In honor of Women’s History Month, below are some stories about the women who shaped our College and made it what it is today.
Click on the tabs to read about the various aspects Sisters have been a part of our history.
Below that is a photo gallery. Click on the side arrows to move through the posters and learn more about these amazing women.
1947 Sisters Inside Chapel 2004 Sisters Outside Chapel
The College of St. Scholastica owes its existence to the vision and strength of women. The school's origins date back to 1892, when Mother Scholastica Kerst and 28 Sisters arrived from St. Benedict's Academy in St. Joseph, Minnesota, to establish a Benedictine mother-house and an academy in Duluth. Initially, both convent and K-12 school were in Munger Terrace, which can still be seen on Mesaba Avenue.
Within three years, increasing enrollment required a new building at Third Avenue East and Third Street, which also can still be seen today. The high school continued to grow rapidly in size, which led to a third move in 1909—this time to the Daisy Farm and the newly constructed first section of Tower Hall.
In response to the growing community's needs, the school expanded its course offerings in 1912 to include a junior college and changed its name to The College of St. Scholastica. The new college started as an all-women’s school with only six students, but that grew to 68 when in 1924 under the direction of Mother Agnes Somers and Sister Katharine McCarthy, the College became a four-year liberal arts college.
At the beginning, the President of the College was also the Prioress of the Monastery. This continued until Mother Martina Hughes decided to divide the duties in 1958.
Three of our buildings are named after Sisters including Somers Hall for Mother Agnes Somers, who was the first president of the four-year college serving from 1924 to 1942. Under her leadership, major construction projects were completed including the gymnasium that is now our theatre in 1921; finishing Tower Hall in 1928; and in 1938, Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, Stanbrook Hall, which was an all-women’s high school until 1967 and is now the Monastery, and the connecting cloister walks.
Our two newest apartments are also named after Sisters including Kerst for Mother Scholastica Kerst and her blood sister Alexia, who was prioress after Mother Scholastica’s death in 1911. Sister Ann Edward Scanlon was the President of the College from 1960 to 1967, and during her tenure, Somers Hall was built with plans started for the science building.
Our last Sister to be President was Sister Mary Richard Boo, who oversaw the College becoming coeducational in 1969; she served until 1971.
Sisters made up the majority of faculty and staff at the College for many years where they taught in almost all of the departments, staffed offices, and served in administration often working in more than one area throughout their long careers.
Over the course of the College’s history, 168 Sisters have been identified from the College’s catalog as professors, librarians, registrars, treasurers, admissions counselors, campus ministers, residential life directors, bookstore managers, health services caregivers, alumni relations directors, academic deans, mission integration vice presidents, administrators, and as we learned last week, presidents. In addition, the Sisters have served as club advisors, student life organizers, floor prefects, sports enthusiasts, mentors, and friends.
Some of the Sisters have had very long careers at the College including Sister Timothy Kirby, who had many roles here for over 70 years; Sister Monica Laughlin, who taught in the Music Department for 60 years; Sister Agatha Riehl, who taught Chemistry for over 50 years; Sister Celeste Shoup, who taught Home Economics for over 50 years; and Sister Mary Odile Cahoon, who taught Biology for 50 years.
Sisters were not only accomplished in their professions, they were also highly successful in their vocations. For example, some Sisters did ground breaking research including Sister Agatha Riehl and Sister Petra Lenta, who studied the possible causes of cancer from 1945 until 1961. Sister Mary Odile Cahoon was one of the first two women to winter over with the U.S. Antarctic Research Program at McMurdo Station in 1974.
Some Sisters were musicians and composers including Sister Monica Laughlin, who performed with the Center for Early Music Orchestra, the St. Scholastica Historic Wind Ensemble, and the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. Mother Martina Hughes was a composer and received wide recognition for her music, most notably “Highwayman.”
Sister Mary Richard Boo was a published author with her historical book House of Stone: The Duluth Benedictines on St. Scholastica Monastery. Some Sisters were artists including Sister Mary Charles McGough, whose work we can see with the Peace Doors and the icons around our campus. Sister Noemi Weygant was an author and a photographer combing those talents in 10 published books you can check out from our Library.
In summary, the Sisters who have been connected to our College have contributed in so many ways through the founding and developing, leadership, service, and inspiration. May we continue their legacy.
