Sister Nancy Kane, rscj (1929-2010)

Sister Nancy Kane was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 6, 1929 and entered the Society of the Sacred Heart on September 8, 1948.

A long career in higher education:

In her senior year of high school, Sr. Kane announced to Mother Mabel Dorsey her intention to become a Sacred Heart Nun. When Mother Dorsey asked when, she replied, “After a year of college.” After winning an academic scholarship, she enrolled in Barat College in Lake Forest, IL, and later completed her B.A. in history at Duchesne College in Omaha. She received an M.A. in history f rom Lone Mountain College in San Francisco and a Ph.D. in History from Stanford.

Sr. Kane traveled extensively in Europe and Asia where she enjoyed visiting the places she taught in her history courses at various institutions. She began her career teaching elementary and secondary students at Duchesne Academy, served as Associate Professor of History and Dean of Students at Duchesne College, Omaha, and also served there as history professor and senior class counselor. She then returned to Barat College where she served as Associate Professor of History, Graduate Studies Advisor, and Director of Foreign Study. She later served as Academic Dean at St. Francis Seminary, San Diego, as Vicar for Women Religious, and as Vocation Director of the Diocese of San Diego.

In a letter of recommendation from Academic Vice President of Creighton University in Omaha, Sr. Muriel Cameron wrote,

“…besides mentioning all her outstanding credentials, I must speak about Nancy in terms of my personal contacts with her. She is bright, lively, attractive and warm, so that her presence brings a real graciousness and light to those with whom she is in contact. She has always been noted for her abilities to relate to students, and is much loved by her fellow religious.”

The Road to Selma

While Vice President at Barat College, Sr. Kane, accompanied by Marguerite Green, Director of the Senior class, made the choice to travel to Selma to participate in the demonstration. They were accompanied by 24 students and the chairman of Barat’s Art Department, Albert Pounian.

 

Source: Archives of the Society of the Sacred Heart

This excerpt from the House Journal of the Society of the Sacred Heart notes Sr. Kane and Sr. Green’s participation in the march:

“March 29-31

Important: Unintentioned mission above: On March 25 Mother Kane and Green flew to Montgomery, Alabama, and participated in the public civil rights demonstation. Over 27 college students and Mr. Pounian, art instructor at Barat also went to Alabama.”

Source: Archives of the Society of the Sacred Heart

According to a statement on RSCJ Social Activism in the 1960s, Sr. Kane remembered that all the black churches were open that day to accommodate the marchers, and she commented on the cheering they received as they progressed through the black neighborhoods. She recalled “the sense of euphoria like we were coming into the Kingdom” as the marchers progressed towards the capitol, and the fact that, when one small black girl saw her in the habit, she exclaimed, “That’s my church.” She also remembered less pleasant moments, recalling that “As we got close [to the capitol], the atmosphere changed and we were really sort of scared…I never felt such hatred.” When the marchers arrived at the capitol steps, they listed to the speeches delivered by Martin Luther King Jr., Witney Young, and several other members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

When Martha Curry interviewed Sr. Kane near the end of her life for a history of Barat College,

“Her memory came alive, especially when I asked her about the trip which she, Margaret Green and others from Barat took to Montgomery, Alabama, to be part of Martin Luther’s march from Selma to Montgomery. She recalled several vivid details, including the fact that, since their flight back to Chicago didn’t leave until the next morning, they slept that night on the benches of St. Jude Church, one of the black churches in Montgomery.”

Social Activism after Selma

Sr. Kane continued her engagement with social activism alongside Margaret Mary Burke, Flavia Augustine, and Anna Mae Smith at Barat College by establishing a program for single mothers to continue their education, which included free childcare. In addition, she led Barat College students in providing free tutoring for the mothers and their children.

Sources Consulted