Alberta Huber Papers

Collection

Identifier: UA-03-A07

Staff Only

This collection contains correspondence, reports, publications, speeches, biographical materials, awards, photographs, cassette tapes, artifacts and other materials relating to the life and work of Sister Alberta Huber, the seventh President of the College of St. Catherine.

Materials from her time as president include correspondence as well as a few subject files, writings, and speeches. Materials from her professional life outside the presidency include subject files mostly relating to civic organizations, as well as correspondence, writings, and speeches. Personal materials include correspondence and a variety of biographical materials. The collection also contains photographs, artifacts, and audiotapes.

Dates

1939 - 2007

Conditions Governing Access

Access may be restricted due to privacy or copyright; consult archives for details. Written permission from the Archivist is required prior to publication.

No technical restrictions.

Some materials, particularly news articles, are in fragile condition. Photographs may be faded, glued, bent, or flaking. Access may be restricted due to physical conditions or the archivist may provide copies for use.

About Sister Alberta Huber

Sister Alberta (Fides) Huber served as the seventh president of the College of St. Catherine (CSC) from 1964 to 1979.

Huber was born in Rock Island, Illinois on February 12, 1917. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1936 and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of St. Catherine in 1939 while teaching at St. Anthony High School in Minneapolis. She joined the faculty at CSC in 1940, serving as chair of the English department from 1959 to 1963 and as Academic Dean from 1963 to 1964. In 1945 she earned a master’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota, followed by a doctorate in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1954.

During her tenure as president, Huber was charged with raising $2,000,000 to match a two-to-one Ford Foundation $1,000,000 grant for general support of the college, a process which had begun in 1963. By the deadline in 1966, St. Kate's had raised $2,600,000, part of which was used to fund the construction of the Mother Antonia McHugh Fine Arts Center, including O’Shaughnessy Auditorium. The construction of four new residence halls was also completed during this time in order to keep up with growing enrollment. By the end of Huber’s tenure as president, enrollment had increased from 1,300 to 2,100 students, making St. Kate's the second largest women’s college in the country.

During her time as president Huber served on the Board of Trustees of both Fontbonne College and St. Joseph’s Hospital. She also served on the boards of several civic organizations and committees, including local operas and orchestras, the Governor’s Task Force on Security of Adult Institutions, and the Minnesota Citizens’ Review Commission on the FBI.

After Huber’s presidency ended she served as grant coordinator for the college development office and then studied in Rome before resuming her teaching career.

Huber received many honors over the course of her life, including the rank of Chevalier de L’Ordre des Palmes Academiques from the French government in 1976, the first St. Thomas Aquinas Medallion from the College of St. Thomas in 1979, and an Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota in 1981. She was also the first woman to serve as chaplain of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1974.

Sister Alberta Huber died at Bethany Convent on October 13, 2007.

Extent

1.75 Cubic Feet (5 boxes plus 2 audiocassettes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains the papers and artifacts of Sister Albert Huber, seventh president of the College of St. Catherine. Materials include correspondence, reports, publications, speeches, biographical materials, awards, photographs, cassette tapes, and artifacts.