Sister Perpetua Guenther, OSB papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of biographical information and limited personal papers. Included is a personal data sheet, nearest of kin information, ministry lists, biographical notes, teacher credential forms, academic transcripts and grade reports, prayer cards, obituary and jubilee materials, and photographs. Also included is limited correspondence (including archival inquiry), and an undated note on her health. One highlight is a copy of Sister's jubilee sermon, which she decorated with cut-out illustrations.
Dates
- Creation: 1924-2006
Creator
- Guenther, Perpetua, 1899-1975 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The material in this collection is unrestricted. It is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Sister Perpetua Guenther, OSB was born on May 13th, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois to German parents. She joined the community on July 11th, 1917, making her final vows on the Feast of Saint Scholastica on February 10th, 1921.
Sister graduated from Saint Scholastica High School Chicago and attended DePaul University, Loyola University, and Saint Francis Xavier College for women. She taught for over 40 years at various parochial schools in Illinois and Colorado, as well as at Sacred Heart in Tucson, Arizona. She also taught for one year (1932-1933) at Saint Ambrose School in Deadwood, South Dakota. Sister frequently served as superior and principal, including at the Canon City Academy. During the summer months, Sister taught at religious vacation schools in Colorado. She enjoyed music, and often listened to the Saturday afternoon opera.
Sister died on March 1st, 1975 at the age of 75 and is buried in the All Saints Cemetery in Illinois.
Extent
.1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Metadata Rights Declarations
- License: This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Creative Commons license.
- Title
- A Guide to Sister Perpetua Guenther, OSB papers
- Author
- Clara Finkelstein
- Date
- 2025-10-15
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago Archives Repository
Archives
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago
7430 N. Ridge Blvd.
Chicago Illinois 60645 United States
(773) 764-2413 ext. 203
archives@osbchicago.org