3 25 573 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/9f7b09cff0d74e7f24ea6f1b2115e7ff.mp3 9d46117bfe23109ccf6f19070af0fd9b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Mary Aiden Geary Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview St. James Convent Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:54 22:41 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Mary Aiden Geary Subject The topic of the resource Sister Mary Aiden Geary Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Aiden Geary, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1933 until 2003. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on December 17, 1987. Sister Mary Aiden Geary - born Helen Regina Geary on May 4, 1913 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in 1933. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy and received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Seton Hill College in 1958. She taught at Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, and St. James in West End, among other locations. She volunteered her time throughout the nineties. Sister Mary Aiden died on December 18, 2003. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/12/17 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-77 Immaculate Conception School Sacred Heart School Seton Hill College St. James School West EndPGH St. Joseph Academy https://scsharchives.com/files/original/b2177fa517352cd4c37efb1d8c6737a6.mp3 549adec1dfe32532d26bc53eb6ed5d4c https://scsharchives.com/files/original/148e41a31d17e6474618c5486fd70788.mp3 015ddee0f853a100738d533e599ebd2b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Virginia Pascaretta Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister M. Theophane Geary Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Assumption Hall Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:02 31:02 Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz 96kHz Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound OH 7-1 Sr. Theophane Geary This an oral history interview for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, PA. The interviewee is Sister Theophane Geary. The interviewer is Sister Virginia Pascaretta. The interview is taking place at Assumption Hall on May twelfth, nineteen eighty-four. SVP: Sister, as we begin this interview, I understand that today is your feast day. You entered the Community on May twelfth, nineteen-sixteen. I think it's interesting that we are doing this interview on this particular day. For the beginning, would you like to give me a little of your own personal history and background? STMcG: I was born in Millwood, Pennsylvania, which at that time was an adjunct of Derry, PA. Today, Millwood no longer exists. My parents were: Joseph and Amelia Geary. My father and his ancestors (my grandfather) had a farm between Derry and Blairsville. Some of our relatives lived in Blairsville. My grandparents were related to Thomas Geary and also married into the Latent family...a very old family in Blairsville. I think one of our senior sisters was from a branch of that family. My mother was born near Stuttgart, Germany. Both of her parents died when she was young. She came to America with an uncle and aunt where she met my father. In Germany, she had been in a Mariana section where the reformation was very rampant. Her parents and grandparents belonged to the Lutheran Religion. She told me that she had an old uncle whose ancestors had stayed in the catholic church. His devotion to the Sacred Heart impressed her very much. While she was in Germany, she longed to be a catholic. When she came to America she became a catholic even before she met my father. I was baptized in Saint Martin's Church in New Derry. I understand that St. Martin's was one of the oldest churches in western Pennsylvania. Later on a division was made. St. Joseph's church in Derry became the parish to which we belonged. I went to school in a country school, which had two rooms...primary and advanced. I went for eight years there to this school. At the end of that, I went to Derry High School. I was there for four years and graduated in nineteen-fourteen. By the way, it was the first commencement held in a new school in Derry Borough. Today, it has been demolished. They have a big school out where they call it "The Lake" in Derry. After graduation, there was a ruling then if you were a high graduate, and took a summer at least in childhood education, you could apply for a school. That is what I did. Since I passed the examination, I was assigned a school in Livermoore, PA, which was the first PRR (railroad) stop beyond Blairsville. There I spent my first year of teaching. It was all the grades. SVP: Sister, how did you do it? STMcG: I don't know. Looking ahead to the examination I would have to take as a teacher, I wasn't very knowledgeable in Music. There was quite a bit of Music that was involved in the teaching program. So, I was looking around for a teacher who would help me in this area. I was told by one of my friends that there was a Sister at the convent in Blairsville who was a Music teacher. lfl applied there, I could get lessons, so that's what I did. At that time Sister M. Dolores Cupps was the Music teacher and Sister Marie Antoinette Reilly was the Sister Servant. The other teachers that I recall were: Sister M. Ferdinand Love, and Sister M. Chrysostom Andrayko. I was very impressed by the sisters there. I learned enough music and I could have passed the next exam, but I never took it and I can give you the reason why. Those Sisters of Charity were wonderful. I had never seen any sisters at all before, though I had a cousin who was a Benedictine Sister out in Cannon, Colorado. Her brothers and sisters lived in Blairsville, and I often spent weekends in their home. By the way, her name was Sister Rita, and my parents named me for her. I was baptized Rita Marie. Well, as time went on, I was thinking about the coming year. Then, admiring the sisters very much and learning more about their life etc., I had an inspiration that I would like to be a Sister of Charity. Right before the end of the school year, I told Sister M. Dolores Cupps my ambition. She said: "Well, as soon as you are finished the school term, we'll go up to Seton Hill. School ended about the middle of April in those days. So, I followed her advice. We went to Seton Hill and after I returned home, I more and more had the ardent desire and prayed that God would give me the vocation to be a Sister. I made up my mind very quickly. On May twelfth, nineteen hundred sixteen, Sr. Dolores took me to Seton Hill and I have been there ever since. SVP: What were your early recollections of the Community? STMcG: I could never get over the interest those sisters in Blairsville had in what I was doing. I received good teaching from them and more than that they were so cordial and kind. I was impressed with every one of them. Sister Marie Antoinette Reilly was one of the most beautiful souls we ever had in the community. SVP: Who was the mistress of novices when you entered? STMcG: It was Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers. Mother Mary Joseph Havey was the Mother Superior and Sister Mary Regina Farrell was the Treasurer. SVP: What do you remember about your novitiate experiences? Is there anything you would like to share? Who were the sisters in your novitiate? STM cG: Do you want to know the ones who were in my group? SVP: Well, any that you would like to share. STMcG: We were all very close. There was: Sister Mary Luke McConnell, Sister Mary George Monahan, Sister Mary David Doyle,(Sr. David Mary lives with me at Assumption), Sister John Baptist Curren (Sr. John Baptist was closest to me in years), Sister Grace Barr, who was a nurse, and Sister Mary Patrick Donovan. SVP: What was your novitiate training like? How were your days? STMcG: Of course we had a regular prayer schedule. We got up at five o' clock in the morning. Novices who were late for morning prayers had the little penance of kneeling before the Blessed Mother's altar. This is just a little incident that happened. Sister Mary Eymard Fleming was up at the Blessed Mother' s altar almost every morning. This particular morning, right near the steps which led into the sanctuary, Father Sullivan always came in the back door, up the side aisle and up those steps. He was always circumspect and guarded his eyes. He came up and fell over Sister Mary Eymard. It was quite a scene. That was the last day anyone knelt there. Before the end of the frrst year, I had appendicitis and had to be operated on at the Pittsburgh Hospital. I think it was Canon Law that you were only permitted to be away from the novitiate for a certain number ofdays. I was away extra days so, I had to spend another year. That year, I was sent down to Saint Benedict's to teach the third grade. Then the next year I was sent on mission to St. Francis de Sales school in Mckeesrocks. I had first grade, and there were about eighty-five children. We only had eighty desks, so there were five children who sat up around the teacher's desk, which was on a platform. Generally in the winter time , we had some vacant seats. I had quite an experience in my first year of teaching. Sister M. Bernardine Hefferon was the Sister Servant. My predecessor there was Sister Marie Dolores Haney, who is still living. I think she taught the second grade. Sister Bernardine had taught as a secular in the school. She was always telling me how I had to measure up to the discipline that Miss Haney (I would presume she means Sr. Marie Dolores) had in the primary school. This was very hard to meet. I recall the first time I ever had drawing. I passed the crayons. Shortly after passing them, I heard a terrible scream. Sister M. Alacoque McHale, who taught above me came running down the stairs to see what had happened. It was a two-story building. A little girl had put the black crayon up her nose, broke it off, and couldn't get it out. Well, Sr. Alacoque had quick comprehension. She sent a boy over to the convent to get a pepper duster. She put some pepper in her hand, put it to the youngster's nose, who took a quick sneeze and the crayon flew across the room. That was one of my first experiences. I always felt secure at that parish because the pastor was Father Dunlee(ifthat's how it's spelled). Father Dunlee baptized me over in Derry. He was pastor of Saint Martha's where I was baptized. I should have mentioned that when I was ill at Seton Hill, I was sent to the Junior College where I learned Latin and a few other things. I had four years of Latin in high school, so with another year, I had five years of Latin. SVP: Were these experiences in Greensburg? STMcG: No, they were at St. Francis De Sales in McKeesRocks. I was just there for one year. The next year I was transferred to Holy Innocents in Sheraden, where I stayed for four years. While I was at Holy Innocents, the sisters had Saturday school in what they called "The Old Gusky (sounded like) Building." It was down near the Point. I had to teach first and second year Latin to the other sisters. They were sisters of different communities and all ages. Every Saturday afternoon I nursed a sick headache as a result of teaching that class. Every week, I told Sister Hyacinth Ryan, whom I could confide in that I would have to write and tell the mistress that I couldn't do it anymore. She said: "Oh, no. They'll put a black mark against you if you have to give up anything. You just keep going." With her support I finished the year. STMcG: The first year since I had taught school, I was given the second and third grade to teach in the Academy. SVP: How old were you in the community when you did this? Were you still in the novitiate? · STMcG: Yes, I was still in the novitiate. SVP: In what year did you make vows? STMcG: Sister didn't indicate any year, but I would presume it was nineteen hundred twenty as she entered in nineteen hundred sixteen and she did say that it was four years after entrance. After my four years at Holy Innocents, I was sent to St. Mary Magdalene's in Homestead where I taught for one year. Then I was brought back to Seton Hill to teach in the academy. I replaced Sister Victoria Brown in the academy. I believe I taught in the academy for eight years. During those eight years along with the teaching I was able to get a degree from Seton Hill College. SVP: What was your major? STMcG: My major was American History. SVP: When did you begin your work in the college? STMcG: In the summer after I got my degree, I was sent to summer school at the university of Chicago. It was a double term each summer. At the end I received a Master's degree. Sister Victoria Brown was in charge of the Seton debates. I fell heir to that. I was sent to Fordham University where I studied Argumentation, Debating, etc. one summer. Another summer I studied at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Still another summer I studied at the University of Pittsburgh. So, I had quite a variety of tastes in graduate work. After my number of years teaching in the academy, through the influence of Sister Stanislaus McVay I received a grant to the Catholic University of America. I received a doctorate degree from there. After this, I returned to Seton Hill college to teach. SVP: I know that you spent quite a number of years at the college. Do you remember what year it was that you began teaching in the college? Would you say it was around nineteen thirty? STGMcG: I think it was around nineteen thirty-two. SVP I thought that since you spent so many years in the college that you might want to share some things with us. Also, what teaching in the college meant to you as a teacher and as a professional there. STMcG: One thing that impressed me very much was the type of teachers we had at Seton Hill. For example in the history department, we had Summerfield Lawlden (sounded like). He was an Englishman, who was born and educated in England. I think he was connected with Harvard in his earlier days. He taught Western Civilization. He was an especially fine teacher. Then of course we had Father Sullivan. Everyone took every course that they could. SVP: What courses did Father Sullivan offer? STMcG: He taught courses in the Sociology field. When at Seton Hill, I recall the very fine priests we had for retreats in those days. There was a Father Kelly, who was an English professor at Duquesne University. Every sermon he gave was really a classic. We had Father Kelly several times. Then there was a popular Passionist, Father Camillus. He too was very fine. SVP: What about the history of the college as you taught there over the years? Were there any outstanding events or incidents that you would like to share? STM G: I think the growth of the college from a Junior College which is what is what it was when I entered to a full College. I can remember the joy that we felt when we became recognized as a Full College and then getting into the different associations related to our learning process. The college grew, and Father Sullivan was an expert in his choice of teachers. SVP: Then, it was Father Sullivan's responsibility for the hiring of teachers? STM G: Oh, yes. SVP: What about the sisters who taught in the college in the early years? 5 STMcG; They were excellent teachers also. Sister M. Stanislaus McVay was in the History department. Sister M. Electa Boyle was in the English department. Sister Florence Marie Scott taught Biology. Sister Florence Marie was in my novitiate. She graduated from Columbia University. She really was a scholarly teacher. Sr. Marie Arthur Hamilton: Sister said a few more words which sounded as though she was continuing to speak. However, there isn't any additional tape in the Archives. I completed transcribing this oral history from the cassette tape recorder onto the computer on August fifteen, two thousand twelve. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister M. Theophane Geary Subject The topic of the resource Sister M. Theophane Geary Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister M. Theophane Geary, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1916 until 1994. The interview was conducted by Sister Virginia Pascaretta on May 12, 1988. Sister Mary Theophane Geary - born Rita Marie Geary on May 3, 1897 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in May of 1916. She received a bachelor's degree in history, English, and social studies from Seton Hill College in 1926. She went on to earn a master's degree in U.S. history from the University of Chicago in 1931 and a doctorate degree in history, politics, and American church history from the Catholic University of America in 1938. She served as a history professor at Seton Hill College from 1933-1975 and was head of the history department from 1940-1961. Her tenure as director of summer school was also from 1940-1961. She wrote the entry on the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill for the New Catholic Encyclopedia. Sister M. Theophane died on January 4, 1994. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988/05/12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-7 Catholic University of America Professor of History Seton Hill College University of Chicago https://scsharchives.com/files/original/b6379efaaec0f4b191cfcddaf93d07f0.mp3 1fac4c8ea649307f339e03991427f868 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/24349a6a038b2c104e4a09a879fbd625.mp3 48185ea78ca71f60871f3e259d53f655 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Assumption Hall Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:56 31:55 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt Subject The topic of the resource Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1932 until 1992. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on May 30, 1987. Sister Mary Arthur Giseburt - born Dorothy Mildred Giseburt on October 1, 1908 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1932. She served as a housekeeper and a kitchen assistant at a number of convent locations, including Resurrection in Pittsburgh, Cathedral in Greensburg, and at Assumption Hall. Sister Mary Arthur died on August 2, 1992. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/05/30 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-69 Assumption Hall Brookline PA Cathedral School Greensburg PA Resurrection School https://scsharchives.com/files/original/62d70464d924808a67a838dce3d209f2.mp3 81797ac1efb9566f00602125d9344f4e https://scsharchives.com/files/original/2038235b420688c2e89be5aefb2c30f0.mp3 2663f72676e7041f2a370e762a32f293 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/b6c0708e0010e911f439e460363d5155.mp3 2445f13b3d40987ef0d2572a969f73e5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Ruth Cecelia Giseburt Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Seton Hill College Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:34 31:35 26:34 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Ruth Cecelia Giseburt Subject The topic of the resource Sister Ruth Cecelia Giseburt Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Ruth Cecelia Giseburt, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1933 until 1997. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on July 10, 1986. Sister Ruth Cecelia Giseburt - born on July 22, 1906 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in March of 1933. She worked in the community laundry department at Seton Hill and was in charge of this service until its discontinuation in the seventies. She then served as front desk receptionist in the Administration building of Seton Hill College. Sister Ruth Cecelia died on March 12, 1997. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/07/10 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-75 Laundry department Seton Hill College Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Marguerite Guinagh Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Marian Hall Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:00 30:59 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Marguerite Guinagh Subject The topic of the resource Sister Marguerite Guinagh Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Marguerite Guinagh, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1925 until 1992. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on August 18, 1986. Sister Marguerite Guinagh - born Margaret Guinagh on July 19, 1905 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in December of 1925. She received a bachelor's degree in French and Latin from Seton Hill College in 1925. Her studies in French continued at McGill University in 1933, Western Reserve in 1937, the University of Notre Dame in 1943, Laval University in Quebec in 1948, and at the University of Delaware in 1960. She taught English, Latin, and French at a number of Pittsburgh-area schools, most notably at Sacred Heart High School from 1945-1952 and again from 1967-1980. Sister Marguerite died on February 1, 1992. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/08/18 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-44 Laval University McGill University Notre Dame University Sacred Heart School PGH Seton Hill College Teacher University of Delaware Western Reserve University https://scsharchives.com/files/original/014777705fd113dd6ee6f2d09bf86b4b.mp3 d9b9a741cef4d06633069b031f867a10 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Miriam Fidelis Guinagh Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Assumption Hall Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 26:55 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound OH 49-1 This interview is being conducted as part of the oral history program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister Miriam Fidelis Guinagh. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at Assumption Hall. The date is November 16, 1986. SMCM: Good afternoon, Sister. SMFG: Good afternoon, Sister. SMCM: How are you today? SMFG: I'm very well. Thank you. SMCM: That's good. Sister, I'm here to talk to you about some interesting things about your life as a Sister of Charity. Would you like to tell us some things about your personal history? SMFG: Very well. I was a fourth child of Robert and Catherine Sullivan. I was born January 15, 1903. At Baptism received the name Catherine Fidelia. Now, of course, my family name was Guinagh. I attended Saint Mary School in New Castle and was taught by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. I attended New Castle Public High School, commercial course. I held the position of desk supervisor at the Bell Telephone Company, making out tours and payroll. I liked it. I entered the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1926. I had thought of joining the Sisters of Saint Joseph as they were the only sisters I knew. However, when I was 23, I talked to my father about entering. He settled the problem for me saying, "Ifl were going anywhere, I would go with my siste r." Sister Marguerite had entered the Sisters of Charity on December 8, 1925. She was ajunior in Seton Hill College. I took my father's advice. I have been very happy with the Sisters of Charity. SMCM: Sister, what are some of the things that you did as a Sister of Charity? Like in the Novitiate, who was the Mother Superior in your day? SMFG: Mother Rose Genevieve was the Mother Superior. My first mission was going to Homestead. Sister Dorothea and I were postulants. We hadn't any coats to wear. So, we borrowed them from the college girls. Coats and hats. We walked at 7 o'clock in the morning, down the hill, to get the train to Homestead. SMCM: You mean you were missioned in Homestead? SMFG: For a couple days, I think. SMCM: I see. SMFG: It was quite an experience. SMCM: How long did that train ride take? SMFG: I don't remember how long. It wasn't too long anyway. Mother Mary Francis was our Directress. She was a very understanding and sympathetic person. Many confidential chats were held near the fems outside the Novitiate. SMCM: Where was the Novitiate, Sister? SMFG: The fourth floor of the Administration Building. Sister Marie Antonia took Mother's place when Mother became ill. We were very sorry to lose Mother, but we enjoyed Sister Marie Antonia, too. SMCM: Sister, could you tell us who entered with you? SMFG: There were 13 ofus. I was the 13th• We went by the way our applications came in. SMCM: I see. Can you remember any of the names of those sisters? SMFG: Oh, yes. Sister Mary Emma was the youngest, but she had her application in first. She was our senior. I was the youngest. I was the baby of the group. One left the community. I think three have died. SMCM: Who are the ones who have died? SMFG: Sister Kathleen Higgins and Sister Sabina Reilly and Sister Louise dePaul. So those are the three. SMCM: When you were in the Novitiate, Sister, what did you do as a charge? SMFG: I had every charge. I was sent to the faculty dining room. Sister Natalie and Sister Jean Marie were the two who were in charge. They showed me a great deal. One day I was left alone. Somehow or another, they had to go elsewhere. I had to finish serving the meal. One time, Mr. Bennet said he rang the bell and I answered, "Remove the dishes, please." I did. It was part of the experience to be there by yourself. SMCM: Now that was when you were a canonical novice. SMFG: No. I was a postulant. SMCM: Oh. You were a postulant. Were you home the whole time you were a postulant except when you went to Homestead? SMFG: About a week they took us to Homestead. Yes, we were always home, which was very ruce. SMCM: When you became a second year novice, did you go out on mission? SMFG: I had teaching assignments at Saint Stephen in Hazelwood, Saint Philip in Crafton, and Holy Innocents until about 1944. One day Mother Claudia asked me to be the Directress of Novices. I acquiesced so she sent me to the Catholic University for summer work in canon law as taught by Bishop Jerome Hannon. SMCM: What year was that, Sister? SMFG: 1944. ' SMCM: You followed Sister Theodosia as Mistress of Novices. SMFG: Yes. I did. SMCM: You held that position for how many years? SMFG: Until 1964. As Directress of Novices, Mother also sent me to school and I had that as a background for my work. So until 1964, with all its joys and sorrows. Then in 1964 we had gone into the new building, which is now called Doran Hall, which is very nice. SMCM: Sister, you saw a lot of transitions in those days, those 20 years as being Mistress. Can you tell us anything about how you felt about the transitions that the community experienced? The things that might have been very hard for the novices. SMFG: Not particularly the novices, but the community. The chapters, different things came up. The idea of going into secular clothes. Life had changed. Other little things that we did. SMCM: Sister, when you were Mistress, were you also a member of the chapter? SMFG: Yes. I was elected. SMCM: So you served on the chapter all those years, also. SMFG: I don't remember whether it was all those years or whenever we had it, but I remember being elected. In the Fall of 1965, I returned to my teaching of history at Holy Innocents. A second trip back to Crafton brought to an end my teaching career. I returned to Assumption Hall in 1984 and that' s still where I'm at. SMCM: And still very busy. SMFG: Making things. SMCM: Sister, going back to your years as Mistress, you were the one who brought the Novitiate from Seton Hill to Assumption Hall. SMFG: Yes, in 1954 we went to Ennis Hall. The college girls had to leave to give room for the novices. We were quite crowded. We were waiting for the new building. We had novices everywhere. We even had somebody sleeping in the, what we called the living room. She brought her cot out every day. SMCM: How many did you have? SMFG: Seemed to me to be 90. SMCM: 90? SMFG: We had them everywhere. SMCM: So you moved from Seton Hill over to Ennis Hall in 1954. Then the novices did what, as far as Assumption Hall was concerned? SMFG: They were up on the third floor doing the rooms. They worked on getting the trays ready for the sisters. I think they were happy. Every now and then we might lose somebody, but it was better that way. SMCM: Do you have an idea of how many sisters went through your hands? SMFG: About 200. SMCM: 200. That's a wonderful record. SMFG: I pray for them everyday. SMCM: Oh, I know you do, Sister. SMFG: For any mistakes that I made that the Lord may rectify them. SMCM: Oh, I'm sure He would. Sister, when you had the novices, I remember that you used to have other professed sisters come to help you. Can you tell us some of those sisters who gave you help? SMFG: Sister Mary Adrian helped. SMCM: Anybody else? SMFG: I should remember them, but it's hard to. SMCM: I know. SMFG: Sister Serafina helped one summer. SMCM: Was that only during the summer months? SMFG: Yes. They were busy elsewhere. SMCM: When you taught, Sister, you taught history. Was that in the elementary school level? SMFG: Elementary and High School. SMCM: And high school? SMFG: Oh, yes. SMCM: What level was that in high school? SMFG: Sophomores. SMCM: Sophomores. SMFG: The Sophomores for World History and United States History for Junior year. SMCM: Where did you get your education? SMFG: At Seton. I got my degree in 1942. SMCM: In history? SMFG: That was my major. SMCM: You didn't go anywhere else? SMFG: I went into Pitt for a Master's Degree. SMCM: I thought you did. SMFG: I went in for Master's and took the bus in every day. One day, I fell asleep and passed the school, went into town. I said, "Is this bus going back?" He said, "No, not for awhile." So I had to get another bus. SMCM: What did you study at Pitt? SMFG: History. Dr. Oliver was the teacher and Dr. James_. SMCM: You went there how many years? SMFG: Maybe two. SMCM: When you had the novices, Sister, there were some of the things that you liked us to do as novices, when we recreated. Remember? SMFG: No. SMCM: You don't remember? Well, I know one of the things that you always enjoyed us doing. We always had the sing-a-longs, you know? We always sang at the end of the evening. We prayed in Ennis Hall at the bottom of the stairway. We always said our night prayers together. It was always a very beautiful experience. We always had a good time at recreation. SMFG: The statue that we all stood around was quite an old statue in the community. It came to the Novitiate. SMCM: Where did it come from? SMFG: Somewhere at Seton Hill. SMCM: When you moved over with the novices from Assumption Hall, you were, too, on fourth Admin., where you were as a novice, is that where the novitiate was? When they all moved over to Ennis Hall, you said that they were everywhere at Ennis Hall. SMFG: My room was in the back on the first floor. We were privileged to have the Blessed Sacrament. We made arrangements for the chapel. Sister Mary Francis designed things for us. We were very happy to have the Blessed Sacrament. SMCM: Sister, when you returned to mission, that was a difficult thing to do, wasn't it, after 20 years? SMFG: Yes. It was. I admit. SMCM: Had you been at Holy Innocents before you became Mistress? SMFG: No. SMCM: So that was your first time there? SMFG: After the Novitiate. SMCM: Can you tell me anything about some of the sisters who were there with you on mission? Maybe some of the ones who have passed on? Who was Principal of the High School when you were there? SMFG: Sister Eug ne. SMCM: Oh, Sister Eugene. Were there a lot of sisters there? SMFG: Quite a few. I can't remember their names so well. SMCM: That's all right, Sister. Is that the last time you taught in high school, at Holy Innocents? SMFG: Yes. I came out here, I guess. SMCM: Oh, you came here from Holy Innocents. SMFG: Yes. SMCM: When did you go to Crafton? SMFG: I went to Crafton two different times. As a young sister and then later on. SMCM: You finished your teaching at Crafton and then stayed on in the convent. SMFG: Yes. That's right. I retired to the convent. SMCM: What did you do in those days? SMFG: Well, I did crafts and things like that and I had an eye operation. Then I had to agree to give up and come out to Assumption. SMCM: Well, you didn't really give up. SMFG: I hope not. SMCM: You just changed your residency and continued on. Right? SMFG: Right. SMCM: Now here at Assumption Hall you do a lot of things. Tell us about what you do here at Assumption. SMFG: I belong to the stamp crusade. SMCM: Good for you. SMFG: Something nice that happened to me was that the group that I had in 1945 as novices had a little get together for me...a surprise. They gave me that in a box and a statue of tqe Blessed Mother. SMCM: Oh, I know. She's beautiful. SMFG: Very beautiful. I was quite surprised. It was good to see them all again. SMCM: That was to celebrate what? SMFG: My 60th Anniversary. SMCM: Your 60th Anniversary? SMFG: Yes. SMCM: Marvelous. Do you remember, Sister, the anniversary that the rest of your novices had, our other novices, for your 50th? SMFG: Yes. In '76. SMCM: Where did we have that? Do you remember? SMFG: Yes. SMCM: Elizabeth Seton High School, in the auditorium. SMFG: That' s right. I remember now. SMCM: Yea. That was a surprise, wasn't it? SMFG: It surely was a surprise. My sister didn't even tell me. SMCM: She was warned. She was warned not to tell you. SMFG: I forgot all about that. I shouldn't, though, people were so kind to me. SMCM: Well, that's all right. SMFG: That was for the golden. SMCM: That was your Golden Anniversary. Did you attend the Bishop's celebration when he came here to Doran Hall for the 60 people? At Doran Hall, he always comes here annually for the 25's and the 50's and the 60's. We had Mass with him. Do you go over? SMFG: Bishop Connare. SMCM: Yes. Bishop Connare. Did you go over for that? SMFG: Oh, yes. SMCM: So what else do you want to tell me? SMFG: I think I've told you everything. SMCM: I know that, like you say, many sisters went through your training. Many sisters come back to you often. I know there's no possible way that we can say thank you for all that you've done for us. SMFG: Just say a prayer for me. SMCM: We do. We always pray for you. I'm sure that you're always praying for us. SMFG: I do, every day. SMCM: Some of your novices, I've heard you speak of this, some of your novices have already gone to God. SMFG: Oh, yes. Eleven. SMCM: Yes. Could we name some of those sisters who were under you? SMFG: The first one is Sister Mary Victor, Sister Margaret Allen, the last one is Sister Mary Bede. It's always heart breaking to lose somebody. God wants them. SMCM: That's right. The one that was in the group ahead of me, Sister... I can't think of her name, she died when we were Juniors. She was in Sister Mary Victor's, not the Sister Mary Victor who died, the one we have now. She was in her group, she was their youngest. SMFG: Sister Mary Anthony. SMCM: No. Sister Mary Anthony was before us. Jeannine. Sister Jeannine. So, Sister, in all your years of ministry, you are just going to continue to do what you can do here at Assumption Hall. SMFG: Yes. God has allowed me the gift. I have a contact lens in one eye. I have an advantag.e, wonderful I think. SMCM: You also do some needlework of some sort. SMFG: Oh, yes. SMCM: What are you making now? SMFG: I am Swedish embroidering towels that I made for the Christmas sale. I made a net table cover, decorated it. It sold for 15 dollars. SMCM: Is it sold? SMFG: Yes. SMCM: Wonderful. SMFG: I was pleased with that. SMCM: Wonderful. SMFG: I can always keep busy. SMCM: I kriow. That ' s what you always told us to do, keep busy. So, is there anything else you want to tell us? SMFG: Not that I can think of, I think that I've told everything. SMCM: All right Sister. I really appreciate your giving me your time and if there is anything else that you would like to tell me, you just let me know and I'll come back. SMFG: Thank you very much. SMCM: Thank you, Sister. God bless you. SMFG: God bless you. 10 SC Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Miriam Fidelis Guinagh Subject The topic of the resource Sister Miriam Fidelis Guinagh Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Miriam Fidelis Guinagh, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1926 until 1994. