At the meeting of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies, held on the first Thursday of January, 1910, the Society was represented by the Secretary. For the next meeting of the Federation in January, 1911, the Board appointed as delegates Mr. Oliver Hough and the Secretary. The Lecture Committee of the Board, of which the President of the Society is Chairman, arranged for two important lectures during the season. The first in April was given by the Rev. Joseph L. J. Kirlin, on “ An Unpublished Chapter of the History of Catholicity in Philadelphia," and the second in October, on "Some State Supported Catholic Schools," by the Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Ph.D. In concluding this brief report of the Board of Managers, it need only be said that the Board invites the coöperation of every member of the Society in its work, so that it may be strengthened and inspired by active sympathy and substantial aid in performing all the duties entailed in being chosen as officers and managers of such an important organization as the American Catholic Historical Society. JANE CAMPBELL, Secretary: FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 1910. Dues from members. Receipts. Advertisements, subscriptions and sale of "Records Sale of duplicate books and magazines.. Bequest of Miss Mary L. Hardy Donation from Mr. Griffin Contribution to Special Fund Interest on deposit Balance December 1, 1909 $1901 00 407 51 143 34 379 70 50 00 600 00 7 45 $3489 00 144 17 $3633 17 Annual dues in Federation of Historical Societies.. Assessment Federation of Catholic Societies 4.00 Entertainments Payment of loan 15 00 81 54 200 00 Balance November 30, 1910.. $3475 09 158 08 $3633 17 THE MOST REVEREND PATRICK JOHN RYAN, D.D., LL.D. In recording the death, on the 11th of February, 1911, of the Most Reverend Patrick John Ryan, D.D., LL.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia, the American Catholic Historical Society desires also to express its profound sense of the great loss sustained by it in the passing away of a member with whose long and most distinguished career as the Ordinary of the Diocese of Philadelphia the life of the Society has been almost contemporaneous; whose keen interest in the work of the Society during that long period never flagged; who repeatedly made leisure, in the midst of his well-nigh innumerable ecclesiastical and civic preoccupations, to consider and debate with its officers the needs of the Society, gave the sanction and encouragement of his name and office to its appeals for generous support by the Catholic public, and by his kindly and gracious presence at its lectures, receptions, and annual meetings, lent distinction and imparted prestige to these functions and made them highly attractive by the winning force of his social gifts and genial personality. Cherishing a deeply grateful recollection of such helpful encouragement to its efforts and such long-sustained interest in its development, the Society places in this Minute the expression of its own particular sense of loss, of veneration, of love, while it shares in the general grief of the Diocese of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the American Republic, to whose ecclesiastical and civil progress the life and labors of the great Archbishop so powerfully contributed. EARLY SCHOOLS IN PHILADELPHIA. By T. C. M. One of the earliest institutions of learning was the Academy of the French nuns on Chestnut Street. In the Catholic Almanac for 1833 (p. 107) is their advertisement, namely, 66 Young Ladies' French and English Academy, Gothic Mansion, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Conducted by Les Dames de la Retraite. Madame Hery du Iarday." $300 per year. Superioress These nuns seemed to have belonged to a teaching-order. Helyot, however, makes no mention of them under the above title. The "Gothic Mansion was on Chestnut Street, between 12th and 13th, and ran back as far as Clover Street at the rear. The Free Public Library lately occupied the site. In 1838 it was an orphanage, I have been told, attached to St. John's Church, and in this same year the orphans and the sisters (Sister Rose was superior) are transferred to Spruce and Seventh. From what I have discovered, it seems the Nuns de la Retraite did not conduct their academy for many years. I have never found anyone to tell me who they were or where they went to. Another institution of learning of much repute in its day was Rodrigue's Academy for Young Ladies. It was a boarding-school on Chestnut Street, between 13th and 14th. At Rodrigue's school, I have it from one of the old-time scholars, young ladies finished, as it is termed, their training. Of those who attended it, I have the names of four only: 1. Mrs. Eugene Kelly, the wife of the New York banker. 2. Mrs. Dundas Lippincott, of Philadelphia. 3. Mrs. Eliza Blackburn, of Philadelphia. 4. Mrs. Elizabeth Xavier Arnù, daughter of Dennis Kelly, of Haverford, Delaware County. Miss E. X. Kelly was there in 1835-6-7; the tuition was $1,000 per annum. Miss Margaret Hughes, sister of the Rev. John Hughes, afterwards Archbishop of New York, was a teacher at Mr. Rodrigue's school, and subsequently married William Rodrigue, a brother of the proprietor of the school, whose name, as far as I can learn, was either Joseph or Ferdinand; my informant not being able to say which. William Rodrigue was teacher at Fordham College (in subsequent years) of mathematics and engineering. He accompanied his wife's brother, the Rt. Rev. Jno. Hughes, to New York,, on his going there to enter into charge of his office as Bishop. The Rodrigues came from Santo Domingo; were refugees I presume. A RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF PHILA. ORIGIN (?) 1833. Circa. Established in Philadelphia in St. Michael's parish, under the guidance and care of Rev. Terence J. Donaghoe, rector, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the B. V. M. This congregation was the first, I think, of wholly American origin. The Sisters were devoted to teaching, and had a school or academy at St. Michael's. In 1844 they left, shortly before the riots, and went to the West. Their present head-house, I believe, is near Dubuque, Iowa. |