| Linking the past, to the present, for the future

August 4, 2026 · 9:25 am

Mother Euphemia Blenkinsop, The Daughters of Charity’s Beloved Mother

This is a guest post by Addison Pickett, our intern for the summer and a member of the Mount St. Mary’s University Class of 2028!

Mother Euphemia Blenkinsop was born Catherine Blenkinsop in Dublin, Ireland, c. 1815-1816. In her youth, she emigrated to the United States, where she joined the postulancy at St. Joseph’s, Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1831. Taking her habit, she took the name Euphemia as well, no doubt inspired by the early Christian martyr St. Euphemia, and it was said that the name fit her so well because of its meaning: harmonious and agreeable. In 1866, she succeeded Mother Ann Simeon as Visitatrix to the Daughters of Charity and served as Visitatrix until her death in 1887. She continues to live on as a model of innocent piety.

Mother Euphemia shows up within the pages of Sr. Mary Raphael Smith’s journal, ‘Souvenir of Old Times,’ through poems, passages, and prose dedicated to her. This journal includes many writings from the Sisters and priests of St. Joseph’s Academy from about 1833 to 1889, as well as graduation ceremony programs, obituaries, and newspaper clippings about St. Joseph’s. On St. Euphemia’s feast day, September 16^th, many writings can be found about Mother Euphemia, revealing the deep admiration that the Sisters had for their Visitatrix.

From Souvenir of Old Times, page 412: “The Feast of Our Mother (Euphemia)”

On St. Euphemia’s Feast Day in 1866, Mother Euphemia Blenkinsop’s first year as Visitatrix, the Sisters detail their hopes for a good relationship with their new Mother. This note also details a gift that the Sisters gave to Mother Euphemia, most likely as a welcoming gift: “Accept our simple tribute of affection, a moss basket gemmed with Autumn’s bright flowers, fit emblems of our heart-felt wishes, with the rich fruits of the plentiful Gathering Season, and auspicious presage of the abundant blessings with which we hope Heaven may crown your efforts in your new field of labor.”

This slice of life from September 1868 shows the kindness of the Daughters of Charity towards their new Visitatrix and marks the beginning of her noteworthy time as their leader.

From Souvenir of Old Times, page 313: “Life of St. Euphemia (The Record)”

A reference to St. Euphemia appears on pages 313-315, telling the story of St. Euphemia’s life in the form of a poem. It is not dated, nor is there an author credited. However, in the pages following, a paper pamphlet tucked inside tells the same poem written in print and dates to September 16th, 1868.

Certain details in this poem are undeniably different from the accounts we have of St. Euphemia today, but it captures the essence of the early Christian Martyr nonetheless. It tells that St. Euphemia was born in Greece, “the land of vines and flowers.” She was a holy woman consecrated to Jesus, and when a pagan judge tried to tempt and convert her, she rejected all of his offers. For her faithfulness to God, she was attacked by an angry mob and burned alive, but both attempts on her life left her completely unharmed. Finally, the pagan judge was able to kill her with a sword: “[The judge] Commands the sword her life, to end, / This act his word redeeming.” While these entries don’t mention Mother Euphemia Blenkinsop by name, it can be assumed that they were written with her in mind, recording the story of her namesake.

From Souvenir of Old Times, page 425: “To Our Beloved Mother Euphemia. On The Feast of Her Holy Patron.”

Another entry reveals the deep love that the Sisters had for Mother Euphemia even in her first year as Visitatrix. Mixing prose and devotion to the Virgin Mary with love for their Visitatrix, this piece calls upon Our Mother Mary to guide Mother Euphemia in leadership. The Community showed its loyalty and trust from the start saying: “We will recognize our dear Lady in you, dearest Mother, and you will cherish us as your children.” Despite her assumption of the role being very recent, the Sisters had a deep trust she would fulfill her role well.

The Common Autograph Poems of St. Joseph’s Academy Students

This is a guest post by Addison Pickett, our intern for the summer and a member of the Mount St. Mary’s University Class of 2028!

Keeping autograph books was a common practice for students in the 19th century to remember their classmates and friends from their school years. Autograph books were eventually replaced by the autograph pages in yearbooks and are now a relic of their time.

While the go-to for 21st century students are writing things like ‘HAGS,’ ‘Stay Cool!,’ or their phone numbers, students of the 19th century often recited small poems with themes of friendship and remembrance alongside their signatures. The autograph books of Emma Moore and Mame from St. Joseph’s Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland are no exception. These autograph books date from 1885 and 1886, respectively, and hold signatures from as late as 1892. These books shed light on the thoughts and feelings of high school girls in the 1880s.

Portion of Emma Moore's scrapbook, page 25 — From Emma Moore Scrapbook, page 25: “When rocks and hills divide us, / And you no more I see, / Remember it was Tiphine, / Who wrote these lines to thee. Yours Sincerely, Tiphine Burnbach”

Portion of Emma Moore's Scrapbook, page 55 — From Emma Moore Scrapbook, page 55: “When mountains and hills divide us, / And you no more I see, / Remember it was Ella, / That traced these lines for thee. Your fond friend, Ellen [Ella] Melia”

This poem was a very common recitation in autograph books of the 19th century, and even provides a space to write one’s name within the poem. There are many different variations of the poem, and these two entries showcase that. While Tiphine writes “rocks and hills,” Ella writes “mountains and hills,” perhaps feeling it was more apt for their home on St. Joseph’s Vale. At the end of the poem, as well, Tiphine writes “who wrote these lines to thee,” whereas Ella says “who traced these lines for thee.”