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on November 16, 1986. Sister Miriam Fidelis Guinagh - born Catherine Guinagh on January 15, 1903 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1926. She received a bachelor's degree in U.S history, economics, and English from Seton Hill College in 1942 and a master's degree in U.S. history from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949. She served as Assistant Dean of Women at Seton Hill College from 1940-1944 and was the Director of Novices for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill from 1944-1964. She then taught at Holy Innocents School until 1967 and at St. Philip School from 1967-1980. Sister Miriam Fidelis died on June 21, 1994. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/11/16 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-49 Crafton PA Holy Innocents School Mistress of Novices Seton Hill College St. Philip's School University of Pittsburgh https://scsharchives.com/files/original/fd5b76c2bcc90174b62bb61c3ba1a4fd.mp3 1fd27d71285b59635a648aec9cb3c7af https://scsharchives.com/files/original/1328f4d9e8648bb9df252f0c5e1a922b.mp3 ba8ff3ecdcacec48a5d2fa3f6ab6c4d0 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/7f8527d7948c943251eddc47e50454a9.mp3 69b8285cf7642df7e92b4330c05f04be https://scsharchives.com/files/original/f5e439510285f8a72609e20e624dbfac.mp3 5b0b41cf590922360481e60bcdd18a89 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Jean Augustine Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Margaret Anne Hanley Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Assumption Hall Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:01 31:06 31:02 31:03 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound OH 34-1 1 This is part of the Oral History recording done in Assumption Hall on Thursday morning, June 14, 1984, with Sister Margaret Anne Hanley. Sister Jean Augustine is conducting the interview. SJ: Good morning, Sister Margaret Anne. SMA: Good morning Sister. Would you like to hear something abut Sister Muriel? SJ: No. Eventually, yes. I would like to hear about Sister Muriel; that would be very good. But one of the things I wanted to talk with you today Cremember we mentioned this oral history project that the Congregation has undertaken? We want to keep as much history as we can for the future of the Congregation. I would like to talk to you a little bit this morning about your early recollections, your earliest Balmost like an autobiography. I noticed in your file that you came to the Congregation from Coshockton, Ohio. SMA: Right. SJ: And our years when I used to be a piano student of yours, when I used to practice. . . SMA: Oh, yes? I=d like to know that day. SJ: You and I talked about your love for Ohio. Can you tell me a little about your earliest remembrances, your history? SMA: Starting with my entrance in the community? SJ: Oh, even before that. SMA: Before that? We had an ordinary family, but a rather large one- - three boys and three girls. We had a delightful homelife, very close, lots of fun. I was very close to my brothers, especially; my sisters were much older. They entered the family earliest of all. SJ: Where did you come in the family? SMA: Last. But not least, of couse. SJ: Of course not. You=re an Irish family? SMA: Yes, my father was right from Limerick, Ireland, and my mother=s relations, grandmother and grandfather, were from Derry, Ireland, I think or Kerry; I don=t know which. SJ: Your mother was born, though, in this country. SMA: Cresson, around there. SJ: Yes, what was her maiden name? Do you remember? SMA: Mary O=Connor. SJ: That=s as Irish as you can get. Your father was . . . SMA: Thomas Hanley. Hanley is not an Irish name Bit=s more English to my mind. But they say, ANo, that=s not correct. It was straight from Ireland.@ SJ: What did your father do for a living? SMA: Well, at his work he was a - - - - - ; he was everything. He started out on the railroad, walking on the tops of the cars till he had my mother a nervous wreck, so the urged him to get another job. Then he went into ordinary grocery store business and from there, I think, to the mill. He bought a mill in cahoots, in partnership, with another man. Finally the man dropped out and her had the whole mill which was a very small mill, a flour mill. He had all kinds of wheat, especially. SJ: Oh. SMA: Oh, brother, was it good, real molasses in it! SJ: Mixed in with the buckwheat? Isn=t that great! 2 SJ: Is that in the farm country, Coshockton? MA: I think it definitely is. We were not farmers, but we were so closely related to them. They came down our front street and sold everything they had from the cart. So, it was like living on a farm; but she knew that farm work was too heavy for her SJ: Was Coshockton a small town? SMA: 12,000, it ran generally, but now it=s grown quite. I think it=s up in 30,40, 50 thousand. But, they moved; the people we knew have moved to the elite part of town, the outside, the borders. SJ: Your birthday, I know is in June. . . June 26. You don=t want to tell me what year? SMA: Yes. SJ: Will you? What year? SMA: I=m going to be one more year in a couple weeks. That was 1903 I was born. SJ: 1903 - - so you are going to be 81. SMA: 81. Very good arithmetic. SJ: Was there a Catholic parish and school? SMA: As far as I know, and of course I wasn=t in on everything. There was a Catholic parish and we started the school when we got there. My father needed a school for his children and he was instrumental in helping to urge the priest to build a school. And we had a very small school - - Dominican sisters from Columbus, Ohio, and it went just beautifully, I think. SJ: Was that Sacred Heart Parish? SMA: Yes, how did you know? SJ: I checked on your. . . I checked your dossier. Sacred Parish, Coshockton, Ohio. SMA: Now, here=s an interesting part. They had even a three-year high school. But three years stuck with us all through my life. When it came up to high school time, I wanted a Catholic education completed. I had to go away to get a fourth year, so I went to St. Mary of the Springs, Shepherd, Ohio, and got my fourth year high. I had a complete Catholic High, and then on to Seton Hill. SJ: I see. In that three-year high school, was that an academic high school or a commercial high school? SMA: An academic high school, and a whiz of a teacher! She handled. . .now, don=t be shocked because I think we were well taught. She handled three years high school all by herself. SJ: One woman? SMA: One woman. SJ: Taught all the subjects? SMA: All the subjects, plus a - - - - - - - -course. SJ: Oh, my! How large was the school? Can you think about that? SMA: Eight grades . . . and an average of, maybe at the most, 10 pupils in a grade. SJ: O.K. And in the High school. . . would that be about the same? SMA: About the same. SJ: Thirty students altogether. SMA: At the most, I think. SJ: And she did the whole high school part? SMA: She did the whole high school part. But she was a brain beyond a brain. 3 SJ: And she was a Dominican? You would have had algebra, and science? SMA: Right, we had everything, except the fourth year high, except science - - no lab. SJ: No lab. Now, when you went to St. Mary of the Springs, that was also Dominican, and finished your fourth year of high school there. SMA: Yes. SJ: Was that a boarding school? SMA: Yes. SJ: Did the rest of your family do that? SMA: Yes. SJ: They went to boarding school. What about the boys? SMA: They went to Cleveland, Ohio, to the Jesuits. . . St. Ignatius, I think. SJ: Coshockton - - Is that in the Cleveland Diocese or Columbus? SMA: Columbus, I think. SJ: Columbus. Okay. Now, your music. . . do you remember when that started? SMA: When I was seven years old. Moreover, they allowed me to practice in the convent. It=s evident they were either deaf or far away. SJ: Who taught you. . . one of the sisters? SMA: Dominicans. SJ: Was the rest of your family musically inclined, or were you the only one who wanted to take up piano? SMA: I think Delci would have loved it; I don=t think she had the opportunity. They were in the public high. SJ: I see. Did you have a piano at home? SMA: Yes, not much of one, but good enough . . old, upright. SJ: Did you practice willingly, or did your mother have to get after you? SMA: Well, this is queer, and very good management- - - I=ve never been able to copy it. But, they allowed me to practice right in the convent. SJ: Ah, so that=s where you got your practice in, and there was no tomfoolery there. SMA: No, wasn=t that lovely! And I didn=t have to stop to cook or scrub, like some people I know, very close to me; there was no interference. SJ: And you liked it very much? SMA: Ohh! We loved it. Half the time, another girl my age, her name was Kimmie?, would come in and practice with me. We=d do duets and make it a little bit livelier. SJ: Was the lesson a weekly lesson and a half hour? SMA: I think it was two lessons a week, a half hour each for something like 50 cents apiece. Wow! The way we cheated those good sisters. Nobody knew about that. SJ: Seven - - You would have been probably in second grade. SMA: Yes, and I=d be dismissed from the room, run around the corner and go into the convent. SJ: Oh, in those days they allowed the children out of school for lessons. SMA: They did, and I don=t think they lost out one speck- - -a little bit of propaganda in there. SJ: All right. So you were interested in the piano. Did you study any other musical instrument? SMA: No, I was at Seton Hill - - -we=d grab Sister Carinne=s violin and practice on it. SJ: So, at St. Mary of the Springs, Shepherd, Ohio, is where you finished your fourth year. 4 SMA: That fourth year=s very interesting. It was empty, you know. And I went to St. Mary=s for the fourth year. Then the priest said, AWhat=s the matter with us? If we can send our boys and girls away to get a fourth year, why can=t we have our own fourth year. He delivered one wonderful sermon and got his fourth year and a science lab.- - a little bit of extra money for that small town, but they did it. SJ: And from that time on, then, on one had to leave Coshockton for a parochial high school. They could get the four years right there. SMA: Isn=t that a great love for their religion and all - - to push them into that. I thought that was great. SJ: Okay. Now the other- - - on this connection with Seton Hill. I=m interested in that. You lived in Ohio; your mother had come from Pennsylvania. Your father, I think you told me once, came from Ireland, and settled somewhere around.. . SMA: Dennison, Ohio, I think. SJ Dennison, and . . . . SMA: And also the tops of the trains- - - Mother got him off that. In Dennison, I think he went right to the grocery store to make some money. SJ: How did he meet your mother, then? SMA: That was all done in Cresson, and a very interesting story. Mother=s brothers came home one day and said, @You might as well call off the wedding, Mary. Tom=s gone to Ohio.@ And that was two days before the wedding. So Mother said she was much flabbregasted, but she tried to take it easy and go on with her work. And here Dad had to go to Coshockton, Ohio, to get the Baptismal record for mother. They had to have permission from the priest to get married because they were in another. . .no, because she was underage - - 17, and he was 10 years older at least, 27 or so. SJ: And they were married in Cresson? SMA: They were married in Cresson. SJ: He might have met her when he was traveling on those trains. Maybe he had stopped there. SMA: Oh, he worked around there, too. SJ: That=s probably it. SMA: I think, but I=m not too sure how he met her. She was really lovely to look at. Beautiful, in fact. I looked at her picture many a day and I thought, AWho is that?@ So, one day when she was in the room, I said, AWho is that beautiful lady?@ and that tickled her to pieces. SJ: I=m sure. SMA: It was a portrait of her. SJ: In your home. Well, then, you would have graduated from high school in 1919, 20, 21, something like that? SMA: It was a year earlier than I should have because they shortened the course; they put the 7th 5 and 8th together so we could all move on, and we didn=t seem to miss anything. I don=t know, maybe we did. SJ: Well, then, you would have been probably one of the first students to come to Seton Hill College, because it started around 1919. SMA: I think we were. There were four ahead of us to graduate in that first class. SJ: In that first class. Well how did you get to know about Seton Hill? You were out in St. Mary of the Springs? SMA: I had a dear cousin who spent the summers with me often- - - and this summer we were both out of high school and we had to find a college. So we searched the books - -AAmerica@ and all the rest of the Catholic books we had around, for ads. And we wanted, not a high rating - - we didn=t know enough to pick a college with a high ratingB just a near one to home. Ans so Seton Hill was the nearest. I would have gone to St. Mary of the Springs for college but it wasn=t quite finished. They had to have another year. Now that=s called fate, or Providence or whatever. I would have been a Dominican. SJ: The way the Lord wants it. You know, in those days not too many women went to college. SMA: Very true. SJ: Was your family favorable? Did your other sisters go? SMA: My sister Veronica was killed. She had the brains of the family, I think, and I think she was always a little jealous, but she kept it down. But she would have loved to have gone on. SJ: And your father and mother were both very favorable. . . INTERRUPTION We were talking about the fact that you and your cousin had done some research to find a college. I=m interested in the fact that it had to be a Catholic college. SMA: Well, we were both from Catholic families. Her father was my father=s brother. And my father was just rampant on the question; he had to have a Catholic college. He was very, very Catholic all his life. SJ: All right, now, that=s interesting. You would have come about 1920, I=ll say. SMA: Well, wait now, I entered school at 7. But we had not the regular courses, not 8 & 4, but 8 & 3. So, how much does that make? SJ: That=s eleven years- - -1920, approximately. We can check that out later. The college was very small B Administration Building, Maura Hall, St. Mary=s Hall. That=s probably all the buildings that were there. Right? Maybe. . .No. . . SMA: I don=t remember the buildings so well. We had classrooms. We went to Dr. Reeves= classroom. SJ: You boarded there. Where did you sleep when you were in college? Do you remember? Administration? SMA: Administration. 2nd floor. Double room; my cousin was with me. SJ: Who were some fo the Sisters you remember from those early days? SMA: Schwester. SJ: Ah, God rest her. SMA: AGod rest her=s right. SJ: Did she teach you? SMA: No. She taught German. I took German later on after I was finished with a college degree. 6 I wanted to know some German. She was a wonderful teacher. Father Reeves, of course and Father Sullivan. SJ: Sister Francesca? SMA: No, she didn=t teach; she was the dean. I mean I don=t know that she taught. Who else? SJ: Would Sister Stanislaus have been there then? SMA: Yes, but she didn=t teach me, I don=t believe. I went to her for a special course. After I went out West, I had to have history, and I didn=t have it, so I went to Stannie and she gave me a special . . .no, I was in a course with her. She had another class going and I took it. SJ: You would have decided, when you were going to Seton Hill, to take music lessons because you had been studying it? SMA: I think it was sort of thrust upon me by Sr. Cecilia Schwab. She used to thrust things upon people. SJ: They would have looked at your high school record and decided. SMA: I think it was. . . this is sort of unkind to say, but I think there was a need of building up the music academy, the music courses in Seton Hill, and they were picking out obviously easy people to teach. I could memorize easily; that=s about my only qualification for music, really. I had Mrs. - - - -. I was practicing about 4 or 5 hours a day. That shows the interest to probably go ahead with it. And Sr. Cecilia stepped in on me and wondered why I was there so long. So she was getting my background right then. I didn=t realize it. I was rather sassy; I didn=t know she was the head of the department, and she taught me the following year. So I had her a couple of years and Mrs. Caveny? at the time. SJ: With the music department- - -I guess Cecilian Hall would have been there, and the practice studios? SMA: The practice suite was around it, in the back; we practiced in there. SJ: And those rooms are still there, too, and still used. SMA: They were well built. SJ: Were some of the studios? I remember Sister Ann Regina=s studio used to be in the Irish Room on the parlor floor. SMA: Yes, well, Sr. Cecilia taught in there. SJ: In the Irish studio? SMA: I guess she followed Sr. Ann Regina, I don=t know. SJ: Or Sr. Ann Regina followed her, I think. SMA: Yes, that=s right. That was her place. SJ: Would Sister Helen Cecilia have been- - - She wouldn=t have been teaching; she was younger, about your same age. SMA: Yes, different category. I didn=t know Helen very well at all. . . Something running around in my mind. . . But, uh, we=ll skip it. SJ: Some of the teachers you had? SMA: Sr . Cecilia and Miss Caveny taught with the same idea in mind Chigh pressure. I can remember walking down the hall in a rage after one of the lessons and I ran into - - - - who was the one in charge, little, red-haired, down in the office. . . SJ: Eucharia? SMA: Eucharia! I said, AWhat this place needs is a vocational advisor. I shouldn=t have been in music at all!@ And I left her staring. But that=s the way I really feel, even yet. They took us in the wrong direction- - - capable of being taught instead of based on talent or. . . . SJ: Interest? SMA: Maybe, but I practiced for hours, so there=s nothing the matter with my brain. 7 SJ: Did you like it? Did you like. . . . SMA: I love music. I just loved practicing. SJ: Do you remember some of the other teachers? I suppose they gave you instrumental lessons. You mentioned getting a violin from Sister Corinne. SMA: That was out of the course. That was after I finished. We did that for fun one summer. SJ: As a college student, as a young girl there, was there an orchestra? SMA: The Glee Club was very interesting. We had a wonderful man, and copies for all of us- - - That was a real luxury - - -to have your own copy, and he got us in part singing right away and didn=t waste time. Oh, it was lovely. Wonder he was? I don=t remember his name. SJ: Would you have been inlee Club all four years of college? SMA: Oh, yes. SJ: And you had recitals, I=m sure. How did you like that? SMA: Hated it! SJ: But you liked to practice! Was it the pressure? SMA: I loved to practice; there was no pressure on that. SJ: But the other pressure - - to excel, or to be . . . SMA: None, I mean I didn=t respond to it. SJ: You just turned the other way. SMA: Yeah, I just loved my work. And I didn=t care about associating with others. I had very few friends at the end of the four years because I spent my time in the music suite. SJ: Now, were you being prepared to be a piano teacher? SMA: No. SJ: Just knowledge of music. SMA: And memorize. You see, we had to memorize to perform, and we had to give a recital every year, a whole recital. So, I don=t remember much about my freshman recital, but we had to have it; I know. And sophomore, and it came to junior, the memorizing was pretty stiff. Miss Caveny thought I=d better spend the summer helping to memorize for the following year, so I did. I went to her place close to Braddock, went through East Liberty to get there, and she taught me there. So I got some memorizing started for that next year. SJ: That summer. Did you live somewhere in Pittsburgh while you did that? SM A: Yes, a friend of my mother, Nancy- - - Netty Brown. SJ: Miss Caveny- - - I never heard that name, but she must have been there the whole time you were in college. SMA: Yes. SJ: Any other sisters that were in the music department? Cecilia Clare Ott? Would she have been in the music department then? SMA: Yes. SJ: Did she teach you? SMA: No. SJ: Sister Ann Regina? SMA: Yes. SJ: What about that Sister Angelica? Was she a musician? SMA: The old Sister Angelica- - -was quite a musician, taught singing, I think. Never taught me, but everyone loved her, looked up to her. That=s about all I can remember of her. SJ: Did you take eurythmics, folk dancing? Did you have to do that? SMA: We didn=t have to, but that was fun. Lots of fun. 8 SJ: Did they have any other kinds of performances besides your piano recitals? Now, I suppose the Glee Club - - - SMA: Glee Club - - - No, I don=t think we had a Glee Club. SJ: You just mentioned about the man who taught you. SMA: The man who taught us was for the graduation exercises. SJ: Oh, I see, you had a lot of singing for that. SMA: Yes. SJ: Did you have instruction in the flute or any of the woodwinds? SMA: Yes, thay could have had; they did have - - - many of them. SJ: But you didn=t, because - - - SMA: Virginia Pfeiffer, P-f-e -i-f-f-e-r took flute. SJ: She=s one of your classmates? SMA: No, I believe she=s another class - - - I don=t know what happened to her. Marie Fox was a star of Cecilia Schwab=s. Don=t you know Marie Fox? She=s around here somewhere. Lives in this parish, I think SJ: Was that Sister Annina? SMA: No, she=s not a sister. SJ: Sister Annina was in music, but I don=t know whether she would have been taught- - SMA: Inez? Did you say? SJ: Sister Mary Inez. Yes. SMA: She was in music and she studied with Sister Cecilia Schwab. SJ: Did you have anything to do with the organ? Did you have to? SMA: Not till after I graduated in music and all, and I wanted the organ because of using the organ (???) and I didn=t know too much, either. But he said I was all right. And I loved it, for sure. See, it=s the same idea - - activity or memorization - - - I don=t think there=s any love of the art in me, or at least there=s none left. I have a fashion of hammering it out. SJ: Your degree - - was it a music degree or a bachelor of arts degree? SMA: Well, see, they didn=t want it to be a music degree. Now how did they work that out? They said I had enough credits for English and French. SJ: Oh, Sister Marie Elise Blouin? SMA: Yes, I had four years of French. So I had enough credits to get in on a minor or major. English and French, I think that=s what they used. SJ: So, your recollection of those as a college student at Seton Hill were- - - a lot of hard work, sometimes frustration because you felt that you were being pushed too hard, and you felt that you needed more guidance; yet you enjoyed practice - - - SMA: I loved practice. SJ: Loved to play, the recitals were hard. You had a lot of good times with your friends, and yet you didn=t do as many things as you would have liked to do. 9 SMA: No, I didn=t have a social life that I should have had, because I was worn out, practicing. I practiced like an artist, I imagine C8 or 10 hours. SJ: Did they have teas and receptions and thing like that? SMA: Yes, and _____________ all dressed up for the occasion, and somebody watching over us to see that we did it right. Yes, they were- - -that way. I don=t remember being in on that. SIDE B SJ: . . . of the oral history tape with Sister Margaret Anne Hanley, continued on Friday, June 15, 1984. Sister, we left off on the other side; I think, when the tape ran out You were recollecting some of your days at Seton Hill College as a young lady, before you entered the community. I have to admit to you that I did a little research last night because you were very clear in remembering such things as English degree, four years of French and I think I had asked you if you received a bachelor of music degree or a bachelor of arts degree. And you received BOTH. SMA: Right. SJ: You were graduated from Seton Hill College in 1924 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. You=re an English major and a French minor, which tells me why we have an affinity. Because I was an English major also, not French though. SMA: I loved English. Couldn=t get enough of it. SJ: Who taught you English? Do you remember that? SMA; Yes, I sure do. Sister Electa Boyle! SJ: Do you remember anything about her - - her classes? What was your favorite . . author, or favorite period in English? SMA: I loved composition. I thought I knew how to compose. SJ: Creative writing? SMA: Stories. SJ: Stories SMA: And so I tried to latch in on Setonian, make a place for myself in there, but unfortunately, St. Electa Boyle and I didn=t get along. But luckily, she died and left the path clear for me. SJ: But that was a long time after you were a student there. SMA: Yes. SJ: If you recall, she was a Chaucer. . . she did a lot with Chaucer, didn=t she? SMA: Nothing for us. SJ: Nothing? You didn=t have Chaucer. SMA: No. SJ: Did you have Shakespeare? SMA: No, it wasn=t a literature course. It was composition. SJ: All through the four years? SMA: No, I signed off the second year, I think. I made the Setonian. I was tickled bout that. But my music was taking over- - hours, you know. I think I dropped the English. SJ: Well, I think what happened, probably- - in order for you to get your degree, you would have so many courses to take and there would have been requirements. And I=m sure you would have had Shakespeare, and probably the 17th C. poets. SMA: No, ma=am, there was nothing of that! I think I just missed it probably by signing off. I think I only had two years with Electa. SJ: You may have had another English teacher. There was someone- -may have been before your time- - but they talk about a Mrs. Geyer. 10 SMA: Don=t know her. SJ: Don=t remember. Does the name Revihan? or Revilan? SMA: No. SJ: A man=s name. SMA: Electa was my onl;y English teacher. ___________ I can say that definitely. SJ: I see. When I checked your degree, your Bachelor or Arts degree from Seton Hill in1924, then as a novice, I suppose, or a young professedBnovice, you had five years= novitiate in those days, you finished your bachelor of music degree in 1926. So that you were keeping up with your music, I=m sure, while you were a student, but then as a Sister, as a member of the congregation, you went back and completed the requirements for the bachelor of music degree. And I looked through your file, and I found this music program - - probably your senior recital, dated AMay 2 to May 8, 1926, Seton School of Music,@ and inside ASenior Recital@. You=re first on the billing B Sister Margaret Anne Hanley, B.A.1924, B.M.1926. Greensburg, Pa.@ And you played such things as Ramanza? by Mozart, Melody from Orpheus, by Gluck, DemBattie (two names) Zecchio Minueto by DemBattie, and the second set or section was three works by Chopin: an etude, valsay? valse. SMA: Valse. SJ: and scherso, and then the third section was some composer named Shutt - - - SMA: What=s the composition? SJ: The Tondra as You, op.43 #2. SMA: Gone with the wind - - - SJ: And the second was by a composer called Gadowski? __________my French is terrible! SMA: Not bad. SMA: You should read these! What about the next by Lizt - - -something about a garden? SMA :Oh, Tarantella. SJ: No, the next one. SMA: Oh, Jardin su ________ B Gardens under the rain. SJ: Do you remember that? SMA: I sure do. I liked that one- - - crazy wild to memorize, though; modern harmonies. SJ: Would they all be? Maybe they=re all modern harmonies, all those ______ compositions? SMA: Perhaps. SJ: And then the last one. SMA: Tarantella, Lizt. SJ: Do you remember that? SMA: Oh, yes, that was fun! I loved Liszt. SJ: Look at the rest of these names. I guess the other two - -Lenore Patricia Hickey . . . . SMA: I remember her well. SJ: She was one of your classmates, graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1926, and all the pieces she played. SMA: Yes, she was very lovely. . . . SJ: Chopin was very popular on the program. SMA: Yes. SJ: I doubt that . . . well maybe Chopin would popular today, too. I don=t know. SMA: I think so; I don=t know either, just from what I hear on the TV, I=d say yes. SJ: Is he one of your favorite composers? SMA: Just loved him. Difficult to memorize, but I loved him. SJ: How did you rate Mozart? SMA: Um, Mozart was easy to memorize Bvery formal--- formalism, I guess, and wild modern harmonies B very easy. 11 SJ: And what about Liszt? SMA: Liszt was a wild bird, he went anywhere he pleased. It was delightful, though, just lovely. I think my pupils like Liszt better, too. Lots of spunk to him - - -What did he do for me? - - Tarantella, I guess; that was it. SJ: That=s right. All right, now. Notice all the things she played. She did something from AThe Nutcracker Suite,@ the Flower Waltz. And Dorothy Tonsmeier? SMA: Tonsmeier. SJ: Tonsmeier. She came from Mobile, Alabama. SMA: Right. SJ: Do you remember her? SMA: Certainly - - - She was quite a character. SJ: Was she? SMA: And then she entered; and loved her socks rolled when she entered. SJ: She entered our community? SMA: Yes SJ: Did she really? SMA: But she didn=t stay long, about six months, I think. I don=t really recall. SJ: You would have been B if you entered the community on September 8, 1924, and then you would have had your postulancy and canonical novitiate. You would have been a sister. Would you have had any connection with them at - -probably not much, huh? SMA: If I had any four years before I entered? SJ: No, you entered in 1924. In 1926 when you had your recital, you probably wouldn=t have had too much of a relationship with either of these other two women. SMA: Yes, I think so, because I always felt that I knew Lenore Hickey very well and Dot Tonsmeier and I were quite friendly. I took care of her in the novitiate; I guess I thought she lost her vocation, I don=t know. But she went home after a very short time. SJ: Ah, I see. SMA: But they were very close to me. SJ: Would Sister - - -We were talking yesterday about Sr. Cecilia Schwab. Would she have been the instructor for all three of those seniors? SMA: Could have been, but I don=t know whether she was or not. I don=t recall her at all. SJ: I also found out something. I looked in Sister Electa=s book, AHistory of the Sisters of Charity in Western Pennsylvania@ and found out that Maria Caveny SMA: Caveny. SJ: Caveny; she graduated from Seton Hill in 1919 with a Bachelor of Music degree. And Othelia Vegel also graduated from Seton Hill. Now they were probably some of the first graduates with a Bachelor of Music degree form Seton Hill. And then I suppose from what you=re telling me, Maria Caveny came back as an instructor. SMA: Must have. SJ: She probably got additional work and came back again. But notice how long the program was- - -it=s a whole week, from. . Mary Miller from Salzburg?, she was a junior, and then Marcella - - - SMA: Oh, you mean the recital. SJ: The whole recital. SMA: They certainly were not ordinary. They were extraordinary recitals. I thought all of them were. SJ: How was that - - -Aextraordinary?@ WhatB - SMA: Well, extraordinary work on them and I thought they were beautifully done. I don=t remember how mine were done, but I thought they did a wonderful job on all of them. SJ: Were they held in Cecilian Hall, on the stage? 12 SMA: I think they were held in Sister=s teaching room- - Cecilia Schwab=s. That=s the largest room, at the end of the hall. Mine was , anyway. SJ: It doesn=t say here. It just says, AMusic Week, School of Music, Seton Hill College.@ S it doesn=t say Cecilian Hall. There were more sophomore playing tests. One young woman, Susan McDermott, did a Bach fugue and prelude and a Beethoven sonata, a Paderewski and Mendelssohn number. There were six freshman, so it=s a big program. SMA: Yes, that=s what I think. The School of Music was rapidly progressing; I think due mostly to Sister Cecilia Schwab. Caveny was on her own and a very smart woman, a very good teacher, but Cecilia had so much outside work. Where did she study? Boston? SJ: ____________Probably. SMA: Boston Conservatory? And she was very well equipped for this sort of thing. We were just making grades and the first time they ever did that as far as I know - - the recitals and all. But I thought they were up to snuff. SJ: Okay. Is there anything else you remember before ... well, before 20 and 24, as a college student? You would go home on vacations, I guess, holidays. In the summer, you didn=t have to get a job or anything , did you? SMA: In the last summer before my graduate recital, Miss Caveny, as she was then, I don=t know her married name, requested that I would take work, summer work, start me on the memorizing. The memorizing was quite stiff. It would take a long time. She didn=t know whether I could do it in a year. So she thought I=d better try some summer work. So I did. SJ: Is that when you lived with a friend of your mother, lived in the city and went out to her, Miss Caveny=s, home in Braddock? SMA: Yes. SJ: I understand. But the other times you would go to your home in Coshockton? Did you go on vacations? Or. . . SMA: Yes. I wasn=t on study work all that summer. I think I just took two or three weeks to help be sure that I could do it. SJ: Did you ever go with your family on vacation, or did you spend the time at home? SMA: Home. SJ: All right. By this time- - - you were the youngest in your family, so I suppose you brothers and sisters were married? No, Veronica married late in life, didn=t she? Were the others all married? SMA: Jerry was engaged to a Cleveand girl, which made it nice for me, because he couldn=t get to Cleveland every time he wanted to go to a dance, so he was my partner. He protected and took care of me. I had a really grown-up beau all that summer. SJ: Oh, that was good. SMA: that was very good. SJ: Where would they have dances in Coshockton? SMA: In a very cheap hall, and he said, AI=ll take care of you; don=t worry.@ So one night- - - So you want this? SJ: Un huh. SMA: One night I was dancing, and Jerry, I don=t know where Jerry was, but he was there in one minute, and my dance evaporated. He said he was fresh. SJ: You were a blonde, weren=t you? SMA: Redhead. SJ: Bright red hair, or - - - SMA: Titian, we called it, to make it easier to take. SJ: Was the whole family redheaded? SMA: My father was, and I think the girls had a little red in their hair. Jerry was quite redheaded and he went bald the very summer he was going to be married. 13 SJ: Just like that? SMA: Oh, I was sick for him. He=d come into my room and say, ADon=t you think that=s real hair?@ And I=d say, ANo, it=s just fuzz.