Category Archives: Elizabeth Ann Seton

July 14, 2014 · 2:08 pm

Digital Exhibit: American Rule of 1812

In recent weeks we’ve shared with you our efforts, working with conservator Mary Wootton, to preserve one of the most historically valuable items in our collection: The Regulations for the Society of Sisters of Charity in the United States of America, commonly known as the American Rule of 1812.
See our June 19 blog post for more information on the Rule and the process of restoring it.

When the newly-restored Rule was returned in mid-June, we put it on display so that Sisters, Associates, and visitors could see it up close. As of today, July 14, it has been returned to our Repository. Planning has already begun for events surrounding the 40th anniversary of Elizabeth Seton’s canonization in 2015, and there will be additional opportunities to view the Rule next year.

In an effort to share the Rule as widely as possible, we have put together the digital exhbit seen here, consisting of photographs of selected pages from the Rule. All images are used with permission of the Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives. The images seen here show seven of the book’s approximately 60 leaves.

American Rule (1): Opening page

American Rule (1): Opening page

American Rule

American Rule (2)

American Rule (3)

American Rule (3)

American Rule (4)

American Rule (4)

American Rule (5)

American Rule (5)

Detail from image #5 showing crossed out text and annotations

Detail from image #5 showing crossed out text and annotations

American Rule (6)

American Rule (6)

American Rule (7)

American Rule (7)

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Filed under Digitized Collections, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Exhibits, Sisters of Charity Federation, Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's

June 19, 2014 · 11:44 am

New Exhibit: Conservation of the American Rule of 1812

The newly-restored 1812 American Rule (front, center), now on display in the Provincial Archives. In the background are images of three of the restored pages

The newly-restored 1812 American Rule (front, center), now on display in the Provincial Archives. In the background are images of three of the restored pages


(Images used with permission of Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives)

Our collections are unique and irreplaceable, and preservation measures are an ongoing activity for the Provincial Archives. The Provincial Archives, working with conservator Mary Wootton, has just completed conservation treatments for one of the most historically valuable items in our collection: The Regulations for the Society of Sisters of Charity in the United States of America, commonly known as the American Rule of 1812.

Conserving the American Rule was a labor-intensive process, as each of the book’s 60 leaves received attention. Mary’s treatment plan involved several steps. After removing the binding, she washed all the pages in special solution. She then removed strips of tape that had been used to repair the volume at the beginning of the twentieth century. She then repaired the newly-cleaned leaves and re-bound the book. According to Mary, the American Rule is now in a condition very close to its original condition at the time it was written in 1812.

This is one of the most important pieces in our collection because it is the common link for all members of the Sisters of Charity Federation. It is the first American translation of the Vincentian Rule. For this reason, too, it is important for the Sisters of Charity who descend from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Preserving the legacy of Mother Seton, seen in documents such as the American Rule, is an important part of our stewardship responsibilities. Thanks to Mary’s efforts, the American Rule will be available for many years into the future.

The restored American Rule is now on display in Gallery 2. It is open to the public on Wednesday afternoons; open to Sisters and Associates on the Emmitsburg Campus during our normal hours (8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday).

Opening page of the restored American Rule

Opening page of the restored American Rule


Another page from the restored American Rule

Another page from the restored American Rule

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Filed under Elizabeth Ann Seton, Exhibits, Preservation, Sisters of Charity Federation, Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's

May 1, 2014 · 6:00 am

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

White House

White House (used with permission of Daughers of Charity Provincial Archives)


May 1 is the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had a great devotion to St. Joseph, and this devotion is reflected in the name of the valley in which she settled and the dwellings in which she lived. In a letter to Antonio Filicchi, Mother Seton wrote:

” … You direct your letter to Baltimore, but we are fifty miles from it in the midst of woods and mountains … No wars or rumors of war here, but fields ripe with harvest; the mountain church St.Mary’s, the village church St. Joseph’s, and our spacious log-house, containing a private chapel (our Adored always there), is all our riches … ”
(Elizabeth Seton to Antonio Filicchi, June 24, 1811. Elizabeth Bayley Seton: Collected Writings, ed. Regina Bechtle, S.C. and Judith Metz, S.C. vol. 2, p.189, Letter #6.79)

The “spacious log house” refers to the structure known today as the White House, which Mother Seton named St. Joseph’s House. The Filicchi family helped finance its construction. Mother Seton and her community moved into the house on February 20, 1810, even though it was only partially completed. ON March 19, 1810, the first Mass was celebrated in the new chapel there. This building came to be called the White House after it was later faced with clapboard and painted white.

The White House was originally located east of the chapel which is now located at the United States National Fire Academy and Emergency Management Institute. The house was enlarged about 1826 and again about 1838. After the construction of other buildings, the decision was made to relocate it. In 1845 it was dismantled, board by board, and reassembled by John J. Shorb for $500. Mother Xavier Clark supervised the project and restored the house to the way it looked in Mother Seton’s lifetime. It was moved again in 1917 under the supervision of John T. Bramble of Baltimore because floor boards were rotting from being directly on the ground. A cellar was dug (as in Mother Seton’s time), and the house was again dismantled, reconstructed, and restored on a site about 50 ft. northwest where it now rests (Seton Collected Writings, v.2, p.92, footnote 4)

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Filed under Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, Feast Days, Sisters of Charity Federation, Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's