Sister Estelle Cullings, OSB papers
Scope and Contents
The collection includes biographical information and personal papers. Biographical information includes a personal data sheet, nearest of kin listings, ministry lists, teaching certifications, photographs, obituaries, jubilee liturgy worship aids, brief biographies, notes, funeral materials, Mass prayer cards, and more.
Personal papers illustrate Sister's personal and professional life as a woman religious, choir director, musician, and instructor. Family genealogies include information on her family and background, while select notes and correspondence represent her personal and spiritual voice. Employment contracts, Glee Club photographs, school drama programs, academic transcripts, and certificates demonstrate Sister's ability, reach, and impact as a musician and instructor.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1903-1998
Creator
- Cullings, Estelle, 1903-1998 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The sisters' papers are restricted for 50 years after her death. Photographs and widely published materials are unrestricted. The restricted materials in this collection become available to researchers on July 22, 2048.
Biographical / Historical
Sister Estelle Cullings, OSB was born Elouise Irene in Clearfield, Iowa on November 20th, 1903. Sister was the youngest of 5 daughters, and after her the death of her mother, her father sent her to Saint Scholastica Academy in Canon City, Colorado, With her father's permission, Sister became a Catholic. She entered the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago in August, 1922. She professed temporary vows in February, 1924 and professed final vows in February, 1927. She celebrated her golden Jubilee in 1974 and her diamond jubilee in 1984.
Sister attended DePaul, Notre Dame, and Loyola Universities, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Master's Degree in Education, and a degree in Communication Arts. Sister Estelle was well known for her work in music and theater, teaching a monastic choir, and directing the Glee Club at Saint Scholastica Academy in Chicago. She became principal and choral director at Saint Scholastica Academy in Canon City. Sister Estelle and Viola Berwick produced several Broadway musicals in the new Saint Scholastica Auditorium in Chicago. Sister also organized a summer camp for girls, Camp San Benito, in Colorado in the late 1960's. She had a wonderful talent producing beautiful crocheted and embroidered articles.
Sister Estelle died on July 22nd, 1998 at the age of 94 and is buried in All Saints Cemetery.
Extent
.26 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 Estelle Cullings, OSB papers
- Author
- Mickey Smith; Clara Finkelstein
- Date
- 2024-29-07
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2024-11-08: Virginia Jung added an item to this collection and corrected some metadata.
- 2026-01-19: Clara Finkelstein added transcripts and employment materials, and revised restrictions and scope and contents
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