Antonia McHugh Papers

Collection

Identifier: UA-03-A01

Staff Only

This collection covers the life and works of the first president of the College of St. Catherine, Antonia McHugh, CSJ. In particular, it covers extensively her family, education at the University of Chicago, teaching career, and her work at St. Catherine.

Materials relating to her family and personal history include photographs, artifacts, scrapbooks, official documents (such as wills), correspondence with family members, family trees, news articles, and biographical articles and information compiled by third parties. They cover in part her early life and family history. More extensive is the information on her later life, after joining the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, her illness and death, and the honoring of the centennial of her birth.

Materials relating to her education include priamrily her class notebooks and journals, though also included are a few commencement programs. Notes on a variety of subjects, most notably history and teaching, can be found in this collection. Notebooks and subject journals also make up the bulk of her teaching materials. There are also some lesson plans and record books. Only a couple of items are from her teaching at St. Joseph’s Academy, with most of them being from St. Catherine.

Sister Antonia’s work as President of the College is documented in this collection primarily through correspondence with both religious and lay persons, speeches and publications, and documents relating to the honors and awards she received throughout her career. Most notably, included in the collection are transcripts of the radio talks she gave on WCCO and the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice citation.

Dates

1873 - 1973

Creator

McHugh, Antonia, CSJ, 1873-1944 (Person)

About Sister Antonia McHugh

Early Years and Entry into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet:

Born Anna McHugh on May 17, 1873 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Patrick and Rose McHugh, she was the first of seven children. In 1885 she studied at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Paul and then completed high school at St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg, Canada. Anna entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet community as a postulant on November 29, 1890 at the age of 17 and took her final vows on August 15, 1893.

Education and Teaching:

Sister Antonia began teaching the third and fourth grades at St. Joseph’s Academy in 1891, where she taught various grade levels until 1904. From the opening of the College of St. Catherine in 1905 until 1908 she taught religion and history at the high school level. In 1908 she received her B.A. in philosophy from the University of Chicago and the next year received a bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in history. Following completion of her education Sister Antonia began teaching college-level history at St. Catherine.

Administrative Work:

In 1914 Sister Antonia was appointed Dean of the College by Archbishop Ireland and served in this position until 1929. Later, in 1917, she was appointed President of the College, serving in both positions for 12 years. She remained as President until 1937, while also serving as local superior to the sisters at the College from 1931-1937. Under her direction, the College of St. Catherine was accredited by the North Central Association in 1916, and in 1937 became the first Catholic institution to be granted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. During this time, in 1931, Sister Antonia accepted a position as Vice-President of the Association of Minnesota Colleges. The next year she became a member of the Nominating Committee for the Association of American Colleges. In 1933 she was elected the first president of the Educational Conference of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and in 1936, shortly before her retirement, she was elected President of the Association of Minnesota Colleges. Sister Antonia was a central force of the College of St. Catherine, shaping programming, standards, and creating an institutional culture.

Illness and Death:

In 1936 Mother Antonia suffered a stroke and resigned her position as president the following year, holding the title President Emeritus until her death on October 11, 1944. During her life she was recognized by numerous groups, both religious and lay, for her contributions to the Catholic Church and to education. These include receiving the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal in 1931 and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Minnesota in 1936. After her death she continued to be recognized and honored as a leader for education in Minnesota.

Extent

8 Linear Feet (15 boxes plus Oversize Images and Scrapbooks)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains the papers and objects of Antonia McHugh, CSJ, first president of the College of St. Catherine. It includes both personal and official materials, photographs, and biographical documents.

Organization

The collection has been arranged into ten series, some of which have been further divided into subseries. The series represent the dominant subjects of the collection and are retained from the original order as much as possible.