McGreal Center Collections

Association of the Monasteries of Nuns of the Order of Preachers in the United States of America Records

The Association of the Monasteries of Nuns was canonically recognized on May 27, 2006. The collection's records chronicle the transition of the Conference to the Association, and contains governance materials, correspondence, event ephemera, newsletters and photographs. The Association collection also includes documents regarding the writing of the Association's publication, Vocation in Black and White: Dominican Contemplative Nuns Tell How God Called Them.

Collaborative Dominican Novitiate Records

The Collaborative Dominican Novitiate, formed in 1988, is a joint effort by the women in the Dominican Order to provide its members in initial formation with an experience of the larger Dominican Family. The collection contains internal documents gathered from the founding and management of the Novitiate. These include correspondence, newsletters, budgeting information and financial items, administrative and governance related materials, videos, photographs and other various paraphernalia. The documents are mainly written in English, with a few in Latin (primarily from Rome).

Conference of Nuns of the Order of Preachers of the United States of America Records

The Conference of Nuns of the Order of Preachers, was formed on October 17, 1975, “to serve as a stable organization for inter-communication, sisterly sharing and unified action as related to our special needs as Dominican Nuns in the U.S.A.” The Conference of Nuns collection spans the years 1962 to 2006. The bulk of the material is correspondence from 1980 to 2005, and publications from 1980 to 2006. It also includes published works, reports, video tapes, audio cassettes, pictures, and a few digital files.

Dominican Alliance Records

The Dominican Alliance collection is divided into two sections. The first half concerns the administrative and operational details, beginning with a history of the Alliance and the developments led by the Executive Committee, continuing with personnel and membership data and profiles and ending with policy and financial records. The second half of the collection deals with the Alliance’s vocational ministries and programs, containing minutes for various outreach and development committees, information on retreats and Study Days, various publications, and presentations in mixed media form.

Dominican Institute of the Arts Records

The Dominican Institute for the Arts (DIA) is a grassroots collaboration of sisters, friars, laity and associates of the Order of Preachers committed to preaching through the arts. Members of the DIA include painters, musicians, dancers, sculptors, film makers, potters, poets, actors, composers, writers, designers of sacred space, dramatists, any other art forms, and those who appreciate and support the arts. This collection contains physical and digital documents, including policies and guidelines, annual reports, board updates, publications, materials related to gatherings, award recipients’ correspondence, and images of members' artistic works.

Dominican Leadership Conference Records

The Dominican Leadership Conference (DLC) was the first collaborative U.S. Dominican organization for nuns, laity, friars and sisters, a consultative organization for Dominican leaders in order to build relationships, collaborate in the mission of preaching the Gospel, and foster greater unity within the U.S. congregations. The collection contains original materials pertaining to the management of the organization from 2006 to 2010 as well as copies of earlier materials from 1935 to 2005.

Dominican Volunteers USA Records

The Dominican Volunteers USA invites men and women to participate in the mission of Dominicans in the United States as volunteers to respond to needs, especially of the poor and marginalized. The records contain articles of incorporation, by-laws, minutes, agendas, correspondence, financial records, and orientation and retreat materials.

Federation of Dominican Sisters USA Records

The Federation of Dominican Sisters USA was started out of a dream for unity among the congregations in 1985. This collection contains institutional material including reports and correspondence chronicling the history of the Federation, in addition to photographs and scrapbooks.

Fr. Norbert F. Georges Papers

Fr. Norbert Georges, OP (1895–1969) dedicated his life to the canonization of Martin de Porres, which he saw become a reality on May 6, 1962. The collection includes an original letter from Fr. Norbert Georges to Sister M. Generosa, B.V.M.; the biographical material, correspondence, newsletters, publications, photographs and ephemera are copies.

In Our Keeping Records

The In Our Keeping Conference brought together Dominican historians, archivists and researchers in an effort to understand the history of Dominicans in the United States and share the knowledge they had gained through their individual studies and experiences. The collection contains notes, schedules, correspondence, planning documents, keynote speeches, prayers and liturgies.

Las Casas: Dominicans in Ministry with Native Americans, Inc. Records

Founded in 1977, Las Casas: Dominicans in Ministry with Native Americans, Inc. is a not-for-profit Dominican organization that seeks to provide ministry support, legal aid and funding opportunities to Native Americans and Dominicans who support them throughout the United States. Its stated goal is to provide “relief of the poor, the distressed, and the underprivileged.” The collection contains reports and correspondence, programs and special events paraphernalia, publications, photographs, slides, scrapbooks, and other media used in service of Las Casas programs over the years.

