student exhibits
St. Louis Archive Stories
In the Fall 2024 semester, Saint Louis University freshmen in the seminar “Frontiers of Global Catholicism in St. Louis” designed an original research project that explored an aspect of St. Louis’ rich global Catholic history that resonated with them personally. Students conducted archival research at SCAC Archives and created digital exhibits showcasing their findings using the ArcGIS StoryMaps platform.
Pioneers in Deaf Education: Exploring the trail-blazing work of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in disability education in St. Louis
How did six French sisters come to establish a nationally recognized school for the deaf in Saint Louis, Missouri? From their humble beginnings in le Puy, France, the sisters of Saint Joseph are now established all around the globe. A central part of their calling to the US and mission throughout the years has been the Saint Joseph Institute for the Deaf (SJID) which has continuously provided a holistic education to deaf students since its founding in 1837. Today, the organization remains true to its Catholic heritage and values while adopting innovative teaching methods. This exhibit draws upon the CSJ archives and written histories to explore the heritage of this institution.
St. Mary’s Infirmary: Catholic Attempts At Racial Justice
St. Mary’s Infirmary was a Catholic hospital in St. Louis that was created in the 1930s with the intention of serving the African-American community, who were largely unable to receive care in white hospitals. The hospital’s history is riddled with a legacy of racial injustice and questionable motivations, yet it also displays attempts towards progress and reform.
Expressions of Faith: Women’s Art in St. Louis
This presentation explores women’s religious art in St. Louis. I will discuss the historical context of how women’s artistic contributions have evolved over time. I examined three archives: the Visitation Academy Archive, the St. Louis University Archive, and the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica Archive. The goal is to understand what women’s religious art reveals about their relationship with the divine.
History of the Catholic Poles in St. Louis: The rise and fall of Polish neighborhoods in St. Louis, from 1834 to the 2000s
The November uprising in Russian occupied Poland in 1830 led to large scale deportation. Many of those deported came to America and were the first large groups of Poles to settle in New York City, Chicago, and St. Louis. Today, there are 8.6 million Americans that identify as having Polish heritage yet only 479 thousand of them speak Polish. As seen with German and Italian immigrants, this assimilation into American culture is both normal and expected. In St. Louis, Polish schools, groups, and churches still exist, but unfortunately nowhere near the amount of St. Louis historically or compared to present day Chicago or New York city. Because of this, it is more important than ever to chronicle the history of the Polish people in St. Louis.
Basilicas of Saint Louis: Effects on Catholicism
The Old Basilica, also known today as the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, is recognized as the first church west of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1834, funded by Archbishops of Saint Louis and the Saint Louis Cathedral Building Association, the building served as the only parish church in Saint Louis for ten years, making it a “hotspot” for Catholicism during this period.
Catholic Institutions and Marginalization in St. Louis: Saint Louis University’s role in the social and economic marginalization of people of color
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is a significant Catholic institution in Saint Louis known for its rich history and influence on Saint Louis’ cultural dynamic. Throughout this digital exhibit, there are features of documents from the Jesuit Archives & Research Center and material from Saint Louis University Archives to examine the effects of Saint Louis University. The main research question behind this project was: How did Catholic institutions contribute to the social and economic marginalization of people of color?
Music in Catholicism: The effects of music in the Catholic communities of St. Louis and its global connections
How does the Catholic community use music to deepen people’s understanding of the divine aspects of religion? Music has always played a major role within the global Catholic community. Not only is it considered a grounding force for community outreach, but it is also a way of worship and praise. In St. Louis, it is appreciated in a more modern view by people such as the St. Louis Jesuits, a band, whereas in medieval Spain, for example, it is appreciated through the hymns of “Las Cantigas de Santa Maria”. No matter what the language or the style, Catholic worship can be done through music in many profuse and alternative ways. In the Catholic community, music is used as a mediator between the community and the divine by using lyricism and instrumentation not only to connect to a more modern audience, but to create a deeper understanding of concepts within the religion.
Catholic Action Network of St. Louis
The Catholic Action Network for Social Justice was founded in 1999 after the Archdiocese of Saint Louis removed the Human Rights Office. They organized various campaigns with five main social justice issues: LGBT equality, justice in the Catholic church, eradicating racism, and economic equality. While composed of catholic members, CAN was an independent entity, meaning they could directly advocate against some of the actions of the Catholic church. The group was banned eventually from meeting on Archdiocesan property after their response to the Church’s statement on LGBT individuals. CAN was also notable in SLU history, as they held a peace vigil at College Church every Sunday following 9/11. The organization was disbanded in 2015 after the Archdiocese of Saint Louis founded the Peace and Justice Committee. What did CAN do to improve the inclusivity of St. Louis Catholicism?
John F Bannon (1905-1996): A biography of a Jesuit Priest and Former Professor at Saint Louis University
John Francis “Jack” Bannon was an American Jesuit priest, historian, and educator specializing in Spanish colonial history. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Bannon joined the Society of Jesus after high school and pursued his studies at Saint Louis University, followed by advanced work at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. under the guidance of historian Herbert E. Bolton. Bannon taught history and languages at several institutions, including St. Mary’s College and Regis College, and became known for his research on Jesuit missions and the Spanish borderlands, which made him a prominent scholar in his field.
Through The Visitation: How the Sisters of Visitation shaped women’s education in the 1920s
Throughout the years women’s education has not only been a struggle to implement but a struggle to maintain. I’ve decided to investigate how nuns affect education, specifically how the Sisters of Visitation did it in the 1920s. My research question was the following: How did catholic nuns affect women’s education?
Catholic statues and Monuments: Frontiers of Global Catholicism in St. Louis
Saint Louis is home to a rich catholic history. It is reflected not only in its churches and institutions but through the many statues that lay upon its streets, parks, and sites. Some statues honor saints and biblical figures and others commemorate key events in catholic tradition. From the impressive gateway arch to the other lavish depictions of catholic figures like the virgin mary, christ, and the beautiful churches across the city these statues are more than just decorative. They play an active role in shaping our community and representing its values. This story map brings these statues to life around the city exploring their history and how they shape the community around them.
How do catholic statues in Saint Louis reflect its religious identity, shape the communities they surround and serve as focal points for catholic history?
How do catholic statues represent local culture changes and what do are their locations significance?