Sister Helen Heinz, OSB papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of biographical information and limited personal papers. It includes a personal data sheet, photocopied Latin vow sheets, ministry lists, photographs of her and her brother Father Gerard, community and news obituaries, Sister's jubilee cards, prayer cards for various family members, family materials, and limited correspondence. One highlight of the collection is a rare German paper Marian greeting ("Marien Gruss") heart-shaped pilgramage souvenir, which unfolds into eight illustrated sections. There is a handwritten message on the inside of the heart in German. Another highlight is an especially fine 1933 greeting card, picturing the "Constitution" ship etched on a thin piece of imported Japanese wood.
Dates
- Creation: c.1891-1950
Creator
- Heinz, Helen, 1868-1950 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The material in this collection is unrestricted. It is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Sister Helen Heinz, OSB was born Mathilda on September 6th, 1868, in Chicago, Illinois to German parents. She attended SS Benedict and Scholastica Academy, before entering the community on September 21st, 1891. Sister made her final profession on July 22nd, 1896.
Sister served as a teacher at SS Benedict and St. Scholastica Academy, St. Joseph School, St. George School, and St. Scholastica Academy Chicago. She also taught CCD at Ladd, cleaning the church there every Saturday and assisting kitchen staff during priests' retreats.
In community, Sister served as the sub-prioress under Mother Imelda Fischer, and reported on infirmary activities for the monthly publication, "Our Community."
Sister Helen was brother to Father Prior Gerard of St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, and great-aunt to Sr. Miriam Wilson, OSB. She died at the age of 82 on May 6th, 1950, and is buried in the St. Boniface Cemetery in Chicago.
Extent
.1 Linear Feet (1 hanging file)
Language of Materials
English
German
Latin
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 Helen Heinz, OSB papers
- Author
- Clara Finkelstein
- Date
- 2025-10-29
- 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