@ He would be killed; he thought he was going to grow another set of hair. SJ: Ah, but he married Aand lived happily ever after?@ SMA: And he has a woman who has the most beautiful hair in the whole world, I think- - - one wave after the other. So, I guess, that=s why he was interested. SJ: Was he next to you, Jerry? SMA: Yes, very close. That was always a bone of contention. For an argument B:@Which do you like best?@ and I=d say, AYou=re all just the same to me.@ You, know, I had a funny dream about that this year. I dreamed that my brother Tom was in the car, and he said to me, AYou remember that you used to say - -that you loved all of us the same? But you loved me the best when I was alone?@ And I said, AYes, I remember that.@ Is that the same now?@ I said, AYes, it=s the same now.@ And I looked up and saw the eyes of his wife (acetic?) We never hit it, never hit it - - strange nightmare. I haven=t had a Mass said for him yet, but I=m going to. So something was the matter. SJ: Was he the brother in the service, Tom was? SMA: Uh huh. SJ: Was he the one whose son was a priest? SMA: Yes, Dexter. Dexter went out to give a sermon one Sunday morning and couldn=t get a word out, so the priest rushed up rushed him to the hospital, and he had cancer of the brain, and I don=t think he was more than 10 years. SJ: He was a Jesuit? SMA: Jesuit - - -He had an operation right away, followed by about 10 other operations on this same brain. He was so sweet, and such a ham, a lot of fun. SJ: All right. Well, Sister, now. Can you remember- - - we were talking about your days in the community, or before. You graduated probably in 1924 and you entered right after that, in September. Can you think of what it was attracted you to the sisters? You would have ben taught by them, you would have seen them at Seton Hill, but was there anybody especially who made an impression on you? SMA: My mother made the most impression on me. She said, AIf you must enter, I=d rather have the Charities.@ SJ: Is that what she said? SMA: Uh Huh. Because the Charities are friendlier. SJ: She would have known them from the college. SMA: Well, I thought, AWell, what the heck, if I can please her in one thing, why not:@ So that=s at least a credit I can give the Community. But I think that=s very true. I knew and loved them and I came, that was all there was to it. SJ: You just felt you had to come, had to enter, to be one of them. SMA: I always wanted to be a sister from the time I was in the 8th grade. And everybody kept putting it off, of course. So I came. SJ: You petitioned, then, after you went home, or while you were still at the Hill? SMA: This sounds conceited. And you can=t check on it because she=s dead, but Cecilia wrote the letter. Sister Cecilia asked for me to enter; she practically wrote my petition letter and I went along with her because that=s what I wanted. I don=t think she dragged me in by any matter or means, but I want to enter. SJ: Okay. You came back then. Did you have spiritual mothers or sponsors? SMA: She was it. SJ: Sister Cecilia Schwab was your spiritual mother? She helped you to get ready, the things you needed? 14 SMA: No, I got a list from the Community. . . You also know she went to another community? SJ: She went to the Carmelites. SMA: And I wept all that Christmas. She hadn=t told me she was going, and I didn=t know about all her heartaches over her brother. SJ: Was that. . .were you in the Community when that happened? SMA: Not more than two years, I think. I=m not sure. SJ: All right. You would have petitioned. Who was the major superior then?...Mother Rose Genevieve?. . . . SMA: Could have been. SJ: Mother Mary Francis? SMA: Mother Mary Francis was our mistress. Now that is someone I really truly love. SJ: What do you remember about her? SMA: That she had something I used to call. . .@She knows discernment of spirits,@ I used to say to myself. Because she handled each one according to what she knew about her. She didn=t treat us as a mob. We were all individuals. I thought she was perfect for our mistress . . . though I=d walk up and down outside her room about 10 times before I=d get the courage to go in, I believe that. SJ: Where was the Novitiate then? SMA: Third floor. SJ: On third floor Administration. SMA: And her room was up in Lowe Hall; . . . was it Lowe?. . .isit St. Joseph Hall or what? SJ: St. Joseph? SMA: St. Joseph. She lived up there in 304, I think, somewhere (around there?) SJ: You entered with Sister Muriel? No. . . SMA: I did. SJ: Muriel and Joanna . . . SMA: Yes. SJ: Who else was in your group? SMA: I don=t know whether Miriam Grace was in our group or followed us. She may have been a year older or younger, I can=t be sure. SJ: Was Sister Remigius in your group? SMA: Remigius?. . . was not a college girl. I mean, we weren=t close. No, uh, I don=t know if (she taught school??) SJ: But Muriel and Joanna had been in the Academy. SMA: I don=t know: I=m not sure. SJ: . . . and in the college. SMA: I was not in the Academy. SJ: No, but you were in the college, and you came. . .All right. Anybody else around you in the community? SMA: Muriel was awfully sweet. She was in charge of the college girls at night, and she would---- We were together in a double room. She walked into the place, and she said, (I never verified it.) that I=d sit up in bed, look at the clock, look at her and lie down again- - -which sounds very true, because she=d arrive in anytime between 12 and 2, and be in chapel exactly on time in the morning. SJ: In those days that was quite early, wasn=t it? SMA: Oh, yes. SJ: Be up at probably, 4:30, 5:00? SMA: I=d say 5:30 the bell and 6:00 for prayers. I=m very vague on that. I don=t know. SJ: All right. When you came as a postulant, then, you had your degree. Were you sent out to teach, or did you have your novitiate training classes, do you remember that? 15 SMA: I tried to remember yesterday. I think I taught at Seton Hill, a follow-up; I already had pupils, I think, (that=d been to me?) And I went on with them, or with a class of harmony I was teaching at Seton Hill, but I was almost instantly also sent to St. Benedict=s to teach. Now I don=t know whether that was 1 or 2 years or no years at all, whether I just went down. But I remember this!! I was sitting in chapel for the Mass, very peacefully, so resigned to my fate, and they came up and whispered in my ear, AYou have choir practice right after Mass.@ Now, I didn=t know the children; I didn=t know where the books were; I didn=t know whether the woman who ran the organ would be up there. I didn=t know anything about singing; I had piano work, You see. SJ: Oh, this was when you were down teaching at St. Benedict=s, or teaching in the grades? SMA: Yes. SJ: You were teaching piano students at St. Benedict=s, or teaching in the grades? SMA: I don=t know. I don=t know what stage this was,=cause this is a stage all by itself when you=te told to teach singing right after Mass. So I hurried upstairs and luckily the organist ws up there - - - Hulda Quinleven(sp?) SJ: She=s still there! SMA: Is she? SJ: She=s still playing the organ. SMA: She is an angel pet lamb, so she showed me where the books were, so I gathered them up and took them downstairs for choir practice after Mass Cmy introductionCand she helped me pick out 2 or 3 hymns and we worked together very beautifully, I thought. I don=t know. Of course, Harriet followed me there, so I don=t suppose I kept any reputation. Harriet=s a dream; she=s very good. SJ: You probably stayed on at Seton Hill for those first two years after you entered, while you were getting your education, getting your novitiate preparation training and things like that. See, our records don=t tell us too much about the sisters prior to about 1943. SMA: Oh. SJ: And we don=t know where they were, but the fact that you got your bachelor of music degree two years after you entered, and the fact that you were in those recitals makes me feel that you probably stayed on at Seton Hill up until about 27 or so. SMA: 26 or so, in there. SJ: Yes, after that, and you had your degree . . . and you mayhave been teaching right there. They probably had a program they let you . . . SMA: (They used me on it???) SJ: then you wnet down to St. Benedict=s maybe to teach the piano classes. SMA: No, it was singing- - entirely different. SJ: In the Cathedral itself? Or at St. Benedict=s Church, I guess it was then called, and went over into the school. SMA: And then it began to be in the school rooms. I=d go around to each room and teach groups, I think. SJ: I see. SMA: Not real gropups, you know; I=d teach the whole class. SJ: Yes. .? ? (Have you ever been a music teacher, school music teacher, then? ______ St. Benedict=s?) SMA: 10 SJ: 10 years. All right. SMA: I don=t know . . .if it was 10 or 8, you know. I don=t remember how long the singing at Seton Hill was. SJ: And see, in those days you wold have lived at the college, lived at Seton Hill and traveled down by cab. 16 SMA: W A L K E D ! ! ! SJ: You walked. Oh, each day. SMA: (uh huh? and home ? ? ? ______car? Carr?) Eating at second table, we called (her?) (it?) That was great. SJ: You probably had a lot of duties over there, too, like charges and. . . SMA: There was something that gave me heart trouble. This little girl, Dr. Trimble=s little girl, Sally Trimble, was taking lessons and this afternoon when I was finished with her lesson, I went on with the next lesson and about two minutes later, a taxicab, I think, appeared. It was sent to get Sally Trimble and Sally was nowhere. I was sick unto death because I thought she=d been kidnapped . . . so I don=t know how I lived through the next hour; I think, Bno, I don=t think so - - -I think I just sweated it out. Now the priest=s house was very close. Now we weren=t used to running over to the priest=s house to use their phone. But I should have done that to settle my brain. Then there was another person asking for Sally. So the first one, the taxicab, I think got her. Well, I checked as soon as I went home, of course, and they said they had sent the taxicab to get her picked up and I didn=t pretend about the worry, but I was really worried about her. SJ: She had walked home? SMA: No, she went home in one of those things; I forget which one- - the first one that came. SJ: that would frighten you. SMA: Uh huh! SJ: Did you enjoy teaching children? SMA: I was crazy about it! - - -very much loved it! SJ: Would you have had young children, or. . . SMA: All ages up. I think the older ones were easier to teach. Of course, I had a few older ones who were very difficult, people who didn=t care to practice, you know. I think you remember a space like that. SJ: Now, after St. Benedict=s - - I did check to see where some of the missions which you had gone to. SMA: St. Stephen=s was the first one. SJ: See, we don=t have that! The first we have in our file in 1943-48 - - - you were teaching in Pittsburgh at Sacred Heart. SMA: Oh, golly, that=s very late. SJ: Now, you also taught summer school at Seton Hill College, taught piano lessons at summer school, and you taught at Seton Hill in the music program. . .=42 TAPE II SJ: Tape 2 side of a taped oral history with Sister Margaret Anne Hanley, on Friday, June 15, 1984. Sister, when we left off at the first tape, were talking about where you were on mission and I said the first record that we have is you were teaching at Seton Hill summer school >40->43, and then >43 to >48 at Sacred Heart. Now, you remember St. Stephen=s in Hazelwood. SMA: Oh, yes. That was very definitely a mission. I stayed there for 10 years under Mary Paul; I think that=s right. And that was a good ten years, that was >34->44. That would take you up, wouldn=t it? SJ: Maybe 3/30/43. SMA: Yes. SJ: or maybe >32->42. That=s when you taught at Seton Hill. You must have come from St. Stephen=s to Seton Hill and then there was one year at Seton Hill, and then you went out to Sacred Heart. 17 SMA: I don=t remember one year at Seton Hill. I don=t remember a break to Seton Hill. I remember being changed to another mission. SJ: You seemed to stay a long time in places. SMA: Yes, 10 and 7 years. SJ: And then maybe that St. Benedict=s was from about >26->32, maybe 6 years, 6 or 7 years. SMA: I would have said 10 years; I don=t know. SJ: These may not be . . . our records start in >42. SMA: Well, you fix them because I=m not sure at all. SJ: St. Stephen=s. I remember that big beautiful old-fashioned convent, and the piano was in the front room. Is that where you taught? SMA: Where=s this? SJ: St. Stephen=s in Hazelwood. SMA: Oh, yes, yes. SJ: Do you have any recollections there? Did you have some good students? SMA: It was, uh;, singing in the rooms and it was a change. See, I was pretty well adjusted to singing in the rooms and following programs and they were not . . .I don=t know. I didn=t care for my teaching; I didn=t care for the set-up. But I think it was that mostly. The books were different; the teachers were not resigned to seeing somebody walk in to take a half hour of time, and that was what I had been used to. One or two stick our in my mind as being very friendly and glad to see a music teacher. SJ: Was Sr. Mary Paul a good Sister Servant and principal? SMA: Oh, laws, yes! (She had it made? - - just perfect. SJ: Did you ever see Sister Cecilia Ward? She would have lived across the street, I believe. SMA: Yes, I think she did, but we never saw her. SJ: She was going to college, or teaching, maybe, at that time. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Margaret Anne Hanley Subject The topic of the resource Sister Margaret Anne Hanley Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Margaret Anne Hanley, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1924 until 1994. The interview was conducted by Sister Jean Augustine on June 14, 15, and 17, 1984. Sister Margaret Anne Hanley - born Mary Margaret Hanley on June 26, 1903 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1924. She received a bachelor's degree of English and French from Seton Hill College in 1924 and a bachelor's degree in music, also from Seton Hill, in 1926. She taught music at a number of schools in both Pennsylvania and Arizona. Sister Margaret Anne died on June 20, 1994. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1984/06/14 1984/06/15 1984/06/17 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-34 Arizona Pennsylvania Seton Hill College Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Marie Colette Hanlon Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Seton House Marshfield (Wis.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Marie Colette Hanlon Subject The topic of the resource Sister Marie Colette Hanlon Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Marie Colette Hanlon, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1958 until present. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on June 20 and 21, 1987. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/06/20 1987/06/21 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-100 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/3a40556bfc8c7b49f9abfebb0565f981.mp3 cda535ead810757d93044abbeba18fa1 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/06fb3afa0edadd18c98b967da1277183.mp3 282b929b2548bd020edd90de1b34781f https://scsharchives.com/files/original/74235fb25ec425ec58da09ccce4a3296.mp3 b965d342e6c3e50847f1045a0db4db36 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/09581e80d3030d11d938c9a9dc1370ac.mp3 6a9d3a441ce53180329e5de7bb0289c4 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/d64d02d0829c035a1754aabb52303732.mp3 432ff993a806f9a575cfd858f43a0ec6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Germaine Helwig Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Greensburg Faculty House Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:35 31:35 31:34 31:34 31:36 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister M. Germaine Helwig Subject The topic of the resource Sister M. Germaine Helwig Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Germaine Helwig, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1933 until 2010. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on April 4, 1987. Sister Mary Germaine Helwig - born Mary Elizabeth Helwig on November 29, 1915 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1933. She received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Seton Hill College in 1949 and a master's degree in chemistry from Notre Dame in 1959. She taught at several Pittsburgh area schools, most notably at Bishop McCort High School from 1953-1965 and 1966-1980, as well as at Greensburg Central Catholic High School from 1965-1966 and from 1980-1988. Upon retirement, she tutored students at Geibel High School and at Seton Hill College. In 1993, SHC President JoAnne Boyle honored Sister Mary Germaine with a Volunteer of the Year award. Sister Mary Germaine died on March 4, 2010. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/04/04 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-78 Bishop McCourt High School Geibel Catholic High School Greensburg Central Catholic High School Notre Dame University Seton Hill College Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Jean Ann Wilburn Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Rita Vincent Henderson Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Cathedral School Greensburg (Pa.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 20:52 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Rita Vincent Henderson Subject The topic of the resource Sister Rita Vincent Henderson Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Rita Vincent Henderson, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1916 until 1991. The interview was conducted by Sister Jean Ann Wilburn on January 8, 1984. Sister Rita Vincent Henderson - born Ruth Catherine Henderson on March 3, 1901 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1916. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Duquesne University in 1945. She taught at a number of Pittsburgh area schools, including St. Philip School, Our Lady of Mercy School, and at Cathedral School in Greensburg. Sister Rita Vincent died on March 13, 1991. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1984/01/08 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-9 Cathedral School Crafton PA Duquesne University Greensburg PA Johnstown PA Our Lady of Mercy School St. Philip's School https://scsharchives.com/files/original/c9439b350b97485b17c2b8041163d8b5.mp3 52c4ffe2cad8a96421405d4599583276 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/d1949a7b45d57ff469ea1a84031991c2.mp3 4613747ec82ab117dfe4959331deb1b4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Teresa Martin Henry Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview St. Luke Convent Carnegie (Pa.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:33 08:08 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Teresa Martin Henry Subject The topic of the resource Sister Teresa Martin Henry Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Teresa Martin Henry, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1931 until 2003. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on February 14, 1987. Sister Teresa Martin Henry - born Geraldine Roberta Henry on May 5, 1914 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1931. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Duquesne University in 1947 and a master's degree from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame in 1955. She taught social studies and religion at a number of schools including Sacred Heart in Pittsburgh, St. Luke Elementary School, and Bishop Boyle High School. She also served as Dean of Freshman at Seton Hill College from 1949-1951. Sister Teresa Martin died on September 8, 2003. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/02/14 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-61 Bishop Boyle High School Carnegie PA Duquesne University Sacred Heart School PGH Seton Hill College St. Luke's School St. Mary's College https://scsharchives.com/files/original/a4312bf911bb591bec7806d898e25858.mp3 552b2776475e7144820925077e51e968 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/6da88c60bfaf2feae915fda270ec91f6.mp3 1b6b2ec6760cb266359c50085bfa73eb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Virginia Pascaretta Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Mary Estelle Hensler Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Ennis Hall Greensburg (Pa.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:02 09:50 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound 1 OH- 13-1 This is·an oral history tape for the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The interviewee is Sister Mary Estelle Hensler. The interviewer is Sr. Virginia Pascaretta. The interview is taking place at Ennis Hall on March seventeenth, nineteen hundred eighty-five. SVP: Sr. Estelle, we asked you to do a little reflection on your personal life as a Sister of Charity. You agreed to do that. So, we will begin today as we said we would. SMEH: Today, March seventeenth, at the age of eighty-four, I have lived for sixty-six years at Seton Hill. I was born on July seventh, nineteen hundred in Carrick, which is a suburb of Pittsburgh. At the age of six months, I was carried by my father to a Midnight Mass at a parish church to ring out the old and bring in the new century. SVP: Sister, what was the parish church? SMEH: I believe it was St. Wendelin's in Carrick My mother's name was Margaret Elizabeth Klein, eldest daughter of Mary and Peter Klein, and one of eleven children. My father's name was Charles Peter Hensler, son of Peter and Elizabeth Hensler. He was the eldest of eleven children. Both my parents were born and reared in Carrick, were baptized and attended school at St. Wendelin's. They were married in St. Wendelin's Church in eighteen ninety-six: I was also baptized in St. Wendelin's Church and give the name of Clara Elizabeth Hensler. My grandparents were German immigrants . They cam-e to America in the eighteen forties to escape political and social unrest in their country. Here in America, they found freedom. Ittook several generations before their children and grandchildren gained economic stability. Here in America, at the same time, the country was being oppressed by the terrible financial Depression following the reconstruction period after the Civil War in eighteen sixty-one and eighteen sixty­ five. My parents' education, and that of their brothers and sisters ended with the eighth grade. As a young boy, my father wanted to study. for the priesthood, but his family could not afford the expense. At the age of twenty, he inarried my mothers He worked as a coal miner, receiving a • small amount daily in wages. My mother said that they saved more the first year of their marriage than the years that followed once the children began to arrive.· My father enrolled in a correspondence course in a stringent mining school to study mining engineering. This qualified him for a position in management in the coal mines of Southwestern Pennsylvania owned by sounded like the H. C. Frick Coal Company. Looking at his text books, I often wondered how he taught himself to work such difficult Math. problems. ·Toe mines were worked mainly by immigrants, brought by Frick from Europe; n9tably Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Ukraine. They lived usually in small, four room, houses. These houses were built and owned by the company. They had no indoor plumbing, electricity, or furnace. One room served as a kitchen. The remaining ones were for sleeping. These small patches of houses were surrounded by farms. The trees were usually·cut down to make posts to buttress the place where the coal would come out. These towns had no doctors, dentists, or policemen and firemen for protection. Also, there usually were no schools or churches. These were at some distance to be reached only by walking or by trolley car. Learnin-g new language, new labor techniques, a new way oflife in a strange country often meant that miners were taken advantage of. They were poorly paid for the 2 dangerous work they had to do. They had long working hours, which began at five AM until five PM in the evening. The management personnel worked the same long hours as the miners. My father often worked overtime. They would come to him during the night for some emergency in the mine. Keeping the water pumps working required constant supervision. If the pumps weren't working, it caused a dangerous situation for the miners. My father' s position was changed often, which caused us to have to move frequently. SVP: Sister, may I ask a question at this point? I'm interested in the geography of the coal mines in relation to the city of Pittsburgh. Were these places relatively close to what we now call Pittsburgh? Were they in the outlying district? SMEH: They were in the outlying places. I can name some of them...Brownsville, Donaldson, Peter's Creek, etc. It was very difficult to hear what she was saying here. She mentions two mines which had the greatest impact on her, but neither was audible. One sounds like Heckla, which is where the family moved in nineteen hundred six. SMEH: When we moved to Heckla in nineteen hundred six, there were four children...Carl, Joseph, Cecilia, and myself. Then came John in 1908, and Mildred in 1911. At the age of seven, I entered first grade in a small, four room school, where I spent three weeks. My oldest brother, Carl, had taught me to read and write, so I was promoted to the second grade. Father O' Donnell, our pastor, came to Heckla every Friday afternoon to instruct us in Catechism. During the week, my mother supervised our assignments. Father O'Donnell was a strict teacher and insisted on our memorizing the Baltimore Catechism. In September of 1910, Carl and I were transferred to St. Joseph's in Mt. Pleasant. We had already received our First Communion. It was the first time children under twelve could receive. One of the things I remember vividly is that the day before we received our first Holy Communion, we met at school in the morning.• Father O'Donnell conducted what we would call a day of reflection. Our confessions were heard in the afternoon. We were instructed to be quiet. That night at supper, Carl and I were served by ourselves. Then , we prayed the litany before the May altar and went to bed. This experience helped us to realize how serious receiving Holy Communion should be. In nineteen hundred eleven, we moved to Standard Shaft, the largest of the· Frick mines. Living here, I made a life long friend, Sarah Jackson, later Sister Angeline Jackson. Every day, we walked to and from school together. On Sundays, we took a walk in the afternoon. Every week, our mothers sent us to a nearby farm to purchase butter. The farm lady always said: "Come right in girls." She would wrap the butter in wax paper, put it into our baskets, and then.co ver it with a sheet of paper, which was a tabloid. Sarah and I would always unwrap the butter and read the sheet which contained horror stories about runaway nuns and priests. Sarah and I would have a good laugh about it. I decided to give one of these sheets to my father, expecting the same reaction. However, he crumbled it up and threw it into the fire. Our growing up years were uneventful. We were a closely knit family. Our lives centered mainly around home, church, and school. With the exception of Sarah, I made few friends. Sometimes we went to a movie. Here, she says something about her brother, Carl, bringing home books in June, which he had from St. Vincent's. It was inaudible. One afternoon, my mother sent me into the kitchen to watch a pot of apple jelly on the stove, while she went out to the garden. I kept one eye on the 3 stove and the other away. Before I knew it, the jelly was running over. As punishment, I had to stand for one hour between the wall and the stove on a hot summer day. My childhood ended in nineteen fourteen with the death of my mother. I did not return to school, but remained at home to help my father hold the family together. With six small children, there was always something to take my time baby sitting or household chore. SVP: Sister, how old were you at the time.of y,o ur mother's death? SMEH: I was fourteen. After her death, I took on more responsibility. My father and I managed to keep the family together. I remained with my family for three years. One day, I received a letter from Sister Patrice McGuire, my seventh grade teacher. The letter said that I must remind my father that I should return to school. The next day, I returned to Seton Hill to register. for the eighth grade in the Fall of nineteen-seventeen. Away from home in a boarding school, I missed family and Sarah Jackson. I didn't make many friends, as·I was shy and three years older than · my classmates. The- daily schedule was much like that of the novitiate. We rose at seven, went. to prayers in the oratory, went for a walk around the building, and ate breakfast. SVP: Sister, you're speaking now of the academy at Seton Hill? Is that where you went to school? That's where yoti received a letter from Sister Patrice? SMEH: Yes. Morning classes began about nine AM. At eleven thirty, we assembled in the recreation hall before going to lunch. Afternoon classes began at one and ended at four. Then we all went for a long walk accompanied by one of the sisters. We never went beyond the statue of the angel at St. Mary's. They were the days! · . ' SVP: What were the classes like? Are you going to develop that idea, or are you just going to tell us the kind of classes you took? SMEH:I took regular eighth grade classes...Math, Spelling, Geography, History, etc. I believe she said that Sister Theodosia Murtha was one of her teachers. At fiv, e o 'd o .ck; we went to supper. We marched in line, in silence, from the recreation hall to the dining.room. We said Grace together, and dinner was served at five-thirty. SVP: Were you permitted to talk during your dinner meal? SMEH: Definitely no. I couldn't hear what all she was saying here. After dinner, we went to Study Hour at.seven o'clock. By eight-thirty, we were back in the dormitory to 'prepare for bed. At nine o'clock we prayed, and nine-fifte.en, it was ·lights out! SVP: Tell me this. What was the nature of the night prayer? SMEH: I would say...the Our Father, the Hail Mary, act of Faith, Hope, and Love. Of course we also said the De Profundis when the bell rang. SMEH: By nineteen-seventeen, the United States had joined our allies in a World War I effort to help our soldiers. The Red Cross had set up centers where articles were collected and·prepared to send to our troops overseas in England and.France. Periodically, we met with the professed sisters and faculty in their community room on Second Administration, where we rolled 4 bandages, knit socks, scarves, etc. for this war effort. Meeting there made me aware of the striking contrast between the peace and quiet there as opposed to the noise and turmoil in the students' residence. In the Spring of that year, nineteen hundred seventeen, we made a sev n day, silent retreat. I began to think about my religious life. I felt more prayerful and wanted to dedicate my life to God. My father supported my choice of vocation. Then on September eighth, nineteen hundred eighteen, I entered the Saint Joseph Novitiate at Seton Hill. Before being eligible to teach school, I learned that you had to be a high school graduate. I was the second candidate to enter on September eighth, nineteen-eighteen. There were six of us: Sister M. Gervase Shields, Sister Marie Dolores Haney, Sister Ann Catherine McDermott, Sister M. Agnes Daugherty, Sister Mary Samuel Klingensmith, and myself. All ofus persevered. Today, only Sister Agnes and I are living. Our days were full from morning until night with duties, such as: making beds, washing dishes, cleaning floors, serving meals, etc. We worked in the laundry on Mondays and · Tuesdays. We also worked at the switchboard. After supper and dishes, we recreated until eight­ fiftee-n, said night prayers, and from there prepared for bed. Lights were out at nine-fifteen. Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers was our first mistress of novices. She taught us to be prayerful, work carefully, and instructed us in the Constitutions and the Praiseworthy Customs of the community. She taught us to be alert, attentive, and responsive. After breakfast-one morning, Sister Rose Xavier Garrity told me to get dressed to be ready to join the sisters who taught at St. Benedict's School, which is now the Cathedral School, to teach the eighth grade. I said: "Just in case you're not aware of my academic standing, I'm going to be a housekeeper." Her answer was:"Get ready for school, and off I went!" As novices, we were not allowed to talk to the professed sisters, nor to the students. We saw them in the chapel and in the dining room. Most meals were taken in silence. In later years, I realized that the senior sisters at that time...Sister Mary Louis Flick, Sister Mary Xavier Farrell, Sister Rosalia Crates and others were the pioneers of the community, and knew Mother Aloysia Lowe and Mother Ann Regina Ennis personally. On December eighth, nineteen hundred eighteen, I received the habit as a white cap, and given the name Sister Mary Estelle Hensler. After that, my father called me his dear little white cap novice. The following September eighth, nineteen-nineteen, I received the black cap. Instead of being missioned, I entered the academy as a high school freshman. My class work was sometimes interrupted by my having to do some substitute teaching. On the afternoon of New Year's Day in nineteen twenty, I packed my suitcase and met with a professed sister who was waiting for me at the front door. After a while in the railway coach, I asked: "Where are we going?" The answer was Sharpsburg, a place I heard of for the first time. I taught fourth grade for several months in Sharpsburg. Then on a Sunday afternoon, I was changed to Holy Innocents in Sheraden to teach second grade. In March of nineteen-twenty, Sister M. Anita McGinness, who taught painting at Seton Hill died. This event helped to change my life. In June of nineteen-twenty, we returned to Seton Hill for suinmer school. In the Fall, I was missioned to teach at St. Benedict's in Greensburg. On Saturday afternoons, I took drawing lessons from Sister M. Evangelist Yah1 in the art studio. From nineteen twenty-two until nineteen twenty-five, I alternated between going to school at Seton Hill, taking both high school and college subjects, and continuing art lessons with Sister M. Evangelist. By nineteen twenty­ four, it became apparent that-the only art courses needed in the college were those required for 5 majors in Music and Home Economics. These courses were dropped by Sister M. Evangelist Yahl. Since the courses did not constitute a major, they were electives and could not create a department. In nineteen twenty-five, I was missioned to teach elementary grades in Pittsburgh, mostly seventh grade. At this time I began to take art education courses on Saturday under Lucy (couldn't hear last name), who was a public school art teacher. During the years from nineteen twenty-five through nineteen thirty-two, I learned the ways ofliving on a local mission. During one of these years; I was relieved a semester to .go from school to school to give demonstration lessons in school art. In nineteen thirty-two, the community accepted the offer of a new mission ...Saints Peter and Paul in Tucson, Arizona. Soon, we were involved in other aspects of church service. Besides school teaching, we taught the deaf and blind children, Sunday School, the Indian, summer catechetical work to Mexican children in (I couldn't hear where this was). SVP: Sister, were you among the first to go the West? SMEH: We were the pioneer group. While in (inaudible) working with the Mexicans the summer of nineteen thirty-seven, a letter from Greensburg came. It read: "Send Sister Estelle home bag and baggage. SVP: Who was the major superior at that time? SMEH: I believe it was Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers. I arrived in Greensburg via train two days after receiving the letter requesting my return. The following Monday morning, I registered for classes in Art History at Columbia University. Before leaving Greensburg however, I learned that Sister Evangelist Yahl had a serious heart problem. Because of my interest in Art, Sister Evangelist requested that I study Art History in preparation for the time when she could no longer teach. After six weeks of summer school, I returned to Seton Hill. On August twenty-second, nineteen thirty-seven, Sister Evangelist Yahl died. Within several days after her funeral, Sister M. Cyril Aaron, the Academic Dean, informed me that I would teach Sister Evangelist's classes. After this time, I tried as I usually did to accept any assignment, but this was different. Academically and technically, not only was I unprepared to teach courses to college students, but these students were paying for very competent teaching. I explained my situation.. My explanation was accepted, and a lay teacher was hired to teach these classes. I then enrolled in college courses for the Fall term. In June of nineteen-forty, I received my undergraduate degree. On commencement night, I boarded a night train for New York. I registered at New York University the morning I arrived. The following year(difficult to hear), I received a Master's degree in Art and returned to Seton Hill for the summer school session. I began my first full year teaching in the college in nineteen forty-one. I taught the required courses in Art, and like. other sisters on the'faculty had other charges. I taught Sunday School classes, monitored students in the dormitories in the evening Monday through Thursday from seven until eleven PM, and helped with college functions. Our places of residence changed from year to year. I lived by the day. During my first years of teaching in the college, the classes were small. As the enrollment became larger, class size increased to about thirty-five. There was also an increase in the number of courses taught. After World War II, campus life changed radically from previous years. There was rebellion and 6 unrest on campuses everywhere. The demands on academic and community life became increasingly difficult. Every aspect of life was changing, and continues to do so. After the first term of teaching in nineteen seventy-six, I realized that my teaching should terminate. This year coincided with the establishment of the Doran Hall Retreat And Renewal Center. Mother Richard Ann Watson appointed Sister Mary Francis Irwin and me to prepar, e the newly purchased Gumberg House, which became the New Generalate residence in nineteen seventy­ seven. After the community elections, Sister Mary Francis and I moved to Doran Hall to direct the transition from Novitiate to Retreat Center. For five years, I did the same kind of work I would have done had I become a housekeeper. SVP: After living at Doran Hall you moved to Ennis, which was the formation house for the Novitiate. Is that right? SMEH: That didn't happen until a few years later. SMEH: By nineteen eighty-two, the bigger part of my life was spent in an institutional set up. Since renewal in religious life began, there has been experimentation in small group community living. I felt it was my duty to participate. Doran Hall began to be used more and more for lay people, so my personal community life style became less possible. In nineteen eighty-two, I moved to Ennis Hall which was occupied by the sisters on the college faculty. After Christmas, Ennis Hall was named the house of formation for the community. I was assigned to work there. This change in residence was very difficult for the college sisters. In the novitiate, I was in charge of the library, and performed other household tasks. Living in the novitiate today is different compared to sixty-five or even twenty years ago. Just as the life style of everyone living in the United States today is changing, what we in religious life have experienced will take many years to understand. SVP: Sister, are there any reflections that you would like to make about your life in community? Perhaps, you might have some comment to make about it. the changes and how you see them affecting the community? SMEH: I remember telling Sister Theodosia Murtha back in nineteen-seventeen that I wanted to enter. All she said was: "Community life is not a bed of roses!" I found this to be true, but I have faith to believe that God acted through those years, and will continue to do so. SVP Sister, thank you for sharing your history with us. I'm sure it will be very helpful...motivating to a lot of young women as they come into the Community. I, in fact always enjoy hearing these histories. They' re very enlivening for me. Sr. Marie Arthur Hamilton: I completed transcribing this oral history of Sister Mary Estelle Hensler on May fifteenth, two thousand twelve. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Mary Estelle Hensler Subject The topic of the resource Sister Mary Estelle Hensler Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Estelle Hensler, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1918 until 1998. The interview was conducted by Sister Virginia Pascaretta on March 17, 1985. Sister Mary Estelle Hensler - born Clara Elizabeth Hensler on July 7, 1900 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1918. She received a bachelor's degree in art and history from Seton Hill College in 1939 and a master's degree in art from New York University in 1940. She was a professor of art at Seton Hill College from 1943-1977, also serving as the chair of the art department from 1940-1967. She then served as Co-Director and resident artist at the Doran Hall Retreat and Renewal Center from 1977-1987. Along with Sister Mary Francis Irvin, Sister Estelle is remembered for her tireless efforts within Seton Hill's art department. Sister Mary Estelle died on November 23, 1998. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985/03/17 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-13 New York University Professor of Art History Seton Hill College https://scsharchives.com/files/original/7d93882a85698b68961b11080230cdf4.mp3 96262b98ca47514f59527169d70d372c https://scsharchives.com/files/original/a25e1204ae0ac4ea491e068fdfcf42db.mp3 6b0dbf07cc8e67d82ebb5062587e0bff https://scsharchives.com/files/original/6bc9f44b98677480a772254e811172a8.mp3 b6b7e0b726ac3f0c90db229dbeb91e69 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/ecdc47bd7469ac2f59cb5b87d8a79565.mp3 2387b4282188404cd20524014f5d7826 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Virginia Pascaretta Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Mary Estelle Hensler Sister Mary Francis Irvin Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Ennis Hall Greensburg (Pa.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:34 31:37 31:34 27:52 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Mary Estelle Hensler and Sister Mary Francis Irvin Subject The topic of the resource Sister Mary Estelle Hensler Sister Mary Francis Irvin Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Estelle Hensler and Sister Mary Francis Irvin. The interview was conducted by Sister Virginia Pascaretta on March 24, 1985. Sister Mary Estelle Hensler and Sister Mary Francis Irvin were professors of art at Seton Hill College from the 1940's into the 1970's. Together, they are credited with building the art program at the college into a flourishing major. This oral history concerns their work in the art program. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985/03/24 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-93 Art Artist Professor of Art Seton Hill College https://scsharchives.com/files/original/b169a155990f0cc5f0e0b84fbddf4f35.mp3 ba814adc1e3cbb7b8160904af8822df3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Miriam Leah Hickey Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview Assumption Hall Greensburg (Pa.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:00 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound OH-24 Sr. Mir. Hickey This interview is being conducted as part of the oral history program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister Miriam Leah Hickey. The interviewer is Sister Marie Corona Miller. This is being done at Assumption Hall. The date is: October twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-four. SMCM: Good morning, Sister Miriam Leah. I'm happy to be with you today to hear some things about your life. Sister, when and where were you born? SMLH: I was born on August 20th in 1906 in Scottdale, Pa. I was baptized at St. John's ...also in Scottdale. My mother was Mary Catherine Murphy Hickey and my father was Michael Hickey. I also attended St. John the Baptist's School up until the second year in high school. At that time, it was a two year high school program. Sister Alice Marie Barron taught me in high school, and Sister Carita Duffy taught me in the eighth grade. SMCM: Sister, did you have siblings? SMLH: Yes, I had two sisters.Marguerite and Brigid. I also had two brothers...James and Regis. Regis was ordained a priest in 19 for the Greensburg diocese. SMCM: How did you come to be a Sister of Charity? SMLH: When Sister Mary Rose from the Mercy Community heard that I was going to enter the Sisters of Charity, she said to my mother: "Mary, why aren't you sending her to the Mercy Order?" My mother's reply was: "I'm not sending her anywhere. This is all her own idea." However, the Charities are the ones she knows. I petitioned on February 14, 1925 without my mother knowing it. When I wasn't home in time for dinner, my mother said to my brother: "James, I wonder where she is today." His reply was: "She's giving her heart to the right guy . today." I entered on June 19, 1925. Sister Marie Elizabeth Leonard entered the same day. SMCM: Who was your Mistress of Novices, Sister Miriam Leah? SMLH: Mother Mary Francis McCullough was. She was a wonderful mistress. The book written by Pope John Paul II contained everything we had in our novitiate. SMCM: Who are some of the sisters who entered with you? SMLH: Sister Marie Elizabeth Leonard entered with me on June 19, 1925. Then there was what we called the "twenty crowd", which came in September. SMCM: Do you remember any particular thing that happened while you were a novice? SMLH: I recall one day that I was humming "Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee" in the novitiate room, not knowing Mother Mary Francis was there until she said: "Who is that doing that humming?" I proudly answered that it was me. She said: "This isn't the place or time·of the day to be doing it." I had very happy days in the novitiate. SMCM: Do you remember where you were fir t missioned? SMLH: My first mission was to St. Jame's in Wilkinsburg. Sister Agnes Marie Reuber was the principal. I believe that I started out in either the fourth or fifth grade. As time went on most of my teaching was at the seventh and eighth grade level. I preferred having the fourth grade because they are young enough to be sociable and can do things for themselves. Eighth graders become too sophisticated. They're a little rambunctious, although I did enjoy them. SMCM: Was St. James a large school, and how long did you stay on that mission? SMLH: There were eight grades with about eighty-five students in each grade. I was missioned to St. James three different times, and loved it every time. I was in charge of the altar boys at most places I was stationed. SMCM: Sister Miriam Leah, how long did you teach school? SMLH: I taught up until 1968 when I came to Assumption Hall. Some of the places where I taught were : St. James, Wilkinsburg, St. John the Evangelist, South Side, St. Stephen, Hazelwood. I think I tried out all the different schools we had. SMCM: Were you always stationed in the Pittsburgh Diocese? SMLH: No, I was at St.Bruno's, Cathedral in Greensburg, Holy Cross School in Youngwood. I was the principal at Holy Cross for six years. I was a teaching principal. SMCM: Are there any experiences in your teaching days that you would like to share with us? SMLH: I would say that my experiences were the same happy ones had by other teachers who enjoyed teaching. SMCM: What did you do during the summers? SMLH: The first couple of years were spent talcing courses to acquire credits to complete my B.S. in Education, which was received from Duquesne University. I also taught students from Greensburg who had failed the eighth grade. I also went out on Sundays to teach Religion. Some of the places where I taught Sunday School were: Murraysville, St. Bruno's in Greensburg, and Holy Cross in Youngwood. During the week, I went to Saltzburg to teach summer school. SMCM: Did you always teach the older children, even in CCD and summer school? SMLH: Yes. SMCM: Would you like to tell us anything else? When did you come to Assumption Hall? SMLH: I came to Assumption Hall on October 31, 1968. I had been in the hospital from August tenth of 1968 until this time. I was recovering from leg surgery.. I was surprised at being discharged from the hospital as I had not been out of bed the entire time. When the doctor told me I was going home, I said: "You must have me mixed up with someone else, because I haven't been out of bed." His reply was: "You're not going to get out of bed, Sister." I told him that the dried blood in my leg was driving me crazy. He said: "That's not dried blood. The reason you're here so long is that we haven't succeeded in getting the bleeding to stop." It was a Sunday afternoon when I came home. Mother Claudia Glenn had died that summer. She had been in room 302. She died in August . No-one had been put in her room. I was the frrst to be put in her room. In three days, the leg stopped bleeding. I'm sure it was due to Mother Claudia. Her brother, Monsignor Glenn, had also died previous to that summer. Monsignor Glenn had made a special petition that we would be blessed with fifty vocations from St. John the Baptist in Scottdale in honor of his fifty years as a priest, even though Monsignor didn't live until the fiftieth, but died after forty-eight years as a priest. SMCM: Sister, do you know how many people in the community have entered from St. John the Baptist in Scottdale? SMLH: At the time that Monsignor Glenn had a novena requesting that there would be fifty who entered from Scottdale, I don't believe that there were fifty. However, there are more than fifty now due to the good example, faith, and encouragement that we had. The day I entered Marguerite and Brigid, my two sisters went with me. Monsignor Glenn was there and said: "Think of the end, honey, and know it's worth it." He was at that time to be ordained in three years. He was ordained in 1929. I entered in 1925. SMCM: What about your time here at Assumption, Sister Miriam Leah? · SMLH: When I first came to Assumption, my sister had bought me a new sewing machine. From a wheel chair, I was able to cut out and sew on the sewing machine, using my hand to operate the machine, the various parts of clowns. Then other sisters stuffed the clowns. I don't know how many of these I did, but it was a good many. It seemed there were a million of them! SMCM: Was that the first project you worked on? SMLH: Yes, it was. SMLH: I was on the fourth floor for a while at Assumption, but then had to be moved to the second floor due to health reasons. I had a number of hospitalizations. I had surgery for breast cancer in 1969 or 1970. Then in 1975, the largest part of my lungs was removed. I've always had what we considered bronchitis all winter long. However, when I was hospitalized, the doctor told me that I had a severe case of emphysema. He said he would love to show me the condition of my lungs, but of course didn't. He asked me if I had ever smoked. I told him that I had a cigarette in my mouth for about five minutes(it wasn't lit) at a party which was for me the night before I entered. At that time, neither my father or my brothers smoked. From that time on it was cancer, cancer, cancer. SMCM: You keep yourself very busy, sister. How do you manage to do that? SMLH: Well, I have an S (have listened three times) on my door. A sister whose name I believe was Sister Mary Leon Bettwy asked me one day what the S meant, and I told her "insane"! Here I am making all of these place mats. It was my second project. She wanted to know how many I had made, and I replied "OODLES" because I wouldn't begin to know how many. On another occasion when we were having retreat, the priest stopped to see me and wanted to know what the place mats were. I told him they were for putting your silverware and dishes on at meal time. Well then, he said: "Do they make the food taste better?" I said:" I don't know about that Father, but they surely do brighten up the room." That's for sure, Sister. It would make the room look a lot different. SMCM: What goes with the place mats? SMLH: Sometimes, coasters for under the glasses. People have had some very creative ideas. On occasion, we use a larger place mat and make a center piece in the middle of the tables. 4 SMCM: How do you feel about people coming to visit with you? Your door is always open. SMLH: People say they enjoy coming to see me because I'm always cheerful and welcoming. SMCM: Sister, would you like to say anything about the major changes in the Community over the past few years? SMLH: My chief complaint is regarding the manner of dress that has taken place. A young woman comes to the Community and wants to be known as "Sister", but the lack of common dress is a deterrent. I believe that's why Korea is doing so much better, as they can be identified by their dress. SMCM: Is there anything else you would like to say? SMLH: No, I believe that I have said enough. SMCM: Thank you Sister Miriam Leah. This will be kept in the archives at Caritas Christi. Sister Marie Arthur Hamilton: I transcribed this oral history on Sister Miriam Leah Hickey from a cassette type. It was completed on April 15, 2011. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Miriam Leah Hickey Subject The topic of the resource Sister Miriam Leah Hickey Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Miriam Leah Hickey, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1925 until 1985. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on October 23, 1984. Sister Miriam Leah Hickey - born Mildred Hickey on August 20, 1906 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in June of 1925. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Duquesne University in 1943. She taught in a number of Pittsburgh area schools and served as principal at Holy Cross School from 1953-1959 and at St. John the Baptist from 1962-1963. Sister Miriam Leah died on June 2, 1985. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1984/10/23 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Oh-38 Duquesne University Holy Cross School St. John the Baptist School Teacher Youngwood PA https://scsharchives.com/files/original/c22f8d3383d98e82f1cb36fc2461895d.mp3 31c74f83efb3ac22285704cef1bd5f46 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/147d27218d676e98ef907e0d4ee3e09d.mp3 599d83295d132ee582c0bdef18b2fef0 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/6bdcc33be56f9200a182125cb4608406.mp3 fe172d8870403337417736f0bad01a4c https://scsharchives.com/files/original/27a9d251eeba7c72704e192b0f80ae0c.mp3 79109719c4d0010e76abb030c58e6fc5 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/025d3e264d66c791452d2442487424fe.mp3 3f5a6506e4d20f9bac55fbbca6e27e2a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Francis Louise Honeychuck Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview De Paul Institute Pittsburgh (Pa.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:54 31:55 31:52 07:54 01:02:34 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Sister of Charity Oral Histories Interviewee: Sr. Francis Louise Honeychuck Interviewer: Sr. Marie Corona Miller July 15, 1987 This interview is being conduced as part of the Oral History program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister. Francis Louise Honeychuck. The interview is being conducted by Sister. Marie Corona Miller at De Paul Institute. The date is July 15th, 1987. Sr. M: Good morning Sister Francis Louise Sr. F.L: Good morning, how are you today? Sr. M: I’m fine how are you. Sr. F.L: I’m fine thank you. Sr. M: All right sister I came here to today to talk to you about your life as a sister of charity all the many things you have done and the ministries you have been involved in. Would you like to begin with your date of birth? Sr. F.L: I was born in Mount pleasant October 23, 1914 I have one sister whose name is Helen she’s married she lives in Florida, clear water and um originally she lived in Greensburg and her children attended Cathedral school and she has 5 children and they are all married except one and um her oldest daughter lives in Westminster Colorado and her two daughters are attending Catholic university in Washington DC there first year in college first and second year in college they both have college scholarships very bright children and she has two other sons who are also very bright her next daughter her oldest boy is Regus who was a went to St. Vincent college for a scholarship and then he went to Pitt University and received his master degree in Chemical Engineering. And then later on he went on for his doctorate and now he worked at Westinghouse for many years and he moved to Lakeland because his wife had arthritis and she was recommended to go to a warmer climate. So they have 5 children also and the oldest daughter is ready for college this beginning of September. Jimmy is another son and he lives in Orlando and he also has his master’s degree in Engineering and the youngest boy is John he has a masters degree in Electrical Engineering. And I have a brotherFather Bob who was educated at St. Vincent’s college and he is the oldest in the family and he has gone been to Pittsburgh Diocese then it was split and then he went to Greensburg of course and he’s now retired and he lives at Polyment house. He’s my favorite brother of course and our brother Andrew lives in Cleveland and he has is married and has 5 children and they’re all married and I can’t begin to tell you all their relationships because it’s so many children ok and then Brother Johnny is my youngest one and he lives in Irwin and he was 5 children and they’re all married. Sr. M: Which one is the nurse sister? Sr. F.L: And Larry whose the nurse and he lives in Mount Lebanon and he goes to our lady of Grace Parish and he has 2 children and they’re married. Ok that’s the extent of my family. My mother of course was a widow and she my father died in 1918 flu and so my mother had to work and she took in washings and all kinds of things in order to keep us together, and she was determined not to leave us go to any other families you know she kept us together and so we all survived under my mothers care and all grew up and I remember going into first grade and I attended St. Johns school and Sister Mary Eustice Mellon was my first teacher happy memories because I remember she asked us to say the sounds of the alphabet A “a” B “ba” C “ca” and I remember I use to do that at home when I was a little girl and I would look at the story books and she gave me a metal a beautiful little metal and she said you go to that other class because you remember all the sounds of the alphabet but the very first day I remember she went around saying what’s your name what is your name what is your name 60 children in a classroom you know we had 3 in a seat or 2 in a seat you know and she said what’s your name what’s your name what’s your name and after the 4th time I was tired of hearing say what’s your name I said I told you my name before and guess what I got a little crack. But anyhow I learned quickly to be quite you know. Sr.M: So what school was this? Sr. F.L: St. James, St. John the Baptist school in Scottdale. Ok now I remember some of the teachers we had after coming to 4th grade I had Sister Mary Martin Wit and in 5th grade Sister Perpetua Behe in 8th grade Sister Salome Kline and they were happy memories you know then I got into high school and then I had some wonderful teachers in high school I remember them very distinctly. Sr.M: And what High School is this? Sr. F.L: This is St. Johns St. Johns it was just the 3rd floor of the school and I had Sister Angelica Little, Sister Suzanne McIntire she taught me Spanish, Sister Joanna Gleeson was English, and Sister Bertha Shay and I remember her, very distinguished she talked in Latin and oh I love Latin and Sister Marie Anthony was my report teacher Sister Anthony and we had about 16 I guess 20 students in the class and a Sr.M: In the whole class? Sr. F.L: In in my class, in my class ok Sr. M: About how many were in the high school? Sr. F.L: About 90 maybe 100 all through and Sister Bertha was a favorite teacher of mine I liked her and Sister Marie Anthony of course taught the Geometry and the science general science classes. So I remained in high school until I was about till the Junior year and it was then I was contemplating and I remember very distinctly I was eating I took my lunch to school and we Sister Marie Anthony was there watching the lunch hour they take turns, one day it was Sister Marie Anthony the next day it was Sister Suzanne they took something time. And we were eating our lunch one day and she said to me you know I dreamed about you last night and I said you did? Ya she said I dreamed you were a Sister of Charity and I said Oh I don’t know about that but I’ve been thinking about it, I’ve been thinking about it. And so then I began to pray a lot you know and think about what I would like to do I wasn’t quit sure but I just knew well I wanted to devote myself and I remember one day at home my brother Andy and I were playing a game and he said and you know you have to say what would you like to be would you like to be a sailor you like to be a nurse you like to be this and so a saint was there and I said I wanted to be a saint and he said no you be a saint I said yes I’m going to be a saint but anyhow I thought you know that I thought well I wanted to think about being my vocation. So I then after that I approached sister Marie Anthony and I said you know what I’m thinking about entering the community and she said I’m not surprised so Sister Germaine and Sister Richard Ann, Mother Richard Ann and Sister Mary Watson we were all thinking about it too so then not much was said except for ?? She said well where would you like to go and I said well guess I think you got to break the ice don’t all three go together she said that’s not good Sr. M: Were all of you in the same class? Sr. F.L: We were in the same class we were junior year and so she said I think you got to break the ice, so I said I think maybe March 25th would be nice so in the October before that I went to Seton Hill to petition and I can’t remember who I went with probably with Sister Germaine I’m not sure but Mother Eveline Fisher was the Mother general, so she said you’re from Scottdale and I said yes and she said when would you like to come? And I said well I think maybe March 25th and she said oh that nice she said we have quit a few but I think you’re the first one to apply for that date I think you’re probably the first one but she said threes a girl in college that’s thinking about coming and she didn’t tell me who that was, but later I found that was Sister Eugene O’Donnell, and so I went home and I told my mother that I wanted and she said you wanna go to the community don’t you wanna finish your high school and I said I think maybe I want to go now. So then I wrote a letter to Father Bob and he was at St. Vincent’s at the time and I wanted to get him opinion and he though well kind of young you know and so he did so then he wrote back and he said he didn’t know about that, but then he said yes you can by all means go he said you have my blessing or he said you know whatever I can’t remember what he said but he said ill pray that you enter the Catholic vocation and God be with you that was it. So then I remember we were getting ready, and Sister Marie Anthony said you need some clothes you need this you need that, Sister Joanne offered to make me a Kimona and I said well I already have one I already made one myself and she said oh you sew and I said yes. So then they had a party for me my class had a party so we went to Kate Sherman’s house and they presented me with a napkin ring so that I have a napkin ring for my napkin at you know on the table those days you had your own napkin ring ok. So that’s what they gave me as a gift, we had nice evening had a nice party and I remember boys wanted to dance with me and I said ok it’s the last time we’ll dance so we danced and we had some music and so on and I came home and Larry brought me home cuz he was invited to the party and so March came and I kept thinking you know oh gosh it was midnight we got worried that I shouldn’t go until Easter Sunday because, March 25th in that year fell on Good Friday so they said do you think we should come on Good Friday wait till Easter Sunday. So Easter Sunday came and everything was bright and beautiful of course they had Easter candy all around and the bishop baskets you name it everything to make it look inviting. So I remember going up to the clothes room and the sister in charge was Sister Agnes Francina and she had a black dress for me and little black lace cap to put on my head and she said here I think this will fit you so we put it on and I said well ill go down to the parlor and see how everybody likes me so I went down to the parlor and Sister Marie Anthony was there and Sister Germaine and Mother Richard Ann Sr. M: They all went with you? Sr. F.L: They all went with me yes Sr.M: How did you all go? Sr.F.L: Sister Germaine’s father drove the car ok, my mother didn’t go she said goodbye to me at home and so they took me and so I went down and remember said how do you like me? They said well you look kinda nice, and name? looked at me and she said she kept thinking you know I guess I’ll be next you know because she was contemplating being in a spot in September and so we stayed for a little while and Sister Theodosia came down and took me up to the Bishop Sr. M: And she was the mistress? Sr. F.L: She was the mistress, she was the first mistress back then, we were the first novices ok her first novices. So I went up to the Bishop and I met Sister Jean Francis Peters, and she just got the white cap, and Sister Agatha, Sister Alice Marie and Theresa Martin and Margery and Anne Matthia and all that whole gang there was a whole good many. Sr.M: What Sister Margery was that? Sr. F.L: Sister Margery, she’s the one that just died from cancer a couple years ago. And so we went I went to the chapel and Sister Marie Anthony took me to the chapel after their incident, and she took me all the way up to the front pew on the Saint Josephs sides I remember distinctly, and she said now you’re here and you tell God you’re here to stay that’s what she said to me, you tell God you’re here to stay. And so I prayed for a while and she took me out and we went down to the parlor for a little while and we said goodbye to everybody and that was the end of that. Sister Marie Anthony’s visit, and so they all went home and said goodbye. So then I went up to the Bishop and I didn’t know what to expect you know it was all such a big thing to me. Sr.M: Now where was the Bishop Sister? Sr.F.L: The Bishop is where the Sister’s community room is now. Ok, and the senior division used that room across the hall you know they had a piano in there and so that whole floor was really the Bishop floor. We use to go to the oratory you know right across from them. Ok I was taken up to the fifth floor and shown where my bed room was suppose to be, it was really a dormitory with curtains all the way around it. Sr.M: Now this is the administration building. Sr. F.L.: Administration building, and Sister Rose Irene Boggs was in charge up there and she was the senior in that room. Sister Clara Marie McManama was in that room and Sister Rose Irene, and she showed me where the washrooms were, and told me when to get up early in the morning five o’clock in the morning, and I thought oh dear and morning prayers etc. So while I was a postulant I remained in that area. And I remember distinctly after about a month’s time I got very very homesick Sr.M: Now were you the only postulant? Sr. F.L.: In that room Sr.M: Well I mean though in the group Sr. F.L.: Oh no oh no, I should tell you that five entered Sr.M: On that same day? Sr. F.L.: On that same day, and they wore, they were Mary Greeley from Johnstown and Sister Jean Seton she got the name from when she became a white cap, and I can’t remember her Baptismal name. Sister Ruthann Kronenberger, and Sister Eugene O’Donnell and myself. And Mary Ann Greely only stayed about two weeks, she got very homesick and decided she wanted to go home. Sister Jean Seton was in the community only six months, she got the white cap and decided she wanted to go home, but we didn’t know she was going it was all on the secret we just missed her and then sister asked if she was gone. So that left the three of us, Sister Ruthann, Sister Eugene, and myself. Now Sister Ruthann was missioned out west in various places, Scottdale and so on and she was a really wonderful companion, so was Sister Eugene. I remember being in class with Sister Ruthann we were studying American History and also Children’s Literature in summer school at Seton Hill. Sr. M: Who taught those classes? Sr.F.L: Oh I can’t remember who they are. Sister Mary Ann Joseph was the Literature teacher and oh she was so exciting and wonderful, I just loved everything. Sister Mary Fidelis taught the American History. Well, I had so much work to do I had an awful lot of reading, Sister Mary Ann Joseph had all kinds of things that we had to read about which was very fascinating to me which I, and Sister Mary Fidelis had all kinds of assignments and I had to do an awful lot of reading and I have spent most of the time with history, because I had a test every week and I also had a test every week in the Literature. So we would go out on the swing, out in the yard and Sister Ruthann would say to me now Francine did you read this story and I said no I couldn’t have time I was doing history I was doing history I said I had to make this book report for history and I said I had to go to the library and think what I was gonna