Stories From Manhatanville College in New York
Controversy at Manhatanville
In the spring of 1938, Mother Dammann (president of Manhattanville College) admitted it’s first Black student, sparking a series of anonymous letters...
The Conflict:
Letters of Opposition
The Response:
Principles vs Prejudice
Mother Grace Dammann: "Champion of Racial Equality"
In the 1930s, Mother Grace brought Manhattanville College into the wider Catholic conversation on racial justice. She championed the Manhattanville Resolution, admitted the school’s first Black student, and defended these decisions with a bold articulation of Catholic ideals. Her story illuminates the convictions—and the costs—of a woman religious challenging entrenched racism in American Catholic education.