerstone of the school's former Our Lady of Victory Hall in Brookline. Look at what treasures were discovered from 1949! Tune into WTAE-TV Pittsburgh at 5 or 6 p.m. for video coverage of the unveiling and to see some of our archival photographs featured in the story.

09/09/2020

Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives's cover photo

08/31/2020

New Orleans and Seton Hill sisters' bond stays strong after 99 years

We're so pleased Global Sisters Report featured our sisters and our archival records in this very timely article on the Sisters of Charity and the Sisters of the Holy Family. Enjoy!

https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/religious-life/news/new-orleans-and-seton-hill-sisters-bond-stays-strong-after-99-years

In the 1960s, Sr. Sylvia Thibodeaux moved away from her Black congregation, the Sisters of the Holy Family in majority-Black New Orleans, to attend mostly white Seton Hill University, run by the white...

08/28/2020

Happy Birthday St. Elizabeth Ann Seton!

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's, born this day in 1774. Wife. Mother. Sister. Saint.

08/20/2020

Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Poem, written by Sister Mary Xavier Farrell in 1895

150 years ago on this day… several sisters from Cincinnati arrived in Altoona to establish a new community of women religious for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Happy Sesquicentennial to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill!

Enjoy this poem, written by Sr. Mary Xavier Farrell in 1895 in honor of the congregation’s silver jubilee. The poem tells the story of the sister’s arrival in Altoona, the purchase of Seton Hill in Greensburg, and the death of Mother Aloysia Lowe.

Give your best wishes to the Sisters of Charity in the comments below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR8L9ejGNGQ

A poem, by Sister Mary Xavier Farrell, S.C., written in 1895 for the silver jubilee of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Sr. Mary Xavier recited this poe...

08/03/2020

Take a deep breath and stretch!

The SCSH Archives is finally back online after several months away due to COVID-19 restrictions and maternity leave for our lay archivist. We're ready to stretch our mind and bodies to help YOU access our materials!

What would you like to see from our page? Are you feeling nostalgic? Would you like to see images from a simpler time? Perhaps you are looking for a beloved sister or long-lost friend? Maybe you are curious about the history of one the sister's missions. Let us know in the comments.

Image is from the St. James School, Apollo (PA), Slide Collection.

05/09/2020

1976, Graduates of Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing · Collections of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives

Thank you to all of the wonderful nurses, past and present, who make our world a kinder and healthier place.

Check out our digitized collection of graduation photographs from Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing on our website. Just search "Pittsburgh Hospital."

Do you have a special nurse in your life this #NationalNursesWeek?

http://scsharchives.com/items/show/1048

← Previous Item Next Item → 1976, Graduates of Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing Dublin Core Title 1976, Graduates of Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing Description 1976 graduates of Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing Publisher Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date 1976...

04/15/2020

History Department, Westmoreland Historical Society Launch COVID-19 Digital Archive

History in the making! Our friends at the Westmoreland Historical Society & Historic Hanna's Town, Saint Vincent College, and the The Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery have teamed up to start a digital community archive. Here is your chance to help preserve the Westmoreland County experience of COVID-19. Individuals, businesses, and community leaders are all encouraged to contribute.

Submit your photos, testimony, or other content to https://pandemic2020svc.omeka.net.

Learn more about this special collaborative project in the article.

https://stvincent.edu/community-events/newsroom/2020/04/15/history-department-westmoreland-historical-society-launch-covid-19-digital-archive

With a shared mission of preserving local history and engaging the community and local partners, the Saint Vincent College Department of History and the Westmoreland Historical Society have teamed up to create a digital archive documenting the COVID-19 experiences of people in the Westmoreland Count...

04/04/2020

We're jumping on the coloring book bandwagon! This is one of our favorite photos of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill outside of St. John the Baptist convent in Scottdale, PA in the late 1890s.

Take a moment to relax, print, and color this photo of powerful women.