do for history make a pickery board. So I though I’ll go to the I’ll read this certain book, because I know the name, it was Ulysses Grant I knew something about him, I thought this is something easy I have to pick something easy because I don’t have time, I had so much preparation to do. It was just so much the assignments were so heavy. So sister Ruthann would say to me remember Moby Dick goes with this, and so and so goes with that remember this, so she would the night before the tests, she would tell me all these different things about this literature. Sr. M: Were you in the same class? Sr. F.L: The same class, and I said well I recall this and I recall this and I recall this, but I don’t have time to be studying this. So we took the test and low and behold we passed both of us but I thought oh how could I ever go through a summer like this again, I will never take two heavy classes again because each of those classes required so much reading and so much preparation. In fact it was so hard on me that I didn’t even go to recreation would you believe it. I couldn’t take time, and the sisters in the dormitory said Francis Louise you gonna come out and play basketball, you gonna come out and lets go swimming, lets go here, lets go and I said I can’t I have to study this I have to do this, I have to do this work for tomorrow I had no recreation it was awful. Sr. M: What about a charge, were you given a charge? Sr. F.L: Oh I had a charge; I had a big charge too Sr.M: Whatcha get? Sr. F.L: Well I can’t remember I think I had something over in the bathroom in Cannevan I had to do a bathroom in Cannevan that was an everyday requirement you know because you had to supply the needs you know that was required, and besides I’d mop it up once a week, but outside of that you know I was kept very busy it was a very busy summer. Ask me the question. Sr.M: How long were you a postulant? Sr. F.L: I was a postuland for three months. And then I got the white cap, and I remember going to the oratory and the priest who was in charge of Seton Hill I can’t remember his name he was a chaplain well he blessed the well I guess it was a retreat master a retreat master. Sr.M: Now what year was this? Sr. F.L.: This was 1934 ok, so after we made may day retreat and I remember going to the chapel everyday and the place was packed with Sisters the whole chapels filled with Sisters everyday, they even had chairs on the side to accommodate you know people the Sisters who made the retreat. And I remember going to the chapel everyday and praying and then going to the retreat and we had our retreat exercises in Cecilian Hall, and the best part about that retreat was to go to bed in the afternoon and sleep. I tell ya because we get up at five o’clock every morning and I was always exhausted and I slept, did I sleep, and then I’d carry some my stocking to darn and downstairs I’d mend my stockings while the person was doing the reading and it was usually a profess Sister and I think it was Sister Ann Mckale Orielley who was doing the reading, and she had a beautiful powerful voice and she read for twenty minutes and after twenty minutes we’d disappear and so do our where we had to go and then we’d have a four o’clock conference and then early to bed in the evening which I welcomed; and that was a really restful time for me because it was something that I really thought I needed. Sr. M: And this was in preparation for your receiving the habit. Sr. F.L: Yes, so then the morning, the night before the novices were received, they announced the names of the candidates who were going to receive their habit, so the Sister up in the balcony in the Chapel after the prayers were over everybody hold their ears open you know listening who these names were gonna who the candidates were gonna be so they named them, and they said Emma Honeychuck would be named Sister Francis Louise; and I remember hearing that and I was delighted and Sister Ruthann of course got her name Sister Eugene. Sr.M: Now where did you tell me about the name Francis? Sr. F.L: Well I asked for the when I went to petition mother said to me would you have you would you like think of a name and I said well I’d like to have some form of Francis or some form of Louise, and she said oh I see, well she said we’ll think about it. Sr.M: Now why was that? Sr. F.L: That was probably maybe a month before I received the habit. Sr. M: And why why did you want Francis and Louise? Sr. F.L: Well I know that Louise was connected with Vincent De Paul Sr. M: I see Sr. F.L: And I knew that and I petitioned on October 4th at least to Saint Francis, Francis of Assisi. So and I was surprised that I got those two names and I was happy. And so I remember the morning that I received the habit you know then we had a big celebration and you know and a Sr. M: With all the retreat Sisters? Sr. F.L: All the retreat Sisters and then of course you know we looked different in our white caps it was so tight you know with the bows tied and all that and I remember during the mission days I learned how to tie the white bows and then all be placed there and I tied the bows, and even when I got to De Paul Sister John Agnes McClory and Sister and all the Sisters here you know would said Fancis will you tie my bows will you tie my bows, even the black bows so I learned that quickly you know and that was kinda fascinating to me it was one of the old things I use to do. Sr. M: Who made your Habit? Sr. F.L: Well, Sister Agnes Francina had a Habit. Sr. M: What was her family name? Sr. F.L: I can’t remember her family name, but anyhow she well no we all went to class. We had to do some sewing we had to make our own white sleeves and of course I knew how to sew because I used to do a lot of sewing when I was little, and so we you know all got together and did that, so I remember making the white sleeves, and she would put our names on it and I remember we made our own collars, and white caps, and she taught us how to do that, and she helped us to make our Habits, so we had one good Habit for Sunday and one handy down for somebody else. Yes for your everyday Habit So we Sr. M: And what color were the Habit’s in those days? Sr. F.L: Oh they were black of course they were black, and some were flannel the everyday Habit was a flannel Habit it was made of flannel material and the other was like a Panama which is a bit of quality it was a nicer, and so I used to remember that I learned quickly how to make the Habits because when I went to WestEnd I helped Sister, different Sisters to help fix their Habits I leaned by fixing, I’d rip an old Habit to see how it was done and how the pleats were fixed you had four pleats across the bodice and how they were turned, and I remember fixing a Habit one time for Sister Marie Faycott the pleats were in backwards so I had to I had to rip it and I said I knew where the mistake was. So then after that I began doing a lot of sewing mending Habits and making Habits you know petti coats and all that kinda of stitching. Sr. M: Ok now that time when you received the Habit, is that when Mother Richard Ann entered in the following September? Sr. F.L: Following September Sr.M: In 1934 Sr. F.L: Ya, no yes 1934 no wait a minute no she entered I entered in 32 1932 and she came the September of 1932, see I came in March and she came the following September and I remember when she entered, she had long black hair and she Sr.M: So Sister Germaine had not come yet? Sr. F.L: No, she came the following September, she had graduated school. So then we started to you know take some classes in preparation for teaching and you know methods of different methods of you know you had to learn for preparation for classroom work. So I remember going over to the college and learning at night and completed my high school year. You know so then one day Annalise came to me one day and she said do you know you haven’t finished your science you need a credit in science, and she said Dr. Car will be teaching science this summer and there’s one young lady from Greensburg who was interest in taking this, and she’s paying for the course and she said there would just be two people in the class, would consider taking the science course with her, that’s college credit, and she said if you take this we would give you a credit for your high school as well, so I said I’ll try it. So we met Dr. Car and I remember Sister Marie Anthony Lavin was also teaching Chemistry, and she was teaching on the other side of the table, and she was doing experimentations with some Chemistry, and she would see us everyday, but she wasn’t aloud to talk to use cause we were I was a novice and you weren’t aloud to talk to novices to Profess Sisters even though she was my mother in religion. And so we got through the course and I passed it and I was very happy. So then when I went to Duquesne University to work for my degree, I learned that when they transferred my credits from Seton Hill that I had accreditation in college Chemistry and I wouldn’t have to take any science at Seton Hill, so I also got my high school and college for the one course because it was college credit. And that was all due to Sister De Chantal Leis, which I was very happy. Well then in the mean time I earned up a lot of credits for college, but I still wasn’t finished high school and I didn’t finish high school until I came to De Paul Institute. And I remember taking pre professional examinations and Sister Theresa Vincent Mahoney said to me you mean you’re gonna study this you going to study this you’re going to do this by yourself, and I said we have about a year to teach you this, and I said well if you just give me some regions books so I went to Sister Emanuel Manny, and she gave me some regions books, and she said what do you want, and I said well I want Economic Geography and another aspect of Geography and so I studied these regions books, and I would read on that, and go to the library and get some reference material and then I would study these answers and so on. So I took the test, and I passed the test and they were the only two that I needed so then I got my certification though the state of Pennsylvania and finished my pre professional examinations and I got my certificate. Well then from then on I was able to go on to my college work, get the rest of it ok. I don’t know what I wanna say with the mission. Sr. M: Sister do you wanna talk a little bit about your novitiate days? Sr. F.L: Yes, um I’d like to say that the good number of Sisters entered with us there was a good crowd of Sisters there, I remember Sister Ligouri Steinmiller, Sister Theresa Martin Henry, Sister Ann Agnes, Kilkeary, Sister Rose Irene Boggs,, Sister Alice MarieCrates, Sister Caroline Joseph Wilson, Sister Helen Hart, Sister Jean Francis Peters, Sister Sara Marie O’hara, Sister Agatha Procter, Sister Clara Marie McManama Sister Helen Mary Laferty, Sister Mary Mildred Curry, and Sister Marie George Abbott. One particular day I remember that when I was very homesick Sister Alice Marie, and Sister Caroline Joseph took me out to the barn and they said all kinds of silly things about the cows and the chickens and the everything connected with the farm and they got me laughing, got me out of my homesickness which I was very grateful. Sr.M: Sister can you remember any other incidents during your novitiate days? Sr. F.L: Oh yes, I think I can remember another incident, I recall that you know we always had to wash the dishes after the meal was over, in the Sisters dining room and after serving and passing the pans and reading up and Sister Ligouri Steinmiller was at the sink at the time, and she was splashing around making a lot of soap suds and it was going everywhere and somebody got splashed and I said oh splash back and just then that Sister and I said Saint Theresa did and just at that moment SisterTheodosia walks in and she said Saint Theresa I never heard that, everybody laughed. Sr.M: Did you serve in the dining room? Sr. F.L: Oh yes we all had to serve we had to take turns carrying pans and serving the meals and we carried it on trays always the hot food was prepared in the kitchen and carried the serving dishes on the trays and carried them into the dining room and put them on carts and same with the dish pans the soap and the water and the mops and towels and all that. And after the meal several of us had to take care of the towels take them down and wash them out and then hang them down in the tunnel downstairs to dry for the next morning and the next day we’d collect them and some Sisters worked in the butter house they had to cut the butter and get prepared for the morning meal it would be breakfast. Other people had to get the pans ready count them all out get the coffee pots ready I remember two of our Sisters were appointed to make coffee every morning, they’d go down to the kitchen and use the big urn you know and oh Sister Mary Terrence she’s the one that did that. One time. Sr.M: ? Sr.F.L: Sister Mary Terrence she was in our division too she’s long she’s dead Sr.M: What’s’ her family name Sister? Sr.F.L: Um Sister Mary Terrence Clancy. And I think Sister Clara Marie McManama went down with her they had to go early in the morning before the morning prayers that was around 5 you know, and so they had to make the coffee every morning, and by the time Sister Mary Terrence was laughing she said well I hope the coffee’s not too strong because I put too much in it I’m half asleep and I don’t even know what I’m doin. We all laughed about that. So everybody had chores to do you know for the breakfast and the lunch. We were responsible for a lot of things and we also had to take turns saying prayers nigh prayers morning prayers reading, and I just never had a turn for the morning prayers, I said the quarter prayers you know before the lunch but I didn’t have a turn for that the reading. So when I got on mission I Sister Theodosia said she remembered that I didn’t have a turn and she wondered how I was doing and Sister Levonnation said oh she’s doing ok she was my Sister servant. Sr.M: Sister what do you recall about the senior Sisters in the dining room, like you weren’t aloud to talk to them, but do you recall anything about the senior Sisters that you could remember? Sr.F.L: Hmm well I can’t remember Sr.M: How many tables were in the dining room when you were serving Sr.F.L: Oh I would say about maybe 8 on each side you know maybe 16 tables at least, well maybe not that many I guess yes I guess there were there were long tables and you had 8, 10 people at a table you know, we had white table cloths on all the time and we would take we every Wednesday we change the table we turned the table cloths over the dirty side went under the clean side went on top in those days why you then on Saturday you would clean them for the next week for the following week and we all had napkins and napkin rings and all that was in this place, and the dishes were in place, the silverware was there and the plates were turned upside- down and the silverware was there, and you had to make sure that the sugar bowels were attended to have sugar and salt, pepper those kinds of things. And that was just the ordinary run of things. Sr.M: Now what about your charge on the steps you had an amusing story about the steps. Sr.F.L: Oh that happened, when I was I guess I was a white cap then, and I remember well we all had extra things to do that day because some Sisters went on retreat or I can’t remember the incident but we all had extra work to do, and so Sister Feodosha appointed Sister Mary Celest Casalina and myself to do the stairways in the in the landing you know the chapel chapel landing and the floor near Cecilian Hall and then the one below that near the dining room was and I said to her you take one side and ill take the other side and we’ll meet you know downstairs, so we started work we had our mops and we had our dusters and we had to dust all the curlicues you know in those days we had banisters that were very ornate and they had a lot of you know things to put your finger through in order to get your finger all to get the dust off and with your cloth, and so we started and we worked for a while and about 15 minutes she came over to me oh Sister I think this is too hard, this is too much work and she said I think I ought to ask somebody for some help, and I said oh come on you do your side and I’ll do my side and we’ll get finished don’t worry about it. So we went back to work and about 20 minutes later she says did you find, did you go to Sister Feodosha and ask her if we could have some help, this is just too much can’t you can’t you you’re the senior you should go now you’re the senior you go ask Sister to get some help because I think this is too much. So I said no I’m not gonna go I said no we’ll get finished don’t worry about it. Well now are you gonna go or aren’t you gonna go, and I said no I don’t think I’m gonna go, well why not why not and I said well I’m not goin because I don’t think we have to go we don’t need any help. So we went back to work, and next thing you know she came back again did you find some help I think you ought a go. So I finally went to Sister Theodosia after much deliberation I went, so I explained what happened and she said well you tell Sister Celest that I want to see her. So Sister Celest began apologizing immediately she said Sister it’s my fault it’s my fault I urged Sister to talk to you and get help, she says it was my fault and I knew I shouldn’t have done that but I knew it was my fault. So anyhow that was the end of that. Sr.M: So did you get the steps done? Sr.F.L: Ya we got them done, sure we did we went back to work and they just sure we did. Sr.M: Did you have anything to do with the animals in the barn? Sr.F.L: No, oh no oh no no no no Sister’s didn’t do anything like that the men take care of that. Sr. M: Alright Sister then you went out on your fist mission Sr.F.L: Yes Sr.M: Ok, now where was that? Sr.F.L: Ya now the first mission well first I would tell you that yes I went to Westend, and I was assigned to take third grade and the former teacher had that and she was told or asked to take fourth grade so I could have the third grade because I have never taught before. It was my first experience at teaching and Sister Generosa was in charge of the teachers in training at that time for the community. She was a supervisor you know. So she came around periodically and she had visits with all of us, and so I remember going into third grade, I had about sixty children in third grade. Sister Anastesia Mellon was in the second grade, Sister Ann Seton Boyle was in the first grade and between the two of them they really gave me a lot of help, especially Sister Ann Seton, and I spent a lot of time observing Sister Ann Seton when she was preparing her vocabulary work for first grade all the I was asking her many questions well how do you do this, and why are you doing this and she’d tell me this is the vocabulary for tomorrow and then she’d have printing on the board she’d have all kinds of art work ready for the children so that they would be have something to do while she was teaching on group and or another class another group, and a Sister Anastesia Mellon had second grade she had over sixty children in there she was kind of on the stern people you know everything was did at task, and Sister Ann Seton was well more innovative I would say because she was younger, and so I learned a good bit from both of them and I had to do all the studying on my own to try to prepare things so things went pretty well. And then the following year I was appointed to have fifth and sixth grade and I was kind of un eerie about that because it was going to be my first year of fifth and sixth level. It was a double grade and I think we had fourth children in that room. Sister Erma Sullivan was sixth grade opposite of me we were down stairs in the basement of the school, and it was during that year, it was 1936 that the Pittsburgh you know the Saint Patrick’s day flood occurred the famous Saint Patrick’s day flood oh I’ll tell you that was some experience. I remember, we went to bed at night well into the evening because Mother Egnasha was a little bit you know upset, not exactly upset but she was I can’t think of the word Sr.M: Concerned? Sr.F.L: Concerned, she was concerned because the water was rising and there was a creek behind the convent and she could see that water rising, and she was concerned about the blessed sacrament being on the first floor where the chapel was. So we all went to bed and she didn’t say anything but it was late when we get up in the morning there was no bell ring and I said what’s the matter no bell look how high it is, and we looked out the window and here this water was way up high above the it was even with the convent porch which was high it was the old convent, and the fence across the street which was next to the Thady Seton School was covered with water the picket fence six feet high and it was covered with water. Every place you look and there was a woman across the street yelling and she says help help help from the second floor trying to get out, So first thing we did well I got dressed and so did we and we opened the cellar door and here was the water just about at the doorstep and we could see the cans up in the air floating tomato’s, beans, all these cans were coming out of the cupboards floating on top of the water ok, it was terrible. So we had to get out and the next thing I know a policemen came with three or four policemen in a boat, so we all got out and got into the boat and we went into the boat into a canoe all the way up to Stuben street if you can picture that that’s pretty high up we got out and went on Stuben street and we walked to the Devine Provence convent and they welcomed us somebody telephoned and said we were coming guessing Mother Ignatia did that or somebody and so they gave us breakfast and I remember specifically they gave us coffee and doughnuts and some cereal and some fruit they had apricots or what you know ready for us. Sr.M: Were they not flooded? Sr.F.L: They were not flooded because they were on a higher level ok so Sr.M: Do you remember the name of that convent Sister? Sr.F.L: Saint Martin’s, Saint Martin’s convent. Ok so it was there that Mother Ignatia had telephoned Mother Eveline finding out where we could go for the day. So we had to wait for about a half hour until everything was processed through and so they said well Hazelwood Saint Steven’s Hazelwood can accommodate five Sisters they don’t have heat, but they’ll take you ok there’s no heat in the convent but they’ll take you. So they decided to send Sister Veronica Scott, Sister Paula Moran, Sister Olivia Hamilton, Sister Ann Seton Boyle, and myself and they called us to find dionanies. And so we went to Hazelwood and Sr.M: In a boat? Sr.F.L: No, we went on a train and we got on the train and we went all across the city and you could see the water everywhere when we passed J & L steel building everything was flooded cars were covered and everything, it was terrible. So we finally got to Hazelwood going into the cold convent and Sister Mary Ann MacAfee was there and she was teaching there and some of the other sister, but I remember her because she was stationed her later at De Paul Institute. So it was the year after that that she came here. But so they accommodate us they serve us breakfast and everything and they had three tables in the dining room the place was cold but at least we had a bed to sleep in we were away from the water and we got our scripture reading there are our prayers and we served our meals and everything, so we were there for about a week, and then a telephone call came and said Mother Evalan called and said I would like Sister Ann Seton and Sister Francis Louise to go to Oakmont Saint… Sr.M: Now did they still carry on their school? Sr.F.L: Oh yes Sr.M: They had no problem with the flood? Sr.F.L: No, they carried on their school. Ok, and they didn’t have everybody because everybody wasn’t able to get there but they took care of the ones who came. Ok so then we went to Saint Irenaeau and Sister Ann Seton was told to do the CCD work after school and I was to do to take fifth and sixth grade because Sister Mary Albert Short was ill I believe she had scarlet fever and she would be away for at least three weeks. And they thought of me because I had fifth and sixth grade before at Westend. So when I got there, I didn’t have any problem and I thought oh gee this is nice this is small class in compared to Westend, and there’s no flood no water and I’m on in the safe land and its warm and it’s cozy and oh it’s nice and it was homey they only had about six Sisters on mission there Sr.M: What was the name of that convent? Sr.F.L: Saint Ireneaus where Sister Mary Anna Mcsherry was the principal and also the Sister servant. And so we slept upstairs and everyday I went to school and everyday Sister Mary Anna would peep in the window to see how things was going in the classroom. So after about three days, she said to me I can’t believe it she said she says this is the wildest class in the school and she says you have control over these kids she said I wish I could keep you and I said oh I have to go back to Westend when they’re ready for me I’ll have to go back there I said it’s not up to me to stay I said you know, so I just smiled and didn’t say anything and I know they seemed to be out of hand at first but I was very commanding in the very beginning because they warned me that it was a hard class but I Sr.M: How many children did you have? Sr.F.L: There must have been about forty not as big of class as I had. But anyhow, I found they to be very very nice. So after the week was over, after the week was over I went back to Westend but, we were not aloud to go down to the basement where my school classroom was we had to make they had to make changes no body was to use that room that place downstairs for children for the rest of the year. They had libe all over the place the board of health came around said no it has to dry completely and they had to make sure that there’s no bacteria no germs you know debree anything that might be contagious for the children. So we didn’t go down there and so we had to use the high school they emptied the library and the high school classes had to go in the library conduct some of their classes there and they vacated one whole room for Sister Erma and myself so we had she had sixth grade and I had fifth and sixth grade so we put the two classes together and that was over past sixth kids. So we worked it out that we’d you know go hand in hand we couldn’t have two teachers in the room but she took part of the time then I taught part of the time and so things went, we had to keep a record of everything and she was wonderful with me she said be sure you have everybody whose absent down and it’s a good thing I did because you know we had some wintery days and one boy whose name was David Lennon was in an accident after school he was sled riding and he accidently bumped into a truck or the truck bumped into him and of course the parents were wanted to have a lawsuit. So the next thing I knew some gentlemen stepped into my classroom and said hand me this note and said you’re ?? to court I couldn’t believe it and so then he explained this is all about David Lennon’s people wanting me to testify and so I went to Sister Erma immediately and she said oh Sister she said this is serious you’ll have to go, so then we told Sister Margret and Sister Margret said oh no you’re not going you not gonna go you’re not goin and Sister Erma said oh Sister we have to go we have to go or you’ll pay five hundred dollars. So we went Sr.M: Both of you went? Sr.F.L: We both went because we both handled him. So all I had to do of course was to take my register with me and testify the days they were absent and I had to say whether there was any preshable difference in his leaning you know capacity was he injured in any way that his leaning ability was you know demurred and of course I had to say that I didn’t see any difference in the child and so they won the case the family won the case, but I was very much unnerved because it was my first experience and I was a young Sister and I didn’t you know know what to expect. So it was hard on me but Sister Erma was very nice about it she went to the court with me I wouldn’t have gone alone you know which was nice. In those days we always went in two’s you never went by yourself you know you always went with a companion down the street or anywhere we just never went alone. Sr.M: Sister when the five of you went to Saint Eranas or Saint Steven’s where did the other Sisters from your house go? Sr.F.L: Well some of them went to Sacred Heart and some went different places ya I can’t remember just where they all went but Sr.M: And then you all came back together within a week Sr.F.L: Yes we did, yes we did. Then the following year Sr.M: What about um Sr.F.L: The following year we when the then there was a rumor that a flood was going to come back again you know the river was going to rise again but and it did rise to some extent but not like the Saint Patrick’s day flood. So father we had mass in the morning and Father Sheetie came over he’s the assistant pastor Father Gilman was the pastor at the time, but he was the assistant pastor and he said the rumor’s comin up you better get out and so we all decided to go somewhere while Sister Marie Ann to Sister Margret was in charge then and she said Sr.M: This is the second year? Sr.F.L: The year after 1938 ok no 1937 because the flood was 1936, 1937 it was the spring season and I can’t remember if it was in March or April but anyhow it was probably March. So they said they had room for three at De Paul Institute, so Sister Olivia and Sister Ann Seton and myself went to De Paul ok and the others went to different places some people went to Carnegie and some other people went I can’t remember all the missions they were, but anyhow we left. And some people went to Seton Hill I think, and so when I came to De Paul it was my first experience with deaf children I really didn’t know anything about De Paul institute I had heard of it but I didn’t know what it was like or what to expect. So I remember observing the classroom during the day while the children were in session Sister Elizabeth Ann Mahonie at the time was a teacher over in the primary school and I remember seeing her and observing, and Sister Olivia and Sister Ann Seton came along and we just sat and observed. The children were having reading and speech and ? training and matching pictures and everything. And I distinctly I saw a Sally lou Sister, she was just a little girl, she’s one of our teacher aids now you know and when she grew up she went to Sacred Heart high school and then she went to Mercy college but she didn’t finish, so then she came here and got a job and she was home economics teacher for a while now she’s a teacher aid working with Mr. Hope. But anyhow I was astounded at what the children could do you know I was very interested I couldn’t believe that they were doing and not hearing what the teacher was saying. So I said to Sister Elizabeth Ann would you not talk loud so she said alright ill talk without voice, so she did and she was saying the very same things that she said before but using no voice and the children were doing carrying on everything and that’s when I was convinced that they were really you know lip reading and I though isn’t that amazing I just couldn’t believe that. So I tried to talk to some of the children but I found it difficult to understand some of them because I wasn’t use to them but so after that then of course we were here for a couple days and then we went back to Westend and resumed our teaching you know everything was normal by that time but in the following June or I guess it was June, August when the mission list was read we all went to the Cecilian Hall and Mother Marie Benedict Monahaign was the Mother at the time and she read out the names of the Sisters for the various missions and you would have to listen very closely for your name you know as the mission was read so I was listening and listening and after it was all over I didn’t hear my name and I thought why I wonder where I’m going so after I started to go out to the end of the hall and I met Sister Margret and she said dearie where you going on mission and I said I don’t know I said I didn’t hear my name She said lets go to Mother and find out. Sr.M: Now this is Sister Margret Sr.F.L: Sister Margret McMan she was my Sister servant ok at Westend, so we went to the hall and Mother was talking with some Sister about Mother said you go to your mission go to your mission she said and you try it and if you if you contact me later that’s all I heard. So then Sister Margret says Mother where is this Sister going on mission and Mother looked at me and said oh she’s going to one of the Institutions and I thought well I’m not a nurse I can’t go to the hospital you know or maybe I’m going into and I going to send me to training or what so then I said you mean De Paul Mother and she said yes De Paul she said I want you come here she said now look she said I want you to try it for a year and see how you like it she says now that’s not for everybody and I know and she said everybody wouldn’t like that type of work but she said you try it and then next June she says you come back to me and you tell me, well I tried it for a year and I was thinking I was going to Seton Hill at the end of June like we always do all the novices went to Seton Hill you know course I was profess then I was a profess Sister and I expected to go to Seton Hill like everybody else and take classes and do all the things everybody else does get a charge out there and have recreation with everybody and do everything that you do in the summer time well, first thing I know Sister Regatta Fitzpatrick and myself were sent to Wane State University, teacher in training for the deaf so I never got Sr.M: Sister can I back up a little bit Sr.F.L: Yep Sr.M: into an incident that happened in the dining room you had said to me something about Sister Marie Antonio Mclenen was in the dining room eating with Mother Sr.F.L: Oh ya Sr.M: Was it mother Benedict Sr.F.L: It was Mother Marie Benedict yes Sr.M: and you were serving Sr.F.L Yes I was serving the dining room and I just heard a conversation saying oh that’s the one she’s the one I knew they were pointing to me but I didn’t know what the conversation was Sr.M: So this preceded your assignment Sr.F.L This preceded my assignment so I presumed that that’s probably what they were thinking about you know sending me there. Well I just don’t know whether that’s just ya Sr.M: Now who was the superior in the… Sr.F.L: Well then when I came to De Paul well then when I came to De Paul Sister Marie Antonio Mclenen was here she was the Sister servant and Sister Theresa Vincent Mahoney was the she was the Sr.M: Now what year was that? Sr.F.L: Was the principal, that was 1937 September 1937. So this is 1987 so guess what it will be fifty years in September. Well I had four years at Westend teaching and then I had forty nine years at De Paul in the classroom and so you add it up at it’s fifty three years in the classroom and while I was at De Paul I had many experiences many happy memories and I’ve learned a lot of things about the deaf