Lay Dominican Central Province Records

The Central Province includes Lay Dominicans from Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico and Wisconsin. Records from the Lay Dominicans Central Province include correspondence, membership records, questionnaires and information, bulletins, pamphlets, meeting minutes, financial records, council reports, agendas, bylaws, handbooks, rules, and promotional material from regional chapters, the Provincial Council, and the InterProvincial Council. Additional materials are from National Congresses as well as three International Congresses: 1958 in Rome, 1966 in Brussels and 1985 in Reseau. Speeches, book excerpts and articles written in Latin, French and Italian are also included in the collection.

Lay Dominicans Southern Province Records

The Lay Dominicans Southern Province, or St. Martin de Porres Province of the Dominican Order, consists of lay Dominican men and women in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. This collection includes correspondence, membership records, meeting agendas and minutes, pamphlets and newsletters, financial records and more. 

Mater Ecclesia Institute Records

The Mater Ecclesia Institute was an effort to create an ecumenical monastic community and retreat center in the Dominican tradition. Nuns from the former Dominican Nuns of Perpetual Adoration in Cincinnati, Ohio spearheaded these efforts from 1996–2002 in their former monastery. These efforts ended in 2002 and the sisters returned to their communities. The collection chiefly contains correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, planning documents, and financial records pertaining to the Institute and related organizations.

Monastery of the Perpetual Rosary, Union City, New Jersey, Archives

The Monastery of the Perpetual Rosary was established in 1891 by Father Damien-Marie Santourens, Mother Mary of the Rosary, Sister Mary Dominic, Sister Mary of Jesus, and Sister Mary Gabriel. The McGreal Center holds the archives for this, the first Perpetual Rosary monastery in the United States, with extensive material chronicling its entire history. This includes annals, minutes, extensive correspondence, building blueprints, artwork by Sr. Mary of the Compassion, and various realia, as well as information about the buildings future after the last nuns left in 2009.

Parable Conference for Life and MIssion Records

The Parable Conference for Dominican Life and Mission was created in 1976 as a national collaborative organization sponsored by all the branches of the Dominican Family in the United States to address the needs of the contemporary church and world. The collection contains program brochures, correspondence, minutes and agendas, a set of books related to the Lands of Dominic pilgrimages and reference works addressing the Dominican family. Additionally, there are photographs, PowerPoint and slide show presentations, VHS tapes and CD ROMs from various events, educational programs, and pilgrimages.

Project OPUS Records

A research program designed to write the history of the Dominicans in the United States, the Project OPUS (Order of Preachers in the United States) Records incorporates its organizational papers: the history of the project, annual reports, Dominican Leadership Conference-related materials, OPUS committee records, correspondence, staff biographies, conference material, research material, publication information, financial records, photographs and books.

Richard J. Carbray, Vatican II Papers

The Richard J. Carbray Vatican II Collection contains internal documents from Vatican II, donated by Richard J. Carbray (d.1998), a former Rosary College language professor. These documents include press releases, speeches and essays presented, summaries of issues under discussion, and news releases from an outside news organization. Most of the documents are written in either English or French.

Sr. Durstyne Farnan, OP North American Dominican Justice, Peace and Care of Creation Promoters Papers

Sr. Durstyne Farnan, OP served as the Co-Promoter of the North American Dominican Justice, Peace and Care of Creation Promoters organization from 2005 to 2011. The purpose of this organization is to advocate for social justice throughout the world. Included are documents related to the time before and during Sr. Durstyne Farnan’s tenure as Co-Promoter of the organization. 

Loretta Petit, Friar in the Wilderness: Edward Dominic Fenwick, OP, Collection

Friar in the Wilderness: Edward Dominic Fenwick, OP was written by Loretta Petit, OP and published in 1994. The collection contains research materials compiled by Sr. Loretta Petit while writing the book. Most of the materials are her handwritten notes and research on Fr. Edward Fenwick and the time period in which he lived and worked. There are also pictures and prints of locations and buildings relevant to the story of Fr. Fenwick.

Sr. Marie Flaherty Papers

These documents are related to Sr. Marie Flaherty’s (Amityville) work with the Indians of northwest Oklahoma through Las Casas. The collection contains a transcript and grant proposals for the Young Indian People’s Extended Education program, as well as the Young Indian People’s Extended Education program’s weekly newspaper, “The Yipee Times” and photographs.

Sr. Thomasine Bugala Papers

This collection consists of biographical information regarding Sr. Thomasine Bugala (1926–2010), and the textbooks she wrote for Sisters teaching English to Japanese students: Hello to English, and Lively English for the Japanese Student.