03/25/2020

Sister Spotlight: Sister Joan McGinley

During this March 2020, and as we all face the trying dilemmas COVID-19 has brought on an international scale, Sister Louise takes a moment to reflect on lessons from this feisty Irish lady, Sister Joan McGinley.

What lessons have you learned from the sisters that are guiding your mind and spirit at this time?

https://scsharchives.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/sister-spotlight-sister-joan-mcginley/

As March is quickly moving to completion and is ending in a time of trial, uncertainty, and challenge, we take the time to feature a Sister of Charity who would seek to find ways to meet the new no…

03/16/2020

Valentine’s Day and the Love That Never Fails

Valentine’s Day and the Love That Never Fails

The love between spouses is a mirror of God’s enduring love for us. Few examples of such love are more poignant than Elizabeth Ann Seton’s tender care for her dying husband William during their long quarantine in a damp lazaretto after their journey to Italy.

03/12/2020

Sisters of Charity, Chuck Cooper, George Romero to get state historic markers in Western Pa.

During National Catholic Sisters Week, we are pleased to announce the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill were approved by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for a Pennsylvania state historic marker. Look for details on the dedication ceremony in the coming months.

Note: There is an error in the article. The sisters trace their roots to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, but were founded in PA by Mother Aloysia Lowe!

#NationalCatholicSistersWeek #PHMC #SesquicentennialCelebration

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/sisters-of-charity-chuck-cooper-george-romero-among-those-to-get-new-state-historic-markers-in-western-pa/

The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, a standout Duquesne University basketball player, a renowned horror filmmaker, an influential archaeologist and an Indian trader who once owned thousands of acres in Western Pennsylvania will be recognized for their importance with historical markers, the state....

03/06/2020

We are amazed at the variety of courses and extracurricular activities the Sisters of Charity and lay staff offered in the early days of DePaul School for Hearing and Speech (formerly DePaul Institute). From shop class, weaving, and basket-making to Girl Scouts and harmonica band, check out these photos from the 1910s, 20s, 30s, and 40s! Children who were deaf or hard-of-hearing received (and continue to receive) a well-rounded and experiential education at DePaul School.

02/25/2020

Who can identify these lovely ladies of the Seton Hill University faculty of 1977? Here we see them enjoying the Senior Dinner Dance at Mountain View Inn.

02/19/2020

Beyond 'the Hill': Sisters of Charity in the Catholic Schools of Greensburg

You asked and we delivered! February's blog focuses on the Catholic parochial schools of the city of Greensburg.

Read "Beyond 'the Hill': Sisters of Charity in the Catholic Schools of Greensburg" to discover more about the deep intellectual and spiritual legacy the sisters have gifted to the youth of the city for more than 135 years.

Tell us your story about how the sisters have impacted your life and education.

https://scsharchives.wordpress.com/2020/02/19/beyond-the-hill-sisters-of-charity-in-the-catholic-schools-of-greensburg/

St. Benedict’s/Cathedral School The Sisters of Charity’s history of educating young minds extends beyond “the Hill” in Greensburg. In fact, parochial school education in Greensburg pre-dates the es…

02/14/2020

The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

We wanted to revisit St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's love story this Valentine's Day...

Elizabeth met William at age nineteen. At twenty-five, William was making a name for himself as a hard-working merchant. Though they spent much of their life within a half mile of each other, their paths never crossed, largely due to their families being in separate social classes. When they did, a courtship quickly ensued with William calling Elizabeth not Betsy (as was her childhood name), but Eliza. She called him "my beloved treasure," and he in turn called her his "darling wife" when they were married shortly after. At age 24, Elizabeth's father-in-law suddenly passed. With two young children and pregnant with her third, she agreed to raise William's half siblings and suddenly found herself the mother of six additional children. Her father (a physician) was urgently called when she went into labor shortly after, and Dr. Richard Bailey found himself in the position where he might have to sacrifice his grandchild in order to save his daughter. The baby was delivered, and after several frightful minutes where Bailey had to breathe into his little lungs, it was clear both mother and child would survive.