and the children and from the very start I was you know asked to do teacher training and I there had been many many girls who have been here and one I cherish the most was Marlene Falco, she came from Connellsville and at that time they took the girls here and they resided in the school they slept here at the school and then they went on to Duquesne university for their education so they helped to teach during the day got their teacher training experience with the children with the with the model teacher supervising teacher and then they went to classes at night or after school you know at Duquesne and got their college credits that way. And so then after a certain number of years they were accredited to be able to go anywhere to teach you know they had got their certification from the state of Pennsylvania and so it was hard laborious work for them, but it was good for us too because we had somebody to rely on and they did a lot of things that we weren’t able to do because we had study hours and we had you know dining room you know duty we had to take care of the children while they ate their meals and there’s many activities, boy scouts, cubs you know brownies, and I had charge of the playmates Sr.M: And what were the playmates? Sr.F.L: They were a little group of children pre brownie group and we had Saint Agnes as out patron and I remember distinctly making the beanies they were made pink not flannel but pink felt and we make the beanies and then we had a lamb white lamb insignia to designate the patroness of Saint Agnes while was their patroness of the their playmate club and we had a playmate flag and it was pink and we had a big lamb on that also and periodically we had entertainment for the children and games and all kinds of activities for them plus health rules and citizenship rules all those kinds of things are necessary for little children and we dramatized the story of Saint Agnes and the children did that themselves one would be the Saint Agnes somebody would be the soldiers ect. So we use to use the stage in the what we use to call the boys hall and because we didn’t have Lady Victory hall then it wasn’t built yet. So we would invite the school and the children would participate from then on and I remember distinctly Mother Evan Fisher was living here at the time and when her birthday came around which was always around the feast of Saint Agnes she always wanted to see this play so we would put it on for her and Sr.M: How old were the children? Sr.F.L: They were six, seven, eight-year-old children they were growing really very active Sr.M: Now they would in those days those were the young children Sr.F.L: They were oh yes oh yes they were maybe younger than that. Our six years olds were called we called them the babies you know because they were just beginners and so well I have been working with the deaf children almost all the time I’ve been here except period in 1949 I distinctly remember that I was asked to learn the brail and so I was sent to Colombia University with Sister Justine for summer course and Ms. Madeline Lumis was the author of the text book and the teacher and so when I first arrived there I was the only people that applied for this brail course and so the sue provider said well I don’t think we can really you know ask you to take this course you’re the old pupil we couldn’t pay the teacher you know just for one pupil that’s not customary we usually have ten fifteen people in a class and he says where you from and I said Pittsburgh, what part? De Paul Institute oh De Paul Institute well that’s where Sister Theresa Vincent Mahoney’s from I said yes well you’re gonna stay and we’re going to provide a teacher for you because I visited your school and I remember that Sister and I will do that for you, so in the mean time this person Ms. Madeline Lewis was sick they thought she had appendix she really was having cancer but they didn’t know it they thought it was appendix so she had this operation and I had a substitute teacher and I had a hard time with her because I she I knew that she wasn’t as equipped as I expected her to be and the thing is… Sr.M: This is a continuation of an interview being conducted as part of the oral history program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister. Francis Louise Honeychuck the interview is being conducted by Sister. Marie Corona Miller at De Paul Institute the date is July 15th 1987 Sr.M: Sister you were talking about your training with the blind Sr.F.L: Yes, well at Colombia they coordinator of the program said that I could take the class so as I was saying I had to take the brail course and I was taught to use the slate and the stylus and that meant that I had to reverse the pattern in pricking the dots on paper which was difficult because it didn’t have the Perkins brail writer at the time we hadn’t purchased one yet this was all so new to me and so this was a six weeks course and after two weeks I was told that Madeline Lumis was ready to return when I was very happy to see her because everything was changed for me, she gave me a better understanding of this whole idea of brail and teaching blind children and I was thinking specifically of Ann Marie Jurard who was going to be our first blind student from Erie her mother had gone to Pittsburgh to consult with Bishop Derden to ask of it thee was any place that her child could be educated she wanted Ann Marie to have a Catholic education and there was no place provided in Erie there was no place in the Pittsburgh diocese and so Bishop Derden said well the only thing he knew that he could do would be Father Darley was building a new building our Lady of Victory Hall and he said maybe the Sisters of De Paul could provided education for her daughter and so in the meantime he consulted with Father Darley and said to specifically leave a classroom for the blind for the physical for the partially sighted and blind children and they mentioned Ann Maria Jurard so when I was taking the course I was thinking of her doing the slate and stylus and then I knew that when I got back to school that I would we would purchase a brail writer and all the things that we needed in the mean time Agnes Stone who was a graduate from Mount Mercy was a blind women who knew the brail very well and she lived in Oakland at the time and we hired her Sister Theresa Vincent invited her to come out and to work with me and she started Ann Marie some of the things on the brail you know slate and stylus and then she we started to she didn’t stay any more than a year or a year and a half and so then after she left and I took over the whole program and we had students starting to come in and we had then after I guess several years after that I can’t recall which years but it might have been probably fifty-two but I’m not sure 1952 Sister Angelica Little came so it was Sister Angelica and myself who really engineered the blind department she started the music with the children and provided the brail dots for them to read music notations so they could play we had important piano recitals and among those students were Earl Nixon and Thomas Burgander and Marita Matthews and Candy Deet, Cindy Cudis, Denise MCcrilin, Terry McMahons, Cathy Webber, and the Wisemen twins Larry and Jimmy, Larry Mahoney which was a grandnephew of Sister Theresa Vincent, Regee Sullivan, and Timon Jackson and there was another child who came later and I can’t remember his name but he came from the North side and he had a he had a tumor on the eye and when they operated he lost his sight but I can’t remember his name and I’m sorry that I can’t. So Sr.M: Sister in you and Sister Angelica could go to Catholic University? Sr.F.L: Well Sister did yes and I did too but I got most of my training my beginning training at Colombia at Colombia and then later on I went to Catholic University yes and I took some courses there eye in eye conditions and a few other things that you know was required. Then it was several years after that that Dr.Peabody came from Detroit and he was starting a program for the physically handicapped for the blind and partially sighted at the university so he came to visit our class room and he saw the children in their atmosphere, and he invited Sister Angelica and myself to attend the class so that he could begin teacher training so he wanted us to get pointers on what to do to teach the teachers in training so we went to class every week for six weeks and Dr. Mary Moral still lived with us and she was the person who was in charge of the United Presbyterian church who brailed material for us if we wanted anything done for the children she would get a group of women to do the brailing and Sr.M: Were these women blind? Sr.F.L: These women were not blind no and they did the brail work because it was impossible to use all the textbooks, we did the Catholic textbooks Sister Angelica and myself and we tried especially religion books, but they provided the other books and they schlack them on the other side so that dots would not rub out and then they bound them with a big string shoe strings or cut shoe strings and tied and they had the books were huge they were about seven by fifteen you know in size and they were cumbersome and heavy looking and thick and we had to provide story space for them in Lady Victory hall lockers and itemize everything everything we had . So we went every week to Pitt University and we offered our services and learned a lot too, and we had discussions about and these people came from the blind school and they came from other places that were going to start classes for the blind in the public schools just like they had classes for the deaf in public schools well it was unheard of to have deaf children then because this PL9142 wasn’t in existence then you know so after six weeks we finished our course but that was the beginning of the teacher training program at Pitt University we were invited to join in that you know work Sr.M: Sister I know that you had been very much involved in helping the children begin dressed for their production their theatrical productions here at De Paul. Can you tell us what you’ve been doing? Sr.F.L: Would you sake a theatrical productions Sr.M: Oh I think they’re theatrical Sr.F.L: Well Sr.M: What they can do Sr.F.L: Well anyhow Sr.M: Is marvelous Sr:F.L: It was a Christmas play well Sister Marie Stell and I both had a hand in that you know but lately I’d been doing most of it. In the beginning each teacher was responsible for getting her own costumes and sewing them and so I remember Sister Marie Michael Carol you know in years past needed a pair of pants for somebody and she just found two old pillow slips and sewed them together, but anyhow one point in time we had some material donated from the Altoona Silk Mills I can’t recall who sent them but we had boxes of them different colors of pinks and yellows and blues and you name it and it was boxes of that and I thought oh this would make nice costumes to make nice angel gowns and white you know would be nice for the angels you know Gabriel and so on and so after some time why we made you know people help make the wings and all kind of things and but recently I’ve been more or less commission to do the costumes for the cast so I guess the last six or seven years or so, maybe more than that. When the assignments were given to the teachers to dress the children you know each one had charge of certain groups, one would dress the soldiers and somebody else would dress Mary and Joseph and somebody else the Kings and somebody else the Shepard’s and so on, and Joseph and Mary and so I volunteered to dress them to prepare the costumes prepare the costumes so if any new costumes had to be made I went to the Altoona Silk Mill box and you know dug out some material and cut it up and tried to make costumes for the children, and we do preserve them from year to year and we try to use them over and over again so when they have to be laundered and pressed and everything and hemmed and re hemmed and re stitched or what have you or lengthened or shortened why I’ve always taken responsibility to do that. Sr.M: Sister beside Christmas play, I know the children did other kinds of plays that happened before I came. Now the one I know that has been mostly talked about was the play To Our lady of Lords now what Sister was in charge of that? Sr.F.L: Oh, that was Sister Larita McGorie and Sister Mary Linus Hoak, they did that their classes it was for the upper class children and that was really magnificent and the children carry candles and it was really really beautiful it was like our you know Lords. Sr.M: Sister when you were a young Sister starting out here at De Paul the pattern of the young sisters going to Seton Hill in the summer was not done by you nor those who were young like you here at De Paul can you explain why? Sr.F.L: Well every summer you see in order to be trained for the teacher of the deaf we had certain number of credits to get and so Sister Brugetta and myself went to Wayne State University for three whole summers and Sister Scholastica Joyce and Sister Ramada Manean taught me this also and it was three long summers and I remember it was eight weeks at a time and the last no ten weeks ten weeks and then the next summer was ten weeks and then the next summer was ten weeks and the last the third summer was eight weeks and in addition to that we had to get our thesis written and had to be in on a certain date and also I took classes at Duquesne University and I went to Pitt University and Catholic University and tried to get as many credits as I could in order to get my state certification so in the end I was certified as an elementary school teacher in the dioceses of Pittsburgh and also deaf education and hard of hearing and in addition to that sight handicapped and blind and then later I was certificated to be a speech correctionist so in all those areas I had my certification. Sr.M: So you almost continued to go to school. Sr.F.L: Yes, Sr.M: All the summers Sr.F.L: Yes, yes it was a continuation practically every summer and then when I wasn’t doing that we were working on curriculum. Now this present the past two years I’ve been working on the curriculum, and the team for that each there are coordinators for each of the teams and for instance Sister Justina Drysockend and David Williams and Thomas Hogue and myself were the language, reading language curriculum of which I was the coordinator responsible for accumulating all the material and seeing that it was done you know properly. This was a must from the state of Pennsylvania there were certain guidelines we had to do. We had to include our twelve goals of quality education and so we designed the curriculum the language reading curriculum so that any teacher coming in any person who wanted to learn about the deaf who expected to teach here at De Paul Institute would have something to have in hand so she would be able to follow in order to teach the reading systems, and we are presently using the Scott Forcemen series and we have been for sometime, we found them very valuable our children have scored very well in readings all the way up the line and they show progress so we know it’s a good program, and were not about to give it up and the Sister have preceded me have worked really very hard on that, Sister Helen Louise Connolly, Sister Florien Mcgorie and Sister Marylinus, and all those people and so I cant name everybody because there’s so many people involved but it just this year you know it has to be so in November were going to have an auditor is coming in and the state will evaluate our school, and so I’m not the only one this is not the only group we have to update our mathematics department, science Sister Jeremy has to do the science Sister Mary John is doing the mathematics they’re the coordinators of the speech Connie Mcgrogan and perception and all Sister Sara Marie and all the people down in the earlier you know preschool and readiness department they all have to do that. Sr.M: Sister now to go back a little bit further into at De Paul the community of De Paul would you just like you mentioned some of the Sisters who have come and are now gone many of the Sisters have died, like those in many other key positions other than teaching like I’m thinking of Sister Maureen Cogrus was here could you name some of them like some of the dieticians who were here who took care of the meals the nurses that were here. Sr.F.L: Well Sister Alice Elizabeth Nolan was here as a nurse Sister Equanatia Moore was here when I first came, Sister Ail Louise White took care of the laundry Sister Mary Louis Highland was in charge of the girls, Sister Benedicta and I can’t think of her last her family name she charge of the boys and Sister Lea Katy Mahallen was in kitchen she took care of the meals and we had other people also I can’t think of her their names Sr,M: Sister Theresa Marie Sr.F.L: Sister Theresa Marie Jenkins was in the kitchen, she came shortly after she had her hand cut you know she had an accident at Seton Hill and so she came here and I in fact I was her roommate at first over in the ? Sr.M: Well what about the laundry? Sr.F.L: Well Sister Mary Ali Louise White took care of the laundry she use to do my dusters for me and I never knew who ever took them so one day I found out that she was the one who was taking my dusters and washed them for me she was very kind. Sr.M: Well when did Swister come? Sr.F.L: She was always here, she was here when I was here you know she was here the year I arrived. Sr.M: Sister Rose Gazada Sr.F.L: Yes, ya Rosa Gazada. She talked an awful lot about Germany and periodically she’d get little candles from Germany and we’d have them for our peace days or Christmas we’d light them put them on the table have our peace days all day celebrations and one year she ordered a crucifix from Germany and so we all admired it some of the Sister said they would like to have one you know beautiful hand carved you know beautiful and. Sr.M: Sister what about some of the children who needed some extra help Sr.F.L: Well there were always children who need extra help especially in the summer time. I recall Mark Partridge came and who was now when I first got him in my classroom he could hardly speak in sentences at all and I was surprised the other day he came to visit and he’s present living in Florida and he’s attending NTID college for the deaf and he’s majoring in photography and I was amazed to hear his speech, he was talking as well as you and I beautiful clarity beautiful work beautiful speech but this past year this is Persvel Walker who has been our on auxiliary a member of the auxiliary club for many years at De Paul Institute and who’s son attended here earlier when he was seven years old I had him in the classroom he was a deaf child and recently he had some eye problems he was unable to see so the mother’s desperate and she asks what we could do he had gone to guild for the blind and Sister Connie Ball talked with him and she tried to get him interested in brail and he was very uncooperative and they exactly she called Sister Calamida one day on the phone and said they didn’t know what to do with Robby they didn’t know how to teach him because he’s deaf and so Sister Calamida talked with me and I said oh bring him out here I know Robby I’ll take him and I said it’s been years since I’ve had the brails but I said I’ll do what I can. Sr.M: How Robert Walker graduated in what year? Sr.F.L: Oh I can’t remember what year I can’t remember it’s so long ago probably the 60’s. And so anyhow he came with his father and his father’s now retired and the mother said that the father would bring him everyday for as many times as I would take him. So he stated in December December the fourth and we started out with brail and first he was in the beginning he was reluctant to learn brail because he just didn’t want to be bothered with it but then he began to see that he couldn’t to realize that he just couldn’t do without it because he can’t see can’t hear he can’t properly learn from talking books he can’t hear the talking book and he can’t see the television and he can’t read and so he was just desperate he just knew he had to have the brail. So he started and he came everyday during the month of December and we got started. In January he had to go to Boston for an eye operation and he saw a specialist there and it was really just a kind of preliminary to see what was what he could do and so after several weeks he came back and we resumed the brail lessons and I had him everyday I took him in the evening and I took him after school some days after school some days it was in the evening which ever time permitted on my schedule. So then during the month of May I didn’t hear from him they had gone to visit his sister in Long Island and they said they’d be away for a couple weeks, when they returned I called and said what happened and they said well there in the process of moving the mother and the father have felt that something has to be done for Robby and they didn’t they know they’re getting older and they didn’t want anything to happen to them without Robby being provided for so they decided to move to Richmond Virginia where they would be near her daughter. So if anything happened to the parents then the daughter would take over. And Robert is the type of person that was very clingy to his parents, he just can’t go without his parents and they realized that and so he’s very unsure of himself because this has happened to him. He was very outgoing in the beginning and he had a wonderful job as a proofreader in New York in Margs position and so it just the mothers just just crushed over this whole thing. So they broke the news to me that they were gonna move so I said alright I’ll take him everyday until he moves, which I did and he was getting along beautifully he began to read and was doing fine so then they had to leave and I said goodbye and I said I would keep in contact with them which I will, already sent a letter in brail to them and I guess it will be awhile until I hear anything because they have to get adjusted in their new home and moving and all that you know it takes time. So that’s that’s the present thing that’s happened. Sr.M: Sister would you like to comment as to the changes which the church as gone through since Vatican II and in turn our own community. How do you feel about those changes? Sr.F.L: Hmmm well when I think of Vatican II I think especially the liturgy. I really appreciate the liturgy in English it has been so meaningful to me. The epistles and the Gospels and the trend toward bible study, scripture, prayer meaningful to you to me to all of us. I have learned to be more spiritual in that area because I feel more prepared than I was at the time when we talked in Latin I mean Mass was in Latin and I am particularly happy to be at De Paul Institute for the liturgy because Father Convoy’s our present chaplain and he has certainly offered many many spiritual assets to our community by his homilies he always has very very touching homilies you know when you leave the chapel you always have something there. Although Fathers been with us so many years at least well I guess its thirteen fourteen years, and he has never repeated one ? and he everything is special when he’s estimation he takes each day as it comes liturgy and he plans everything. He also plans very carefully when we have parent days and also our facility meeting our facility mass meeting that’s at the school and he’s been very much of an inspiration to all of us and we’re very happy to have Father Convoy. And he certainly makes it very meaningful. As far as the clothing is concerned well I think I welcome the change. First I was reluctant to losing the habit and the rosary and the cap and all that but I can see it’s very beneficial in lots of ways you know Polyester can in to being and we had easier ways of taking care of your clothes and Sr.M: And you did you have done lots of sewing Sr.F.L: Oh yes Sr.M: In the meantime Sr.F.L: Lots of sewing for many people Sr.M: Helping them get into the tradition SR.F.L: Yes yes and ripping the old habits and I remember I ripped the old habit from scratch and made myself a modified dress in the beginning and then when polyester came in I grabbed the chance to do that because from you know stores on sales and to make my own clothes so I do make my own clothes I make my own suits everything my own caps and I offer to make caps for other people and Sr.M: You’ve always been generous Sister Sr.F.L: And so I you know I welcomed that because I liked to sew I’ve always I’ve been sewing a long time even since I’ve been a little girl. I would make baby doll clothes and Sr.M: Did you ever take a sewing class? Sr.F.L: No not really not really but I used to examine how things were made and I would read books and listen to people talking or you know one time Sister Shela was here and she talked about something and Sister Scholastica would talk about something and I’d be listening to them and pick up a lot of things like that and so you know it was more or less a hobby with me I feel relaxed when I sew it’s a hobby for me and some people have I like to do things with needle work too you know for instance last year I made craft work for the De Paul card party Noels for the Christmas items and God loves you, and Sister Mary Bazel Youngling graciously gave me the patterns and taught me how to do that. One day one December when I was on retreat I met her and I happened to spot something she was doing and she says come on and I’ll show you well after a few lessons I was able to do it and so she offered to give me the yarn and things I needed at the time and I recently I made a visit to Carnegie and she gave me some new patterns. So last November the first we had our De Paul card party and those items were presented at the party and you know on sale and so we expect to do some more this year. Sr.M: Sister what about the Sister dolls that you dress for the community Sr.F.L: Oh well Sister, Mother Victoria after the Vatican II changes and the habit she came here and visit me and she said I like you to do something for me she said could you consider would you consider dressing a doll that we could use for the archives and she said I know that you have done you have dressed many dolls for the Seton Hill festival and they use to raffle them off. Every year we’d have a doll raffled off Sister of Charity doll and I guess I did about ten of them and each year we would and I was in instrumental in getting these dolls through Sis Mrs. Cathy Mrs. Mrs. Webber she was the mother of of a blind student who was here years ago when I taught and she lives in the north side in Pittsburgh. So she would purchase the doll and I would get the material and I would try to get panama from our capes and discarded capes and aprons and anything that was up around anybody that wanted to offer anything were pretty good I would wash them and press them try to use them and so she would buy snaps for me she would you know then particularly remember the last doll that I did. She went to Currner’s especially to try to get a rosary that was long enough that had a preshable number of chains you know between the beads so it looked like our community rosary. So I remember particular that I I really put my heart and soul in it because I felt that was gonna be the last one that I would dress. Sr.M: This was still in the traditional habit? Sr.F.L: It is still in the traditional habit. And so I dressed that one and a woman from West end happened to be the winner at the festival, and she was delighted to be the winner and so she took it home and we never heard from her until last year or two years ago. Sister Sara Louise approached me while I was on retreat and said did you ever dress Sister of Charity dolls and I said yes I did and we laughed and she said well you know there’s a women at West end who won this doll at the festival and she’s had it for a number of years and she decided that she didn’t need it anymore and didn’t know what to do with it so she went to the Sisters of Saint James and asked what to do with it and they recommended that it be sent to Seton Hill so they directed it to me and Sister Sara Louise and here my name was on the outside of the box De Paul Institute it said. So she said would you consider you know she said I know that you dress a Sister of Charity doll for Mother Victoria, which is at the archives right now and she said the mother has gone through the trouble of making a special glass case for that and it stands on a stand and it’s covered so it’s preserved and she says Well Sister Sarah Louise said I know that you have you know dressed this doll for Mother Victoria Mother Victoria’s request now I would like to ask you if you would consider changing the black cap on this doll and putting on a white cap So we will have a white cap Sister of Charity and we’ll have a black cap Sister of Charity for the archives and I said ok I’ll do that I’ll do that. She Sr.M: Now did you already done that Sr.F.L: I’ve done it two years ago two years ago I made the white cap but I thought after I got the doll, I said I don’t even remember how to make the white cap it’s been so long since we wore a white cap and and I even Sister Agnes Theresa and those people around here don’t have any lose you know Sr.M: So what did you do? Sr.F.L: So I finally I didn’t have a pattern I didn’t have a pattern but I measured the head forehead to the back cross here to see how many inches I’d need across here and then I measured this part and I remembered that the pattern is cut into a like a an oval shape because you have to have more for over the ears ok so I cut it out of a piece of paper first newspaper and put it on her head and then put paper clips to hold it to the hair and then I started a pleat back there to see how it would go and I found out that I didn’t have enough over the ears so I thought this isn’t right I’ll cut more so I cut another pattern out and then I cut an old sheet and tried it on an old sheet first an old piece of muslin to see how that would work and I found it was gonna be workable. So then I got some white material and Sister Sarah Louise said do you need material and I said no I I’ll have something I’ll have something. So I made the white cap for her and then I took the sleeves out and I put new sleeves in it and I took the collar out and put a new collar in it made a new collar and then I took all the clothes off and washed them and pressed it so she was all done up freshened up and then I put her back in the box ah first I had her on the stand and I showed everybody and Sister Sara Marie wanted to take it to school and I said oh no you don’t the kids aren’t gonna touch this doll I don’t want it fingered I said it’s going to the archives. So so I sent it back to her and then I got a beautiful letter from Sister Sara Marie Sara Louise thanking me for doing that. So that was but I I I couldn’t do a doll anymore I just don’t have the patience and I don’t my fingers are not nimble enough to do the fine work that I’d like to do you know very tiny hems it’s really tedious work so that’s it. Sr.M: So Sister is there anything else that we left out that you want to tell me Sr.F.L: I think I’ve said everything I wanna say Sr.M: Well I really appreciate spending this time with you reminiscing about this the days here at De Paul and a lot of the things that I didn’t know that you went through before you came to De Paul. I just wanna say that community is very grateful for the time you’ve given and this will be a part of our archival collection for the oral history program. Sr.F.L: Thank you Sr.M: Thank you Sister God bless you A correction is needed to indicate Sister Francis Louise’s appointment for her first mission at Westend. Was given by Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers instead of Mother Marie Benedict Manahon. Sr.F.L: Correction also was given the date of reception of the habit was not 1934 it was 1932 June 1932. Another correction navicent sisters who were with me in the first year of the navicent Sister Alice Marie Crates instead of Sister Alice Marie Moran. Thank you Sister of Charity Oral Histories Interviewee: Sr. Francis Louise Honeychuck Interviewer: Sr. Marie Corona Miller March 19,2004 This interview is being conduced as part of the Oral History program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister. Francis Louise Honeychuck. The interview is being conducted by Sister. Marie Corona Miller at Caritas Christi. The date is March 19,2004. This interview is a revision of one given at DePaul Institute with Sister Francis Louise on July 15,1987. Sr.M: Good morning Sister Francis Louise Sr.F.L: Good morning Sister Sr.M: I am happy to be with you again so that we can do a revision of your history. So do you want to begin you personal history? Sr.F.L: Yes, I was born in Mount Pleasant October 23,1914 and baptized on November 1 at visitation church Mount pleasant PA. My name was given the given name was Emma Marie. My father died on October 12,1918 during the flu epidemic after his death my widowed mother and her six children Robert age 10, Andrew age 8, Laurence age 6, myself age 4, Helen age 2, and John who was born three weeks after my fathers death moved from Mount Pleasant to Scottdale Pennsylvania. It was my mothers responsibility with her great faith and trust in God her life in prayer to raise us together as a united family. My mother went to work each day cleaning offices taking in washings and whatever she could find to earn the money to support and provide for our home and needs. She insisted upon having a good education for each one of us. We were fortunate to be educated at Saint John the Baptist school Scottdale PA by the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. I attended elementary education at Saint John the Baptist school Scottdale PA 1921 to 1929. I also attended high school at Saint John the Baptist school until my junior year. I recall some memories before school age how I had to keep my Sister Helen and my little brother John sitting on chairs all morning until my mother came home from work each day. We never thought of going outside or leaving the door open at anytime or making any noise while we were at home. We patiently waited for our mother to come home. Walking one and a half miles to school in the morning and coming home for lunch and back again to school in the afternoon gave me the exercise and the fresh air that I needed to keep me healthy. On rainy days I rode the streetcar the fare was three cents for a ticket. I recall when I was young I became interested in trying to sew baby doll clothes I cut the patterns from newspaper to make to try to make the clothing fit my doll, I remember going to Millers big store on Pittsburgh street Scottsdale PA. I looked all the patterns that were for sale on the rack I wanted especially to know how to make a dress with a flared shirt for my doll. After at looking at all the patterns about a cent in my pocket I came home and cut out a pattern. Since I was too little to peddle my mother’s sewing machine I sewed everything by hand. On Christmas morning Santa brought me my own sewing machine later I heard that it cost about five dollars, I was happy to get it, but after several tries I found out that it really did not satisfy me very well. So I naturally turned to my mother’s sewing