Category Archives: Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s

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 (2)

American Rule (3)

American Rule (4)

American Rule (5)

Detail from image #5 showing crossed out text and annotations

American Rule (6)

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

July 14, 2014 · 11:45 am

Shared legacy of service in New York

On this day in 1817, Bishop John Connolly wrote to Mother Seton, asking for Sisters to staff a Catholic orphan asylum in her native city, New York.

On August 1, 1817, Mother Seton wrote to Rev. Simon Gabriel Bruté, S.S.

… the poor Lipp tells me Sister Rose [White] is much better-I write her earnestly about New York – the desire of my heart and Soul for her going to New York has been long pressing for so much must depend as says the good gentlemen who write about it on who is sent to my “native city'” they say, not knowing that I am a citizen of the world-the Bishop [John Connolly] also writes about it asking 3 Sisters for such an orphan asylum as in Philadelphia to begin on a small plan-excellent – the little mustard seed — oh if my Rose can go I shall be proud, she will keep so well the dignity of rules and pure intentions …

(Elizabeth Bayley Seton: Collected Writings, ed. Regina Bechtle, S.C. and Judith Metz, S.C. Volume 2, p.494)

A portion of Mother Seton’s original letter from August 1, 1817 is reproduced below. A reproduction of this letter is currently on display in Mother Seton’s White House, located on the Emmitsburg Campus.

Portion of Elizabeth Ann Seton letter to Simon Bruté, August 1, 1817 (used with permission of Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives)

The first Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s arrived in New York in August 1817. Mother Rose White’s journal records:

In August, 1817 the Sisters were called to New York. Three were sent to begin an asylum, the house purchased by the Managers who formed a society for the relief of orphans-, was an old frame house in Prince Street, the front door was two steps below the street. The beginning very poor, yet the people very kind. We began with one orphan & had many difficulties to meet with; the greatest was that we were obliged to admit boys & girls, the same poverty existing, & the same promises made by the Asylum Managers that as soon, as means could be secured there should be a separation. This, we regret, is not yet effected, though they have a splendid Asylum accommodating two hundred orphans.
(Journal of Mother Rose White, used with permission of Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives)

The Sisters of Charity and the Daughters of Charity have shared a legacy of service in New York that stretches nearly 200 years.

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

(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).