From the Autograph Book of Mame, page 15: “Drop one pearl in memory’s casket for your loving friend M. A. May”

From the Emma Moore Scrapbook, page 42: “In memory’s casket drop one pearl for your schoolmate and friend Annie Farrell”

Another common “Forget-Me-Not” poem from the 19th century, this poem uses the imagery of dropping pearls into a casket as symbolism for remembering old friends. A variation of these lines are even featured in the 1881 book “New Choice Selections for Autograph Books: Comprising Original and Selected Friendly, Affectionate, Humorous and Dedicatory Verses, Suitable for inscription in Autograph Albums, on all occasions.”

From the Autograph Book of Mame, page 51: “Memory consecrates these lines, / Friendship holds them dear, / May they often call to mind / The friend that placed them here. Sincerely your friend Louisa McSherry”

Portion of Emma Moore's scrapbook, page 61 — From the Emma Moore Scrapbook, page 61: “Memory consecrates these lines, / Friendship holds them dear, / May they often call to mind / The friend that placed them here. Marie Duperier”

While this poem holds no variation between Louisa and Marie’s entries, there is no record of the verse online. Perhaps lack of variation and availability online shows that this was a more unique or contained “Forget-Me-Not” poem. It is a simple poem that simply calls for remembrance of friendship.

From the Autograph Book of Mame, page 17: “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, / Old time is still a-flying, / And that same flower that blooms today, / Tomorrow may be dying.”

From the Emma Moore Scrapbook, page 6: “Gather your rosebuds while you may, / Old time is still a-flying, / And the same flower that smiles today, / Tomorrow may be dying.”

This poem is titled ‘To The Virgins, Make Much of Time,’ and was written by Robert Herrick in 1648. Departing from themes of remembrance and friendship, Herrick’s poem is often described as a “Carpe Diem” poem about making the most of your life. Besides “Forget-Me-Not” poems, themes of living well were also very common in these two autograph books. Interestingly, Julia O’Keefe errs from the original poem when she writes “that same flower that blooms,” instead of “that same flower that smiles.” Julia likely misremembered the line or learned the poem from someone who misremembered.

These poems display the traditions and culture of 19th century schoolgirls, revealing their interests and desires as well as love for their friends. The 19th century can seem so foreign to the modern age, but small traditions like these autograph books show that humans are always united by their love and care for one another.

References:

https://queensu.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/c710c6f7-b9d6-4d6d-9fd2-751b5f8a645a/content

https://ameshistory.org/content/autograph-book-verses

Studying the 200th for the 250th

Today, July 4, 2026, celebrates the 250^th anniversary of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. A big round-number anniversary that affords a time to re-examine our history and reflect a little more on the meaning, symbols, and values of our past national celebrations and histories.

The 250^th commemoration encouraged us in the Archives to look back fifty years to our bicentennial celebration, which led to us finding this old calendar in the collections! The months spanned from September 1975 (the time of Mother Seton’s canonization) through August 1976 and was published by the USCC – the former name of the United States Bishops’ Conference – and National Catholic Educational Association. We encourage you to zoom in to see some of the celebrations and milestones that it lists, but we in the Archives wanted to point out a few things of note ourselves!

"A Declaration of Interdependence" Calendar from 1975-1976, published by the United States Catholic Conference and National Catholic Educators Association

There is a pride in highlighting our faithful citizens, Catholic Americans and some Protestants as well. In January, the birthdays of three distinguished citizens were honored: Thomas Merton, American monk and theologian; John Carroll, the first American Catholic bishop who served in Baltimore; and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born in 1929 and whose dream for the country was tragically cut short in April of 1968. A continuing admiration for the Kennedy family amongst American Catholics appears in the month of July, with matriarch Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy ‘s birthday on the 22^nd.

The calendar gives nods to the two Catholics to sign the U.S. Constitution, Daniel Carroll of Maryland and Thomas Fitzsimons of Philadelphia. However, it does fails to include Marylander Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the sole Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence.

In February’s second week, we find Black History Week, which was established by historian Carter G. Woodson in February of 1926 to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). In 1976, President Gerald Ford expanded the recognition to encompass the entire month of February. More recently, in June of 2021, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth (19^th) a National Independence Day Act a federal holiday.

Reflecting the ideals of the 1970s, we see numerous saints’ days marked for culturally diverse ethnic groups: St. Teresa of Avila for Spanish Americans in October, St. Martin de Porres for Black Americans and St. Josaphat of Polotsk for Ukrainian Americans in November, certainly St. Patrick for the Irish Americans in March, and Our Lady of Guadalupe for Mexican Americans and St. Francis Xavier for Asian Americans (although the term used on the calendar is… out of date). We hope that a Semiquincentennial edition of this calendar might build on 50 more years of knowledge and experience to expand these even further, showing that full scope of the Calendar of Saints is meant to serve every single person in a universal Church.

Independence Day blessings to you all!

Mother Euphemia Blenkinsop, The Daughters of Charity’s Beloved Mother

The Common Autograph Poems of St. Joseph’s Academy Students

Studying the 200th for the 250th

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Mother Euphemia Blenkinsop, The Daughters of Charity’s Beloved Mother

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The Common Autograph Poems of St. Joseph’s Academy Students

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Studying the 200th for the 250th

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