machine. When I was in high school I made a dress for my sister Helen and one for myself. On Saturday mornings I helped my mother do the cleaning at the Casket factory Scottsdale PA. My job was to clean the sinks the toilets and to mop the floor with soap and water while my mother did the same to the rest of the building. I recall picking up oodles of straight pins off the chairs, floor, anywhere. They had been dropped by the ladies who used the pins to make while silk lining inside the coffins. Since I had to take care of Helen and John at home, I was almost seven years old when I started to go to the first grade at Saint John the Baptist school in Scottsdale PA. All my teachers were the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. When I entered high school at Saint John’s I began to take my lunch because the lunch hour was shorter and I had to be in class on time. It was during my junior year that I began to consider what my vocation might be in the future. At age 17 I entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill navicent on November 25,1932 actually it was Easter Sunday March 27th because Good Friday fell on March 25th the feast of annunciation in the year and I was told to come on Easter Sunday. I became a posolant to receive the black lace cap to cover my hair and a simple black dress with a short with a black short-sleeved cape and of course black cotton stockings to wear there. After six months and making a silent retreat for six days, I received my long black habit including a black surged pleated apron and cape a white starch collar and white cap with detachable bows under my chin. I also received a long black rosary to be worn at my left side. A new name was given to me now I was called Sister Francis Louise. One year later I made another silent retreat for six days, at the end of the retreat I received my first black silk cap and bows, I also received a new black habit pleated surge apron and pleated cape. One year later I pronounced my simple vows of poverty chap obedience. I renew them yearly until years later I pronounced vows for life. I attended classes in preparation for navicent training as well as methods of teaching technique and remained a Seton Hill navicent until 1934. Then I was assigned to begin teaching third, fifth, and sixth grade students at Saint James school Westend Pittsburgh PA from 1934 to 1937. During the Saint Patrick’s day flood 1936 all the Sisters in the convent were evacuated by boat to Divine Provence convent, we were welcomed there to eat our breakfast. Mother Evan Fisher told us to get to any convent and they would be able to take care of us. I went to Saint Stevens’ convent with four other Sisters’ by train to stay until the flood stages were over. Within a week I was asked to go to Saint Iranians Convent Oakmont PA with Sister Ann Seton Boyle. I was asked to substitute teach students in the fifth and sixth grade because the teacher was sick. I stayed there for two weeks, then I returned to Saint James school Pittsburgh PA and taught students on the second floor near the library because the basement classrooms were not useable. After teaching third, fifth, and sixth grade in elementary education at Saint James school Westend in Pittsburgh PA, I went to the DePaul Institute in 1937 to being the service training for the hearing impaired students. During the years I worked with severely deaf students ages six to twelve with six or seven students in the class with emphasis on teaching speech reading lip reading from blind to facial expression lip reading and speech and language development using the oral no sign language method of instruction for all elementary subjects. Many of these students didn’t have the educational background needed for success namely because they were transferred from other schools or just didn’t experience personal achievement in their early education. The ultimate mission of De Paul Institute was to prepare students for success in a hearing and speaking world. Since I had some experience in teaching hearing students at Saint James School, I realized that quality education was needed for a student to transfer to a regular school. I had to provide guidance and direction to make the most of the gifts and talents of the students and to advance them to there fullest potential so that they would make the transfer successfully, it was a hard laborious job but it was very rewarding in time. Many students have attended high school and college and have successful careers. During the years 1949, 1970 a new direction came to my teaching career. Bishop Diren of the Dioceses of Pittsburgh had requested De Paul Institute to begin teaching blind and partially sighted students the history of these years can be found in the archives of the Sisters of Charity and also the De Paul Institute archives. I was asked to take a course at Colombia University and to become certified in transcribing brail using the perpins brail writer. There were a number of blind partially sighted students who attended during those years. Other teachers and especially Sister Angelica Little were involved in teaching these children. I recall the many years that students from the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania came for a period of six to ten weeks for their in-service training in education for the deaf. The students welcomed the opportunity to use their lip reading skills in a variety of experiences, in which the in service training of the teachers provided for them. The students always enjoyed taking part in Christmas plays singing Christmas carols and patriotic songs. They had the advantage of being taught everything that a hearing student could experience in a regular school program, even joining boy scouts and Girl Scout activities. They were always eager to put on their costumes that were prepared for them by the Sisters of De Paul Institute. They loved to display their talents to please their parents who were proud of their accomplishment. After full time teaching, I spend five years tutoring students at De Paul Institute. This was done on the private basses for students who needed special individual help for reading and language development to further their success in joining other students in daily classes provided by the De Paul Institute curriculum. The parents were grateful for their accomplishment. For the next two years I volunteered recording individual speech records for students during the school hours. This consisted of a grant at De Paul Institute the teachers were required to record the minutes of each student for speech analysis rating them I for improvement N for no improvement. Papers were collected each week and recorded. The total number of papers for each month were recorded and given to the schools psychologist and were sent to the state of Pennsylvania for evaluation. Money was granted for the results of this money and it was used for to buy computers and other equipment for the use of the De Paul students. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Francis Louise Honeychuck Subject The topic of the resource Sister Francis Louise Honeychuck Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Francis Louise Honeychuck, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1932 until 2017. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller and was also partially self-taped. Sister Francis Louise Honeychuck - born Emma Marie Honeychuck on October 23, 1914 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in March of 1932. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Duquesne University in 1947 and a master's degree in education from Wayne University in 1955. She taught at St. James School in West End from 1934-1937 and at De Paul Institute from 1937-1997. From 1948-1970, she helped to develop and oversee De Paul's services for blind children. Having learned Braille through Columbia University, Sister Francis Louise submitted a Braille translation of the book Black Beauty in order to complete her program. She received a Volunteer Braille Transcriber certification from the Library of Congress in 1962. Sister Francis Louise died on April 29, 2017. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/07/15 1997/02/17 2004/03/19 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-65 Deaf Education DePaul Institute DePaul School for Hearing and Speech Duquesne University Pennsylvania Pittsburgh St. Jame's School West End Teacher Wayne University Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister James Marie Malone Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Marie Louise Hunnell Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Location The location of the interview St. John the Evangelist School Tucson (Ariz.) Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 16:19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Marie Louise Hunnell Subject The topic of the resource Sister Marie Louise Hunnell Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Marie Louise Hunnell, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1935 until 1997. The interview was conducted by Sister James Marie Malone on July 18, 1986. Sister Marie Louise Hunnell - born Catherine Delilah Hunnell on September 6, 1916 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1935. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Duquesne University in 1949 and a master's degree in education, also from Duquesne, in 1962. Sister Marie Louise taught in schools in the Pittsburgh area and in Arizona, serving as Principal at St. John the Evangelist School in Tucson between 1957-1965 and as Vice Principal at Resurrection School in Pittsburgh from 1965-1968. Sister Marie Louise Hunnell died on March 18, 1997. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/07/18 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-87 Brookline PA Duquesne University Principal Resurrection School St. John the Evangelist Tucson AZ https://scsharchives.com/files/original/0a012e4b37b1ccba9b6fbe02debad291.mp3 bf2b76075c9e303c718d9c350a27cbc7 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/010807d0b2dfe0a74852647ecaf356cb.mp3 052c055eb10183078bd985421a5db3c6 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/6495bd5b683aa7b2a24b2b7d7a92f0f8.mp3 9b71c2859db5113f99dad27e15f0acaf https://scsharchives.com/files/original/b1149c8742a2def137a96e9162f6b705.mp3 bb6a7f2e5bcb0894ed490c82b206ce51 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/d2ad2e50fa1832ef7c3e4d4a7e5b053d.mp3 bb6a7f2e5bcb0894ed490c82b206ce51 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Pancratius Jablonski Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:17 31:16 31:19 31:28 31:24 18:54 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Pancratius Jablonski Subject The topic of the resource Sister Pancratius Jablonski Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Pancratius Jablonski, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1919 until 2001. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on February 21 and 22, 1988. Sister Pancratius Jabolonski - born Agnes Ann Jablonski on January 23, 1901 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in March of 1919. Her biological sister, Sister Marie Stephen Jablonski, entered two months later. She received a bachelor's degree in church music from Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in 1949. She taught at Cathedral School in Altoona from 1943-1944, at St. Philip School in Crafton from 1944-1948 and 1953-1954, and at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Pittsburgh from 1948-1953. She volunteered her time at St. Anselm Parish in Pittsburgh from 1954-1985, conducting parish visits and offering her musical talent. Sister Pancratius died on May 23, 2001. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988/02/21 1988/02/22 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-15 Cathedral School Sacred Heart Elementary School St. Anselm Parish St. Philip School https://scsharchives.com/files/original/c573bf3d71c1a49b8a8e0386861210bf.mp3 18af2c3aa5909aedd2a285a1dec7f1ac https://scsharchives.com/files/original/5e48b6600f36cf186db2fd70b8bcb0a5.mp3 e4cf9afff9f9aebb99189f5db73f5702 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/df1f58f6cf4b356541cb953cdad4e74d.mp3 484894b1d9bb6ce4a7113cbd5f168860 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Marie Stephen Jablonski Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:17 31:18 31:17 10:17 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Marie Stephen Jablonski Subject The topic of the resource Sister Marie Stephen Jablonski Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Marie Stephen Jablonski, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1919 until 1998. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on April 6, 1987. Sister Marie Stephen Jablonski - born Helen Jablonski on February 24, 1899 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in May of 1919. Her biological sister, Sister M. Pancratius Jablonski, entered two months before her. Sister Marie Stephen attended the Providence Hospital Training School and became a nurse in 1923. She received further training and became the first certified anesthetist in the community in 1938. She worked at Providence Hospital in Pittsburgh throughout the twenties and thirties for a period of thirteen years, working there again in 1956-1959. She also spent time serving at Roselia Foundling and Maternity Hospital from 1943-1954, at McGuire Hospital from 1954-1955, and at Assumption Hall from 1955-1956. From 1959-1980 she served at Seton Hill College, filling the role of Infirmarian for the Sisters and the college students from 1965-1977. Sister Marie Stephen died on August 16, 1998. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/04/06 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister James Marie Malone Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Harold Ann Jones Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Harold Ann Jones Subject The topic of the resource Sister Harold Ann Jones Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Harold Ann Jones, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1940 until 2017. The interview was conducted by Sister James Marie Malone on July 8, 1987. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/07/08 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-91 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/631fef2e331065dd17d765960fe1526e.mp3 d4cabd54de91d0460d59679ea410f6fb https://scsharchives.com/files/original/aadede479a54cbc82ca0784aa993e6ce.mp3 570a5904f860eb666794b2b3ced0cdfb https://scsharchives.com/files/original/9ae23e9139466f90e8cc7c7e46d611fe.mp3 2feea42add78b3e93ed1aa30557b9799 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/1886a79f097e45a2041407381a0d9bc4.mp3 9c6c719a69bb7ad882209e94ef680d49 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister M. Michaele Keenan Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:00 31:02 31:01 24:28 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound OH 22 1 Sr.Michaele Ke·enan This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister M. Michaele Keenan. It is being done by Sr. Marie Corona Miller at St. Luke's Convent in Carnegie. The date is November Fifth, nineteen eighty-six. SMCM: Good morning, Sr. Michaele. I'm very happy to be here with you today to talk about some of the things regarding your personal history. Would you like to tell us? SMK: I'll be glad to do that. My father was Joseph Keenan. My mother was Mary Lane Keenan. They were married in St. James Church in the West End by Father Price. My father died in nineteen seventeen. My mother died in nineteen thirty-one. SMCM: Did you have any brothers or sisters? SMK: My mother had eight children. Six of them died at an early age. My brother and I lived. We moved to the West End when we were very young. I attended St. Francis de Sales School in McKees Rocks from First Grade through the Commercial Course in High School. I went to St. Francis de Sales all my life before entrance and was taught by the Sisters of Charity. It was the example of Sister Alice Marie Barron that influenced me to become a Sister of Charity. I kept in touch with her when she went to the different missions. I entered the Community on May First, nineteen twenty-one. My Novitiate was under the guidance of Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub, who was very stem. SMCM: Who entered with you, Sister? SMK: Sister M. Clarissa Cunningham entered with me. She was from Scottdale. She also was influenced by Sr. Alice Marie Barron. Sr. Alice Marie was changed from St. Francis de Sales in McKees Rocks to St. John's in Scottdale. Sister Clarissa became very close to Sr. Alice Marie. She was a lovely lady. We both entered on the same day. We met at the bottom of the Hill. She pushed me in first because I was the oldest. Now, I will tell you about some of my years in the Community....where, what I taught, etc. The first place lwent to was down to St. Benedict's in Greensburg. I taught three days a week at St. Benedict's. The other two days I went to another school, but can't remember exactly where. It was also in the Greensburg Diocese. From there I went to St. Stephen's in Hazelwood for one year. After that, I was sent to Saint Simon and Jude in Blairsville. I was the first young Sister to go to Blairsville. They were all senior Sisters. SMCM: Who was the Sister Servant? SMK: At one time it was Sister M. Mildred Stephen. Then Sister M. Conrad Auth became the Sister Servant. I was there for eight years. They couldn't figure out why a young Sister was sent there. The people of the town thought I (couldn't get what she said). The Pastor, Father Haw (if correctly spelled) was very kind. Before I left Seton Hill, the Sisters in the Novitiate all said: "Oh, the steps are the tombs from the dead!" They all said you'll be afraid to sleep because people haunt you. It wasn't the Convent but it was the Rectory that was haunted for a number of years. The Pastor used to walk the streets at night. When he came back, he would go into the Church where the candles were already lit, but not by him. I often said to the housekeeper: "Aren't you afraid?" She said: No, I've gotten used to it. When Father Haw died, Father Carlin was sent. Father Carlin tore down the inner part of the Rectory. There was a big hall upstairs where the bedrooms were located. That was torn down, because that was where the trouble came. People wouldn't believe it. They had a Mission there. The Priest had to leave. He said that his bed was elevated at night. He couldn't tolerate it. SMCM: What was the cause of all that? SMK: No one seemed to really know. They thought that someone lacked having Masses said. SMCM: Did the Sisters ever experience anything like that? SMK: No, nothing ever happened in the Convent. SMCM: What Grade did you teach? SMK: No Grade. I taught Piano Lessons. SMCM: Sister, where did you get your background in Music? SMK: I received training in Music at St. Francis de Sales from the Sisters of Charity. Then, in the Community, I went to Duquesne University where I received my College Degree. SMCM: Do you remember who some of the Sisters were who were with you in Blairsville? SMK: There was: Sister M. Evarista Donovan, Sister Marie Francis Curran, Sister Alexandra McQuade, and Sister Jane Joyce. SMK: When I left Blairsville in nineteen thirty-five, I was sent to St. Luke's in Carnegie. It was lovely. I'll never forget Carnegie. They had their first flood on March seventeenth, nineteen thirty-six. The police came to the door with boats. They asked Sister Agnes Marie Reuber if they could take us. She said: "Anyone who chooses to do so, may go." No-one went. We had another flood in nineteen forty-two. SMCM: Did you have any damage from these floods? SMK: The damage was confined to the basement. It didn't come up into the upper part of the house. The cellar is situated in a different place now. They put the statue of the Blessed Mother at the top step. SMK: The flood in nineteen forty-two was caused by heavy rain, which made "The Washington Dam" ready to burst. Before it burst, they opened it. Therefore, we had more flooding. They notified men working in Mills, but they didn't notify Schools. They had to carry things from the High School over to the Convent. It was a terrible flood! They don't worry about floods now because of some preventive measures which have been taken. I can't actually say that there have never been any more floods, because after I left Carnegie, I was told that there had been flooding in the basement which caused damage to the Sisters' trunks SMCM: Sister, can you tell us anything about the nice things which took place at St. Luke's? SMK: Just living there was great! There was a High School there and so they had enjoyable events...plays, concerts, etc. SMCM: Did you teach Piano Lessons there? SMK: Yes, I taught Piano Lessons in the Grade School and High School. I taught Singing in the Grade School. It got so big for me that I had to ask Mother M. Claudia Glenn for help. She sent a Music teacher. I especially remember Sister M. Annina Fox. We worked well together, and had programs. We had a Piano Concert down at the Library. She said: "Sister Michaele, I could never have done that if you hadn' t been here to do it." I had to get money for the children so I had to have some events. SMCM: Was this at the Public Library? SMK: Yes, it was. The High School had things there too. For a while, we had things in the School, but as things became larger, we needed more space. SMCM: Sister, when you taught Singing, did the children come to you, or did you go to the classrooms? SMK: The High School students came over to the Hall in the Grade School. I went to the individual rooms in the Grade School. Ifwe had Choir Practice, it was in the Hall. SMCM: Sister, how many Sisters were there with you in nineteen thirty-five? SMK: In nineteen thirty-five, there were fifteen Sisters. When I was leaving St. Luke' s in nineteen fifty-five, there were twenty-eight Sisters. SMK: Nineteen fifty-five brought a big change in my life. I was sent to be the Sister Servant at St. Simon and Jude' s in Blairsville. When Mother Claudia informed me of this, I said: "You know Mother, I'm not Sister Ann Michaele Reilly, I'm just Sister Michaele." Father Mueller, the Pastor had a history of making it difficult for Sister Servants. SMCM: How many Sisters did you have with you? SMK: We had eight Sisters. They were very nice. It was a different situation. I was the Sister Servant, Principal, charge of the Music, etc. It's a wonder I didn't die! I had Postulants, Novices, and Professed Sisters. The one helping thing about it was that I had been there before. I knew the School. That was a big help. I knew the parents of the pupils. They would all ask: "Do you know my name, Sister? Do you know my name?" I was there for six years. It was quite different! I wouldn't want to go through it again. As far as being the Sister Servant. they weren't unkind to me, but it was hard, especially if you' re a young woman and it isn' t your forte in life. I had lots of visits from Seton Hill anyway. Each year someone would come and say: "One more year. One more year!" SMK: When my time was up in Blairsville, I was sent to Resurrection in Brookline. I was there for four years. When I went into that School, I thought it was the whole world because it was so large. SMCM: Were there a lot of Sisters at Resurrection? SMK: Yes, a good many. I forget who the Sister Servant was. There were, I believe six of every Grade.There was letters A, B, C, D, E, and F to indicate each. I was up on the second floor. Later, when St. Pius Catholic School was built (now Brookline Regional Catholic) I was on the first floor because we lost about two hundred students to St. Pius. So then we had four fourth Grades. Sister M. Clarasita Wolk had A, I had B, and the two seculars had C and D. I'll never forget Sister Clarasita. She was so kind. SMCM: Sister, what about your Music during those years? SMK: I taught Piano Lessons in the Convent after School. I didn't have very many because my teaching and other duties wouldn' t allow for it. After that, we went to different Schools for a year at a time. SMCM: Sister, I would like to ask you a question about Resurrection. Did you live in what was the new Convent? SMK: I must have because they were building that Convent in nineteen fifty. I went to Resurrection in nineteen fifty-five. It was a lovely Convent. There were many Sisters there. I was sorry to leave there. I was there for four happy years. I also liked the School. The last School I went to was Holy Innocents in Sheraden where I taught fourth Grade. I was there for a couple of years. From there I went back to St. Luke's in Carnegie in nineteen seventy. There was no High School at that time. It had closed after Canev,in: High School was built. I taught Singing in the Grade School and Piano Lessons. Then I was at St. Luke's from nineteen seventy until nineteen eight-six. I was here for twenty years the first time I was here. Sister M. Emily Miller was here for six of the years I was at St. Luke's. She was the Principal of the Grade School. In the High School Sister Mary Henry Hanse and Sister Mary Blanche Stokes seemed to take turns being the Principal of the High School. Sister Emily was a wonderful Sister, but she did not want to be disturbed when she came to School. That was her Reading time. They got her a big Rocker. She brought the Post over everyday to read. She was the nicest Sister, but they say that in her early days, she was a bit crabby. The enrollment was very low in the years when Sister Ann Patricia Barkin was the Principal. Sister Louise de Paul Burke was the only other Sister in the School. SMCM: Sister, what about the present Convent? Is it the one you lived in when you were there before? SMK: No, it's a new part. They built it while I was here. It's about twenty-five years old. It wasn't the Pastor, but the Assistant said that it was against Canon Law for more than one Sister to be in a bedroom. Previously, we had one Bathroom for about fifteen Sisters, big dorms for multiple Sisters. Monsignor Kernan was here for the finalizing of the building. There are lots of beautiful things about Carnegie. The people are good to us. At Holiday Times, they always bring you something. They do this for the entire group, not individually. When the various fruits and vegetables are harvested we receive strawberries, large amounts of tomatoes, etc. They're older people, and they think that the Sisters are special. When Sister Mary Alban Fitzgerald died, they were really upset. SMCM: Can you tell me anything about Sr. Mary Alban since you were with her for many years? SMK: Sr. Mary Alban came to St. Luke's in nineteen seventy-one. She was with me for just a short time the frrst time I was here. She came from being at St. James in the West End. She had a great deal of sickness. She was diabetic among other things. She didn't like going to the Doctor. She was nice to live with. SMCM: Did she teach? SMK: She did until her health got too poor. Then, she did special work. She worked up at John Kane with Sister Jean Frances Peters for a while. She was very active with the Senior Citizens Group in Carnegie. She packed to go to Ireland with the group, but died before getting to Ireland. That group was very upset. They knew however, that Sister probably lived beyond what her health would warrant. She didn't want to die, but eventually became reconciled to it. SMCM: Where did Sr. Mary Alban come from? SMK: She came from Hazelwood. She didn't have any immediate family. All of them were deceased. Her brother was the last one to die. She had nieces and nephews. SMCM: So, you're the Senior Sister at St.Luke's? SMK: I've been the Senior Sister since nineteen seventy. Sister Jean Augustine asked me if perhaps I should think about going to Assumption Hall, and Sister Sebastian Jellison, by way of invitation wondered if I would like to go there. I taught Sister Sebastian Piano Lessons when I was in Blairsville. I feel this way about going to Assumption Hall. If you're active, why not stay, because to live in one room, I'd lose my head. I would get senile right away. At the same time, I don't believe in waiting until you have to be sick in bed. I don't dislike Assumption Hall, but I don't have feeling for it. I think it's because I have lived so long at our Missions. Unless they close the School, I'll still be here. There are many charges which have to be taken care of here at St. Luke's. SMCM: What are some of the things you are responsible for doing? SMK: The kitchen needs to be kept in order....dishes done, garbage emptied, etc. I have charge of the Dining Room. I do the towels. The Dining Room is quite large. We have a woman who comes once a week to do the bigger things. I also take my turn getting breakfast. My day is Friday. SMCM: Sister, could we backtrack a bit? When you entered in nineteen twenty-one, who was your Mistress? SMK: Sister Hildegarde Eichenlaub was the Mistress. SMCM: Were you in the group who were Novices for five years? SMK: Yes, we were Novices for five years and three months. We had Sister Hildegarde for about three years. We had another Mistress, Mother Mary Francis McCullough. It was like from the ridiculous to the sublime! Sr. Hildegarde stood over you like you never knew how to scrub or do other things. Mother Mary Francis treated you like a woman. SMCM: What was your charge as a Novice? SMK: Most of the charges were on the first floor of the Administration Building. You moved around doing the various things in the Kitchen and Dining Room. Then there were some charges on other floors upstairs e.g. the Community Room. SMCM: Where did you live? SMK: We lived on the fourth and fifth floors of the Administration Building. SMCM: Were there many in the Novitiate? SMK: Yes, there was a large number of Sisters in the Novitiate with me. It was very strict. When I wrote home to my Mother about the cemetery, because I didn't know what else to say, I was criticized. The letter was given back to me. SMCM: So, your parents were still living when you entered? SMK: My father was deceased. My Mother died when I was in Blairsville in nineteen thirty-one. My Father and Mother both were killed, not together. It was between Christmas and New Year's. My Mother and I had influenza. My Father said that he was going to West End to wish his parents a greeting to ring out the old and bring in a New Year of happiness. In those days we didn't have a car. We traveled via streetcar. He got off the streetcar at Steuben Street to walk up to his parents. (She says something here about a streetcar and train stop possibly intersecting). Noone saw my Father being hit or killed. His body was pulled over to Main Street. My Aunt knew that my Father was coming, and she went out on the porch and said: "Oh, Joe must have gone up to my Mother's Mother place." The next day, a child came to my Grandparents house to see their Christmas tree. You know how children talk: Well, this child said: "By the way, there was a man killed last night." My Mother had called my Grandparents to see if they had sickness as my Father had-not .c ome home all night. My Aunt called the Morgue, and the man who answered said: "Yes, there is a man here,and his Son has come to identify him. My brother, John, who was a Western Union employee had been at work there. My Aunt called and asked the gentleman to put my brother on the line. My Aunt said: "John, is something wrong?" He said: "Yes, my Father died on his way to the hospital." John came home to my Mother and me. He said: "Well, Pop is dead!" My Father was laid out at home. (Sr. Marie Arthur...They had to have the Coroner, but there was loud crashing on the tape, so I couldn't get what she was saying). SMCM: What hit him, Sister? SMK: We think it was a train, but we're really not sure because of the circumstances. After that, my Grandmother went to bed and never got up again. That was in nineteen seventeen. He was forty-five years old. SMK: My Mother was killed on the bridge that goes across the Allegheny River in the West End. It was during Lent and Sister Mary Basil Jungling and I came in from Blairsville to visit our Mothers. It was the only available weekend that we could do this. Sister Mary Basil's Mother lived in Sheraden.. My Mother didn't know that I was coming. I went shopping with my Mother and then we went home. That's the last time I saw my Mother alive. My Mother said that she would take me over to Sheraden to be with Sister Mary Basil for the return trip to Blairsville. When my Mother was leaving Sheraden I asked if she was going directly home, but she said that she was going to Church. It was Friday. I never got to leave Sheraden that day as the call came that my Mother was in St. Joseph's Hospital because she had been hit by a driver from Sheraden. Anyhow, the Sister Servant (whom she didn't name) told her to stay over if her Mother wasn't going to live, but to come home if she lived. Sister Alberta Sweeney went with me. SMK: Another gentleman who witnessed the accident got her to the hospital where she eventually lost consciousness and died due to a serious head injury. She was fifty-four years old. Tape II Side I SMCM: This is a continuation of the interview being conducted as part of the Oral History Program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The Interviewee is Sister Michaele Keenan. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at St. Luke's Convent in Carnegie. The date is November sixth, nineteen eighty-six. SMCM: Sister, we were talking about Sister Sister M. Clarissa Cunningham. She entered with you. Could you share some things about her with us? SMK: Yes, Sister Clarissa entered from Scottdale. Her Father and Grandmother reared them as children. She graduated from the Catholic School in Scottdale. She entered the Community on May First, nineteen twenty-one. She taught at St. Benedict's in Greensburg for many years. She was at Sacred Heart in the East End, I'm not sure how long. She was at Blairsville for just a year. Most of her teaching was in the eighth Grade. She was a very fine teacher and was also strict. She was held back from making Vows for a while. When I heard it, I went to Sister Hildegarde and asked her why Sr. Clarissa was being held back from Vows. She said: Well, she is sick." I said: "Well, if anyone needs to be held back, you can hold me back because Sister Clarissa is really looking forward to making Vows. Again, Sr. Hildegarde said: Well, if she doesn't get better, we'll have to send her home." Sr. Hildegarde further said: She was asked to help with a mattress, but said she couldn't because her arms were not strong enough." The person called her a baby. Another time she was in Pittsburgh Hospital. Her Father went to see her and told her he was going to take her home. We often laugh about it now. She made her Vows the following year with Sister Rose Xavier Garrity and Sister Mary Josephine McClory. I made Vows with Sister M. Agnita McCall and Sister Mary Lucy McDermitt. Sister Clarissa was very good in Latin, but I don't know if she ever taught it. SMCM: Sister, getting back to your Novitiate. What was it like when you were young Sisters? SMK: We had good times. I'll tell you who else was in our group Sister Florence Marie Scott. She was full oflife. Sister Veronica Scott, Sister to Sr. Florence Marie Scott was in the Novitiate then also, but she wasn't as wild as her sister. One time, we were over at the Bakery and we stole a pie. We took the Curtis method in Music. Miss or Mrs. Curtis was coming to visit us. Sister M. Angeline Jackson, Sister Mary Eleanor Frederick, and many other Sisters had to take the Course. Sister Helen Cecilia Dwyer wouldn't take it. Her hands were perfect. Mrs. Robinson was the regular Music teacher for the Summer. She took all of the Piano Teachers together in Sullivan Hall. Sister M. Angeline and her girlfriend Sister Mary Eleanor played. We were in the audience. It was time for the Class to end. The bell rang before it was time to go. I said to Sister Veronica: "Veronica, I'm leaving." Veronica said: "Okay, I'll go with you." Before we could breathe the second time, we were reported. We met Sister Helen Cecilia who said: "You go to Mother Claudia because you have been reported." I said: "What for?" She said: "For leaving class." Veronica said: "Well, Michaele, I'm not going." So, I walked over to see Mother Claudia. On my way in, Sister Mary Eleanor was on her way out crying. I said: "Mother, did you want me?" She said: "Yes, I'm surprised at you walking out of Class." I said: "The Class was over." She said: "The time was over, but the teacher wasn't finished with you." I said: "Well, she didn't do anything with us. She took two other people." She was lovely with me, but she knew I was right all the way through. She said: "Well, you get Sister Veronica, and you go and apologize to that teacher." We went and apologized. Mrs. Curtis was wonderful with us. She took us to the pianos and heard us play. In fact, her cab was there to take her, but she had the driver wait until she finished working with Sister Veronica and me. Tape II Side 2 SMCM: Sister, how did you choose your name? SMK: They said I looked like the Sister Anne Xavier Keenan who died. I didn't want the name Anne Xavier. Someone said I should ask for Michaele. I guess I shouldn't have done that because her Pastor is Michael. First, I didn't like the name, but I've grown to like it now. Every time I go to the Doctor, they say: "How do you spell it?" I say:" Michael with an eon it at the end." SMCM: Sister, is there anything else you would like to tell us? SMK: No, I think that I have told you enough. SMCM: How do you feel about the changes that have taken place in the Church and in the Community? SMK: It has been difficult, but I don't fight against the changes. I do what I can do. I don't relish the changes, but they are something which you have to go through. SMCM: Sister Michaele, I want to thank you in the name of the Community for giving your time and providing us with so many interesting stories. Our Community is very enthused about the Oral History Program, and are very pleased when the Sisters take part in it. Sr. Marie Arthur Hamilton: I completed the transcription of the Oral History for Sister Michaele Keenan on Wednesday, March twentieth. Two thousand thirteen.:.2013. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister M. Michaele Keenan Subject The topic of the resource Sister M. Michaele Keenan Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister M. Michaele Keenan, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1921 until 1989. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on November 6, 1986. Sister M. Michaele Keenan - born Elizabeth Keenan on June 18, 1902 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in May of 1921. Sister Michaele received a bachelor's degree in music education from Duquesne University in 1944. She taught at St. Luke Elementary School from 1943-1955 and again from 1970-1985, offering private music lessons in the later years. She also taught at SS. Simon and Jude School in Blairsville from 1955-1961, at Resurrection School from 1961-1965, at St. Mary Magdalen School from 1965-1967, and at Holy Innocents School from 1967-1970. She primarily taught music, though she also served as Principal, Vice Principal, and Sister Servant at various points throughout her time of service. Sister Michaele Keenan died on November 7, 1989. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/11/06 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-22 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/e72b0287e40906e9b365d30b27fedb9b.mp3 8439499b2f9a424fe714b5afac6e2456 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/4f7be74bc18a8bc4a619297b1ae51f7d.mp3 e447e5f527a0750aa39a49d874143d7e https://scsharchives.com/files/original/ac728f427d9846fc37063cf2506cfa35.mp3 1b8360c1b6ad88b44bc4610cc21abdb8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Jean Ann Wilburn Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Mary Rebecca Kelsey Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:33 31:34 31:56 20:01 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Mary Rebecca Kelsey Subject The topic of the resource Sister Mary Rebecca Kelsey Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Rebecca Kelsey, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1928 until 2001. The interview was conducted by Sister Jean Ann Wilburn on November 1 and 7, 1987. Sister Mary Rebecca Kelsey - born Mary Dorothy Kelsey on October 4, 1910 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1928. She received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh in 1941 and a master's degree in education from Loyola University of Los Angeles in 1958. Sister Mary Rebecca served as a teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in Pittsburgh from 1930-1935 and at Sacred Heart Elementary School from 1935-1936, going on to teach at Sacred Heart High School from 1936-1940. She then taught at St. Luke High School from 1940-1942, returning to Sacred Heart High School from 1942-1952, 1956-1957, and 1963-1969. In the early fifties Sister Mary Rebecca was missioned out west, teaching at Salpointe High School from 1952-1956 and at Seton Catholic Tri-City High School from 1969-1974. In later years, she served as Seton Hill College Treasurer and as an assistant in the library from 1975-1985. Sister Mary Rebecca Kelsey died on May 14, 2001. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/11/01 1987/11/01 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-53 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/c0839a57be1bda7613853e4ced8d1db2.mp3 5b5036fbd3691b6c2e2d6e4c628cea1f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Paul Gabriel Wilhere Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Teresa Clare Kernan Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:02 Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound OH29-1 This interview is being conducted as part of the oral history program of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister Teresa Clare Kernan. The interview is being conducted by Sister Paul Gabriel Wilhere at Assumption Hall. The date is August 24, 1982. SPGW: This is August 1982. We are at Assumption Hall getting an Oral History on Sister Teresa Clare Kernan. We are involved in getting Oral Histories on a number in the community. So I am pleased to be allowed to interview you because I hope to find out some things that I don' t know. Sister Teresa Clare, where do you come in your own family? STCK: Well, I am the eighth child often. But, the last two died as infants. So I always say I was a baby three times. I think that accounts for some of the things that you'll learn. SPGW: What about the older members of your family? STCK: Well, we had John and Ray who are the oldest of the family. No, Nellie was the oldest. I'm sorry. Nellie was the oldest and then John and Ray and Father Jim, and then Julia and Frank and Mary and I. Of that whole group, Mary and I are the only two now living. SPGW: Mary worked in a... STCK: She worked in a city department from high school. She went to school at Peabody High and had a position there before she graduated and continued to work there for a number of years until it became necessary for somebody to be at home with mother and unpaid who could drive the car and so Mary stayed home for a number of years. She didn't go back to work until she went to Sacred Heart as one of the office secretaries. SPGW: You and Mary have always been very close. I remember reunions at Oakmont where it seemed several generations gathered. Everybody belonging to everybody else. STCK: That's right. It's a strong family feeling from the youngest. I can remember one of our youngest ones one time at one of the family reunions just stood and looked at everybody and then she went to her Dad and she said, "Do they all belong to me?" That's very characteristic. I think the whole family feels that way. We all belong to each other. That' s good. SPGW: You mentioned Father Jim. His last assignment was as Pastor of Saint Luke's which was with our sisters. STCK: That's right. He was there as Pastor until he had to retire at the age of 75 according to the Diocesan regulations although he felt he could have continued for another few years. But he did remain there at Saint Luke's and died in 1981. SPGW: He wrote a family history, I understand, it's available ifwe want to know more about the Kemans. STCK: That's right. And his history is well done. SPGW: I would expect it to be. How did your parents feel about your entering? STCK: Well, my father was dead, but I don't think that would have brought him any pain and my mother was very happy about it. But, I was only 16 when I finished high school and she thought that was too young, so she told me if I waited until I was 18, she would be happier than if I were to go at 16. I was glad I did because in that interim time after high school I had a semester that I stayed home and helped at home because mother wasn't very well and somebody had to be in the house. Then I got into the teacher training school, which I probably would not have done, if I had gone right out of high school, you know. It was in that time that I learned about it and made application and was accepted and I graduated from there at the end of January 1923. I entered on the 2nd of February 1923. So, it was like a continuous education. SPGW: You entered from Saint Kieran Parish. Did you always live there? STCK: Yes. My father built the house that we lived in before he was married. He brought my mother there as a bride. My mother didn't live any place except that until after most of the family was dead and Jack built two small houses, one for him and one for mother. Those two are around Saint Mary's, so we really never left Saint Mary's, which is in the East End of Pittsburgh. The lands join to the same side of the road. SPGW: You said you entered from Saint Kieran's. Were you taught by the Sisters of Charity there? STCK: Oh, yes. The Sisters of Charity had come there early in the history of the community in the Pittsburgh Diocese. I don't remember the exact date, but I know it was a well­ established school when I went to it. Sister Zita was the Principal there when I was there. She was there for a number of years. She was related to Father Doyle who was our Pastor. There always seemed to be somebody of that relationship at Saint Kieran's Convent, and that was good. I think it was a good thing. SPGW: What year did you say you entered? STCK: I entered on February 2, 1923. SPGW: What was happening,just as a matter of interest and history, can you remember any of the things that were happening either in the city or in your neighborhood and in the country at that point? STCK: The First World War had just ended. All the time I was in high school we were, you know, making things for the soldiers. Father Coakley, who had been our Principal, went as a Chaplain and he sent us some forms of what was taking place and what the needs were. So all through high school time we were either making bandages or we were knitting or we were doing something to help in the First World War. So the City was just really recovering from the First World War by 1923. So in the industries, there weren't many men, particularly the steel mills, and then that had quieted down a little bit at that time. There was no depression or anything. The aftermath of the World War I was not the best thing. SPGW: What kind of work did your father do? STCK: My father was a brick layer , but he was a, I think what you would call an industrial brick layer. In other words, he had learned the trade in England, where he was from. He was born there and educated there and learned his trade there. Then when they came to this country and the steel mills were beginning to be, he was hired by Andrew Carnegie, in one of the first steel mills. They were the men who lined the furnaces with fire brick to make the steel, the grade of steel that they wanted. So it was a very professional job. He trained all the other men who worked under him to do that particular kind of thing. (As I remember, when he' d be reading a newspaper or a magazine or a book or anything , around the margins you could always tell about where he stopped because there would be a little snitch in pencil around that). A new kind of ceiling where the brick would merge in a certain way and there would be different kinds of arches and what have you at the part of seaming because the draft of the air to purify the steel, the iron as it was being converted into steel, had to be exact and that was the bricklayer's job. So it was always considered an important job in the steel mill. He and Andy Carnegie were on first term speaking thoughts. That's how close it was to the beginning of the steel mills and making an empire of steel in Pittsburgh. SPGW: Did any of your brothers follow that line of work? STCK: Yes. My oldest brother, Jack (John), and Ray both followed in his footsteps. They were trained under him and became expert bricklayers themselves. During the First World War, Jack went to the Army and was in service overseas in England. Ray took my father' s place in the mill. He was the Superintendent. When Jack came back from the service, Ray was already installed because Ray had married and Jack thought that that should be his place. So, Jack then went into independent work as a bricklayer and he went into construction work himself. He never went back to the steel mill after that. He developed the John J. Kernan Construction Company. SPGW: About the community, who was the Mother Superior when you petitioned to enter? In those days did you have to come up and asked to join the community? STCK: Yes. I came up. I remember I came in the summer. Because Sister Barbara, I was going to be Sister Barbara's postulant. Sister Barbara was from Saint Kieran. Her brothers had also worked in the steel mills with my father. Sister Barbara and Sister Charlotte Judge were both from Saint Kieran. In fact, I saw both of them, but I was Sister Barbara's postulant because she was the older of the two. That was in the summer of '22 when I petitioned, but I didn't enter until '23 because it was the decision of the superiors at that time that I should finish the teacher training program and graduate. SPGW: Who was the Mother Superior? Do you remember? STCK: She died in office. Mother... (Mother Mary Raymond Creed - transcriber's note) SPGW: It was not Josephine? STCK: No, later than that. I should remember because I looked it up. SPGW: What do you remember about your postulancy? Now in 1982, postulancies are very different. I think it would be interesting to know what your's was like. STCK: I enjoyed my postulancy very much. SPGW: Did you change clothes the day you entered? STCK: Yes. In fact, we had a funny experience coming. Father Jim, and Mother, and Mary and I came up together. The only means of transportation was by train. So, we had taken the train that we thought to Greensburg. Here it turned out to be the one that went out on the cut off toward Oakmont and that section. So we had to come back to East Liberty. So by the time we arrived at Seton Hill, it was well after seven o'clock at night. SPGW: Oh, my. STCK: They thought I got along the way and decided not to come or something like that. They often teased me about it as the years went on in the novitiate. SPGW: Did you have your supper? STCK: We called and told them that we had made this mistake and we were delayed. They said, "Now, don't stop and get supper any place. Come on up and we will have something for you." They had the table set up in the students' dining room and we all went in there to eat and the sisters came with us to accompany us. Then they took me upstairs and had me dress as a postulant before Mother and Father and Mary left so they'd see me. So by that time, it was almost time for night prayers and so that's as much as I had on the first night. SPGW: What was the postulant dress? STCK: A plain. It was made at home. Aunt Peg made it. It was a plain black dress. It buttoned up on the shoulder and down the one side. It had a little white sash across the one shoulder. Now the cape, which had also been made at home; it came down to our ankles. We were very comfortable and all looked very nice. They always wore a little white ribbon collar with it. The black dress had a high neck line and then that was just like a little edging on that. And the same way with the cuffs. The cuffs were just an edging on the long sleeves. I remember somebody in the family had done hemstitching on my cuffs. It looked very trim and neat. And the postulancy, you know, only lasted for a few months in those days. I entered in February and I received the habit in May, about three months. It would have been the extension, the ordinary extension. I could because I didn't think it was necessary, but that's the length of time it was for me. During that time, some time in February, ifl remember, it must have been around the 12th or the 131 something about Lincoln's birthday, around that time, a sister became ill who was teaching at Saint Mary's, so they asked ifl could go down and take her place in the boys school. So, I had everything from the first to the fourth grade in the boys school, which I liked very much. SPGW: You always liked boys. STCK: That's right. You know those little tots. We had a lot, I think something like 22 of them in the four grades. I remember them very well. I remember how excited they were when I was going to get the habit. You wouldn't think that would make any difference to them. But they were very excited. So I had one day that I was on retreat and then the next day I had the white cap on. So the next day when I went back to school with my white cap, they met me at the door and accompanied me into the classroom. SPGW: What did they call you before you got the habit? STCK: Sister. Sister Teresa. No, Sister Kernan. They used to call me Sister Kernan. Then, of course, I got Sister Teresa Clare for my name, and they liked that. I'm sure they changed it to suit me. SPGW: Did you ask for your name? STCK: No, but I was the first one to receive the habit following the beatification of the Little Flower. So, I was pretty sure... We were making a novena to her. I just felt that for sure they were going to put Teresa in some form. So I thought that Teresa Clare was a good combination. SPGW: That's right. Was it a one year white cap novitiate? STCK: Yes: SPGW: What did you do that year? What did that entail? STCK: As a white cap, well we did... SPGW: Did you continue teaching the boys? STCK: I finished out the year with them. I got the habit in May and then I finished that term. Then in June, or in August, I didn't come back to Saint Mary's. We were supposed to learn to do all the kinds of household work that was necessary. That meant having charge of the kitchen and the dining room. At that moment, I was assigned to the priests' dining room. So, at least part of that year I was in the priests' dining room. That was an art form itself. You know, at that time when we had a priests' dining room, but we had two priests and we had all the lay faculty. SPGW: Men. STCK: All the men from the lay faculty in the priests' dining room. That was on the ground floor of Saint Joseph Hall which had just been built and opened in the same year as I entered. So it was practically a brand new set up. But that's the way it was. There was a dining room on the west side of the building on the ground floor and a visitors' dining room across the hall from that. And as long as we worked there, I had the responsibility for the guests' dining room and also go out to the kitchen and get all the hot food and bring it in and do all that kind of thing. It was lots of fun. That was a part of the work. Then the other kinds of odd jobs that had to be done. You know. ­ The other novices who hadn't completed their high school were in class most of the time. So, a lot of odd jobs fell to me, I enjoyed that, one of them being the novitiate itself. Since I never liked to go to bed early, I used to do that charge after night prayers were over. SPGW: How soon did you go out on mission? STCK: I went out on mission the following year. I was a white cap for a year and then that summer I got the black cap, one year following the day I got the white cap. Then I was ready to go and the sisters went on mission in August. I went to Sheriden, Holy Innocents, my first assignment off the campus. So that would have been 1924. Is that right? SPGW: That's right. STCK: We were very welcome at Holy Innocents as well as necessary. I had the fourth grade to start with and that was a great treat. I really enjoyed that. Father Shields readers were being introduced about that time into the whole educational process and that was quite an aberration from the old, completely phonetic method of teaching. It was a challenge to me as well as to the students to the way that they were taught. But, I think they learned. SPGW: Yes. I know they did. You did go to Saturday school, though, as I remember. STCK: Yes. SPGW: You and a very tall sister. STCK: Sister Mary Dolores? SPGW: She died. No. Agnes... STCK: Agnes Clare. Yes. That's right. We were both teachers at that time. I did go with sister later. Then I continued to go to Duquesne for Saturday class and I used to meet the sisters from Crafton. They were going to Duquesne. I got on the same train with them on Saturday mornings. In those days, there were Saturday morning trains. And then we' d get off at Fourth Avenue Station and walk up the hill to Duquesne. They would do the reverse about coming back. There was an afternoon train that we could get. It was convenient as far as Sheriden was concerned, and it was also convenient for Crafton. That's what I remember about going to Duquesne. SPGW: This year we were talking about the 100th Anniversary of the Sisters coming to Seton Hill and then talking a great deal about Mother Seton, about Saint Vincent, and that sort of thing. What do you remember of the orientation of the spirit of the community in those days, was it pretty much oriented to Saint Vincent or were Mother Seton and Saint Vincent given equal seniority? STCK: Saint Vincent's Day was the biggest day of the year outside of Christmas, as I recall, and that was always the 19th of July. You prayed a novena in preparation for it and everybody came and it was an exciting day for the whole community. A chance to see the total community. Of course, Mother Seton was always regarded with reverence, but she had not yet been made venerable, or beatified or canonized. That kind of, in other words, I've only known her by her pictures, very simple pictures of her hanging in the novitiate, and I think the community room had one too, picturing her in the black cap and the simple black dress which our postulants very much liked, a cap and a little bit of white trim. But I would say the orientation at that time was toward Saint Vincent because Mother Seton, her cause had not yet come into existence. SPGW: Do you want to stop? STCK: No. SPGW: We will continue. Since you taught novices 50 years ago, and continue to orient them to the community now, what were some of the contacts you've had with novices through the years? STCK: Well, as a Supervisor of Schools, I had had them usually the previous year for orientation to classroom, like Introduction to Teaching or some place like that. Then when I went to their missions, I tried always to go if I knew they were brand new teachers in the school to be there as early as possible so that I could help them get oriented to the classroom. We would have lengthy discussions and lesson plans and all that kind of thing. They always said they were very helpful. Often times during my visit there, I would come in and have me take over and demonstrate a lesson so that they could pick up the method with their own children being there. Whatever way was possibleJ'd help them with their lesson plans and try to get... I'd try to have them to like to teach, like I liked to teach. I thought that was an important contribution to make, if I could help somebody else like to teach. I trained most of my novices. SPGW: You used to say that most of the people you taught have learned to like to teach. You mentioned in the schools what was your educational role, was that in the diocese or in the community? When you were Supervisor of Schools. STCK: Well, as a Supervisor of Schools, I was based in the diocese and in the community because at that time the diocese had a plan that there would be a supervisor in each school conducted by a particular community for every so many sisters. I don't remember at this point the exact number of sisters, but I would say off hand, maybe every 50 sisters. Maybe it was higher than that. It meant any community that had less than 50 sisters teaching in the diocese did not have a member of their own community who belonged to the board. If you did have, in our case we had, when I started out as a Supervisor. Sister Generosa and I were the active supervisors and then you'd have an older sister at Seton Hill who worked, to whom we reported regularly. Her name just went off of my head. SPGW: Sister Norberta? SICK: Norberta. OK. Sister Norberta had been the active supervisor. At that time she was no longer active, as least she didn't attend the meetings and she didn't do a lot of things, but she had a lot of contact with the sisters and always was very helpful with us. Any time we came back to Seton Hill, we would have a visit with her to bring her up to date with what was going on and ask her advice on whatever we were doing. So that kind of continuing contact with both the diocese and the community, I think was very good. SPGW: When you say the diocese, the Pittsburgh Diocese then encompassed what is now... STCK: The Greensburg Diocese SPGW: What about Altoona? STCK: Altoona was also, we say, in the diocese. Remember all three of them were in the Diocese of Pittsburgh at one time. So we always continue to think of it that way. Then Altoona became a separate diocese. SPGW: You supervised Altoona as well. When the schools opened out West, did they have their own supervisors? STCK: No. They never had a person who resided there who·was the supervisor and so we made a trip at least once a year to the West and remained long enough that we would visit all of the schools and be whatever help we could be to these young... In those days, very young sisters, who had not yet been trained were rarely sent to the West. One advantage that they had was that they were all experienced teachers when they went. SPGW: You mentioned working with Sister Generosa. Considering that it might be that her name may come up as we talk about the oral history. Sister Generosa... STCK: Cuniff was her family name. SPGW: And she transferred to the Dominicans, I understand, in Austin, Texas. Somewhere in the 1940's, probably 1946 or 1947. STCK: She had been the Principal and Sister Servant at Crafton, Saint Philip's. At the end of that term, she was released to go to Texas. I remember when she came to Seton Hill and said good-bye to the community. SPGW: Am I correct in thinking that you and Sister Generosa and Sister Marie Monica were probably involved in some of the very early departmental work back in 1928? STCK: That's right. It was really just being introduced into the diocesan program and we experimented with it in our own situations. And from that learned that there were things that would have to be rectified or would have to be made balance so that you didn't have too much emphasis on one thing and not enough on the other. 9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Teresa Clare Kernan Subject The topic of the resource Sister Teresa Clare Kernan Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Teresa Clare Kernan, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1923 until 1989. The interview was conducted by Sister Paul Gabriel Wilhere on August 24, 1982. Sister Teresa Clare Kernan - born Margaret Anne Kernan on October 5, 1903 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in February of 1923. Sister Teresa Clare received a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1930. She continued her studies there and went on to receive a master's degree in English education in 1937 and a doctorate in the same subject in 1949. Sister Teresa Clare served as a supervisor of schools and was based at St. Anselm Elementary School in this capacity from 1945-1952. She then taught English at Sacred Heart Elementary School from 1952-1957, returning as Sister Servant and Principal from 1963-1968. Sister Teresa Clare also served as a Councilor and Director of Education from 1957-1963, later serving as Seton Hill College's archivist from 1968-1981. Sister Teresa Clare Kernan died on March 29, 1989. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1982/08/24 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-29 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/4f6e96ef20a6e459e099f0ed8bcfcacf.mp3 4aa7d883657e315892a18e1b68ed31c9 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/a7fb8efa97391d887c7e17da125bdac3.mp3 06587ec3b4c09e9867bb7736f30a01b2 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/1e1be1393a97552742a68c8430ab5218.mp3 04503eb2e3cfc7de0a75f9156e239b81 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/a4f9d81b1910462131d6db562fdf5333.mp3 95a46b118b07f66fcad05f31a892a5b9 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/a0b7318c881b79822313b602bb9b1616.mp3 f32d60cd1418f62883d205cf43b9ea1e https://scsharchives.com/files/original/f59e37d881b500177c6551941b9e82e9.mp3 b9cc60b027bf1445ce3376eb29da4594 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/d7e008b30b4455b3b6837488caa571df.mp3 0fdeabd968c1aa85469be4f1c1e3e814 https://scsharchives.com/files/original/36d6d84d2ccf03f24c28468dd5162b1c.mp3 d7a73743fb296e555de907f21fc1a542 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister Mary Noreen Lacey Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:28 31:31 31:34 31:33 31:32 31:32 31:32 31:33 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister Mary Noreen Lacey Subject The topic of the resource Sister Mary Noreen Lacey Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister Mary Noreen Lacey, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1944 until 2009. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on September 23 and 24, 1986. Sister Mary Noreen Lacey - born Mildred Patricia Lacey on February 7, 1927 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1944. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Seton Hill College in 1957. She was one of the first four Sisters of Charity to be missioned to Korea in 1960 and taught at St. Joseph School in Kang Tjin from 1961-2002. She died in Korea on November 12, 2009 and is buried there. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/09/23 1986/09/24 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-96 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister M. Caroline Lager Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:02 Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz 96kHz Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister M. Caroline Lager Subject The topic of the resource Sister M. Caroline Lager Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister M. Caroline Lager, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1910 until 1990. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on June 9, 1986. Sister Caroline Lager - born Emily Catherine Elisabeth Lager on March 28, 1887 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in December of 1910. She served as an elementary school teacher in Pittsburgh area Catholic schools. Locations she taught at include Sacred Heart Elementary School in Pittsburgh from 1943-1957, St. Theresa School in Munhall from 1957-1961, St. Mary Magdalen School in Homestead from 1961-1962, St. Luke Elementary School in Carnegie from 1962-1967, and St. Philip School in Crafton from 1967-1972. The in-house dental center at Assumption Hall in Greensburg was named after her. Sister Caroline died on January 18, 1990. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1986/06/09 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-3 Sacred Heart Elementary School St. Luke Elementary School St. Mary Magdalen School St. Philip School St. Theresa School Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Language A language of the resource English Subject The topic of the resource Oral histories of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights to this recording belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH Description An account of the resource To listen to an oral history, click on the record or search by the sister's name. Look under "Other Media" and click on the desired mp3 file to open the oral history. Multiple files indicate a continuation of the oral history. Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Sister Marie Corona Miller Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Sister M. Camilla Lasher Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Audio cassette tape Bit Rate/Frequency Rate at which bits are transferred (i.e. 96 kbit/s would be FM quality audio) 96kHz Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 31:23 19:51 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral History: Sister M. Camilla Lasher Subject The topic of the resource Sister M. Camilla Lasher Description An account of the resource An oral history of Sister M. Camilla Lasher, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1918 until 1988. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on April 13, 1987. Sister Camilla Lasher - born Cecilia Dorothy Lasher on February 5, 1900 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in December of 1918. She taught at a number of Pittsburgh and Greensburg area schools, including St. Benedict School - later known as Cathedral School - from 1944-1945, 1948-1953, and 1957-1967. She also taught at St. Paul School and St. Bruno School in the mid-fifties and at Cathedral School in Altoona from 1967-1971. From 1971-1977, she volunteered at the Seton Hill College bookstore. Sister Camilla died on July 19, 1988. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1987/04/13 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio cassette tape Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral history Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context OH-14 Cathedral School Sacred Heart Elementary School Seton Hill College St. Anselm Elementary School St. Benedict School St. Bruno School St. Paul School