Ivantic, Vivian, 1913-2023

Scope and Contents

This document tells the story of the Sisters who first came to Chicago and of the Catholic clergy who were involved in governance through the term of Mother Antonia Herman, OSB, who was the last appointed prioress. When Mother Antonia left for the Dakotas in 1868, the Sisters were able to hold an election, choosing Mother Theresa Krug, OSB.

Scope and Contents

This history discusses the Sisters who came from Germany following World War I. Many more Sisters were born outside of the United States, approximately one third of the total community membership. A favorite monastery anecdote recalls how while cleaning, Sister Lioba Deininger, OSB fell from a ladder, breaking an urn in her fall. The horrified house superior said: Sister Lioba, that urn is imported!" Dusting herself off, Sister Lioba responded, "So am I!"

Scope and Contents

Sister Vivian Ivantic, OSB compiled the list of Sisters who taught vacation schools and weekend religious education at Christ the King Church in Portland, Colorado, from 1930 to 1945. At the time, Christ the King Church was a mission of St. Benedict Church in Florence, Colorado. Also included are two photographs from the 1991 archives trip to Colorado.

Scope and Contents This collection contains materials pertaining to 77 vacation schools in Colorado where Benedictine Sisters of Chicago taught from the 1920s through the 1980s. While some files are limited to a single slip of paper detailing a town and parish, especially in locations with a small classes, others are filled with news clippings, archival photographs, historical pamphlets, and more. Also included is some information about a few summer schools of religion in Illinois. While there are no official...

Scope and Contents

This sub-series includes the calendar, itinerary, postcards, and notes of an research trip that the archivist, Sister Vivian Ivantic, OSB made to Benedictine houses in the Eastern United States. Sister Eleanore Hillenbrand, OSB and Sister Mary Frances Schermerhorn accompanied her. They also visited Sister Karen Bland, OSB who was on the staff of Wheeling Jesuit College in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Scope and Contents

This series contains a list of Sisters who taught in Rockvale, Colorado, from the late 1920s until the the middle of the 1940s. Pages copied from "Our Community" appear alongside newsclippings and other texts regarding St. Patrick Church and the town at-large. Also included are photographs from a 1991 archives trip to Colorado and an archives newsletter relaying what happened during the trip and the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago's history in the state.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection includes a personal data sheet, next of kin list, ministry lists, transcripts, obituaries, prayer cards, photographs, correspondence, and materials on Colorado history.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This small collection contains essential biographical data, teaching certificate, a graduation photograph, material related to Sister Philomene Sponsel, OSB and her life in community. There is also correspondence between her, Sister Beatrice Singler, OSB, and Sister Vivian Ivantic, OSB from after she left the community. Many of the letters include landscape sketches.

Scope and Contents

Within this album, there are several series. They include construction of school building, demolition of West building, Indoors, Outdoors, Camp Sam Benito, residence of Sisters at 602, and white cottage at 502 Pike. A series of special interest is a set of Polaroids of chairs reupholstered by Sr. Karen Bland, OSB. and the sisters.

Scope and Contents

A note included with the album states: The snapshots on the next three pages were taken at SS. Benedict and Scholastica on Orleans Street. A careful scrutiny of the pictures will show the entire yard or "garden enclose" as well as the tracks of the elevated train. There are photographs of community life, visits, work, and events like graduations and jubilees in Illinois and Colorado.