Archives
A History of Serving
The Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCLs) is the official repository of the records of the Community. It has a duty to preserve, protect, and make available its holdings for use within the Community as well as externally.
The archives provide a historical record of the lives and work of the Sisters and serves as the institutional memory. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Archives is a private archive and as such access to the records is controlled. Certain records are restricted based on their content, status, and/or age, or to protect information per canon law or state and federal mandates.
The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Archives contains records from:
- Healthcare work – Including hospitals, clinics, the SCL Health System, and more, owned and/or operated by the Community.
- Social work – Including orphanages, foster programs, refugee resettlement programs, work with the homeless, work with low-income housing programs, and more.
- Education – Including elementary, middle, and high schools operated by the Community, Saint Mary College, and more.
These records also cover relationships in the various states where the Sisters have served over the years—Montana, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming; as well as foreign countries—Guatemala, Peru, and Bolivia.
The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Archives strives to respond to distance requests to the best of our staff’s ability. For those wishing to research archival materials in person, we require an appointment in advance.
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Archives Collection Scope
The Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth collect material pertaining to the lives and works of the Community. The Archives’ holdings include the personnel files of the individual Sisters, missions in the field of education, spirituality, healthcare, and social services. The Sisters have served in Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South America among other locations.
Other Websites of Interest
List of Holdings
The Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth are the official repository of the Community’s records and provides a historical record of the lives and works of the Sisters. The Archives’ holdings comprise eight major areas:
Administrative Records
Records of the leadership of the Community—consisting of paper and electronic holdings.
Sisters' Records
Materials relating to the lives of the Sisters including individual Sisters’ files and records regarding general life in the Community—consisting of paper and electronic holdings.
Spiritual Life
Recordings of the Sisters’ religious activities—consisting of paper and electronic holdings.
Missions & Ministries
Records of the various missions and ministries which have been staffed and/or materially supported by the Community—consisting of paper and electronic holdings.
Artifacts
Two and three-dimensional objects which reflect various aspects of the Sisters’ lives, works, history, and spirituality.
Artwork
Various two and three-dimensional artworks created by the Sisters, gifted to them, or purchased, reflecting the work, lives, and spirituality of the Community.
Audio-Visual Material
Videos in various formats reflecting the lives, works, spirituality, and activities of the Sisters—including but not limited to: Masses, oral histories, and anniversary celebrations. Audio materials in various formats also reflecting the lives, works, spirituality, and activities of the Sisters—including but not limited to: oral histories, audio correspondence, spiritual conferences, and music performances.
Photographs
Photos spanning nearly 160 years showing the lives and works of the Sisters, the missions and ministries, leadership, and spirituality of the Community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Archives open to researchers?
Yes, some of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth collections are open to researchers. Some collections, however, are private.
How do I do research at the Archives?
Contact the Head Archivist first to arrange the visit. Tonya Crawford, Head Archivist, 913-758-6588, tcrawford@scls.org
I had a relative at a Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Orphanage; do you have records on them?
While the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Archives contains information regarding the history, general operation, and names of the Sisters who served for the orphanages they had charge of, all records pertaining to the individual orphans that were sent to the dioceses and archdioceses where the orphanages were located when those institutions closed.
How do I contact a Sister?
You can go to the Contact page on the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth website to put in a request to contact a particular Sister.
Can I request information on a Sister?
If the Sister in question is deceased, her files are considered open—although there may be some material within the file that may be closed at the request of said Sister. If the Sister is living, we will pass along your contact information and that Sister can reply for herself if she so chooses.
Charity Speaks Project
The Sisters of Charity Federation of North America is a voluntary membership association of 14 congregations of women religious that numbered 2,180 Sisters. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity, the Sisters of Charity Federation respond to the cries of people living in poverty and on the margins. The Federation’s mission in the Church continues the original values of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Spearheaded by the Sisters of Charity Federation archivists, this website is the culmination of a collaborative, international, and intercongregational project to promote the legacy of Catholic Sisters in the Vincentian-Setonian tradition in North America through the establishment of a public, digital collections database.
By sharing the Sisters’ stories through archival audio, text, images, and much more, each of the Federation communities will have an opportunity to highlight its respective history while also uniting the charism of charity into a single voice. Historians, the general public, and members of women religious communities will all benefit from this open source of story and history.
Wood, S. Susan, Oral History, 6/30/2017
Susan begins with what it was like coming to the Community just post-Vatican II. She discusses the changes of Vatican II from a personal as well as a theologian’s point of view. She talks about beginning her missions in the Community as a teacher…
Flynn, S. Kevin Marie, Oral History, 6/27/2017
Sister begins by describing her childhood in Ireland and the importance of faith in her family’s daily life. She talks about learning of the SCLs through an older brother, a priest already working in the States. She speaks of the novitiate fondly…
Colibraro, S. Mary Carlo, Oral History, 6/27/2017
Sister Mary Carlo speaks quite a bit about her family history as both parents were immigrants from Italy. She also talks about how she encountered the SCLs and joined the Community. She discusses her 27 years teaching but how it was the creation of…
Bangert, S. Therese, Oral History, 6/29/2017
Sister opens her interview by speaking about her family and upbringing in Nebraska. She mentions that the teachers at her local school were SCLs, creating an early introduction to the community. Initially resistant to the idea of religious life, she…
Shonka, S. Marie Madeline, Oral History, 6/29/2017
She begins with a description of her childhood in Nebraska. She belonged to one of very few Catholic families in a small town. Because her family did not have a lot of money, when it came time to get an education, she took advantage of the Cadet…
Hogan, S. Margaret, Oral History, 6/26/2017
She tells stories about growing up in Butte, Montana. She discusses her career in teaching in depth as well as her later parish work. She also speaks about her impressions of the changes from Vatican II…
Sternitzke, S. Mary Denise, Oral History, 6/28/2017
She speaks warmly of her family. Her father was overjoyed when she joined the Community. Her mother had reservations, but grew to be very proud of her daughter’s call to religious life. Initially, Sister taught in elementary schools and struggled…
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