In addition, the family business fell on William whose health was already exposing cracks in their beautiful life, and Elizabeth (contrary to the age), rolled up her sleeves to support her husband by taking on some of the paperwork. Many of us know that after nearly ten years of marriage, William's health began failing rapidly and they sought healing in Italy's warmer climate; however, William died in quarantine upon arriving. It was while mourning in Italy that Elizabeth discovered the Catholic faith.

Some say Elizabeth traveled across the ocean to save her husband's life, when in turn, by discovering salvation, the Lord saved her own.

Elizabeth and William's marriage endured great suffering, struggle, and overwhelming stress, yet their love withstood it all.

02/11/2020

Sister Fides Glass completed this painting, "The Everlasting Vigil," in 1931. It features the Maid of Orleans, St. Joan of Arc, engaged in a moment of faithful reflection.

Sister Fides entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill from Summit, PA in 1908. She was multi-talented - dedicating her life to writing, painting, teaching art, and preserving history. Her unique script adorns many documents in the archives - as she carefully took the time to tell stories and identify photographs of the earliest sisters. She was also an early supporter of the cause for Mother Seton's canonization.

02/04/2020

As the Archives prepares for the congregation’s sesquicentennial celebrations in August of 2020, we have begun to unearth special treasures.

A collection of photographs from the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill’s Golden Jubilee (50th) anniversary in 1920 were recently discovered. Although most of the sisters are identified, this photograph of the clergy-attendees eludes us.

Perhaps the The Catholic Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania or the Archives & Records Center of the Diocese of Pittsburgh could help us identify the unknown priests?

Pictured are (seated left-right): Father Guido _____, C.P., Father Edward McKeever, Bishop Eugene Garvey (Bishop of Altoona), Archbishop Regis Canevin (Pittsburgh), Archabbot Aurelius Stehle, O.S.B. (St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe), Father Michael A. Lambing, Father Thomas Devlin.

Pictured are (standing left-right): Father Hugh C. Boyle, Father Jeremiah Brennan, Father Philip Hugh Callery, Father Bernard Conley, Father _____ McGee, Father Michael Lynch, Father James A. Reeves, Father Daniel R. Sullivan, Father _____ Bailey, Unidentified priest, Father Michael McGeary, Father John Martin, and Father Nicola Albanese.

01/31/2020

Sister Spotlight: Sister Baptista Madden

This week, the Sisters of Charity remembered in prayer the 15th death anniversary of Sister M. Baptista Madden. Sister Louise took a moment to reflect on the life of this special woman with the help of Sister Gertrude Foley's 2005 funeral eulogy.

Share your memories of Sister Baptista with us!

https://scsharchives.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/sister-spotlight-sister-baptista-madden/

On January 25th, the Sisters of Charity remembered in prayer the death anniversary of Sister Baptista Madden.  This seems an appropriate time to recall the life of this special Sister of Chari…

01/30/2020

Browse Items · Collections of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives

In honor of Catholic Schools Week, we’ve made a selection of photographs and scrapbooks from our Elizabeth Seton High School collection available on our collections website. Should we upload ESHS yearbooks, photographs of student life or school faculty & staff, images of classrooms and buildings? Tell us what you think and we will add more content.

While you’re at it, explore all of our digitized collections and let us know what else you would like to see.

http://www.scsharchives.com/items/browse?collection=4

Audio-Visual Collection Metadata Dublin Core Title Audio-Visual Collection: Audio-Visual Sort by: TitleCreatorDate Added / 10 pages 1959-1967, Elizabeth Seton High School Scrapbook 1959-1967 1951-52, Elizabeth Seton High School Scrapbook 1951-52 1951-52, Elizabeth Seton High School Scrapbook 1951-52...